The Missouri Southern football team will head out on the road as the Lions travel to Tahlequah to take on Northeastern State this Saturday. Kickoff from Doc Wadley Stadium is slated for 2 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 1-6, 1-6 MIAA | NSU 0-7, 0-7 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Tahlequah, Okla.
Site: Doc Wadley Stadium (10,000)
Series Record: NSU leads the series 12-10
Coaches: Jeff Sims (1-6 at MSSU, 1-6 overall - first year as a 4-year head coach) | JJ Eckert (0-7 at NSU/Overall)
The Series: This will be the 24th meeting in the series between the two schools. Northeastern State leads the series 12-10, but the Lions have won ten of the last 16 games between the two teams. Northeastern State was the Lions' first-ever opponent as a four-year school as NSU downed Southern 45-0 in 1968. The RiverHawks dominated the series early on, winning the first seven games in a row, but it has been mostly Southern over the last nine outings. The Lions are 4-7 in Tahlequah, while holding an 6-5 mark in Joplin with one game being vacated by the Lions in 1997. From 1989 to 1997, the Lions won nine games in a row in a stretch that included ten of 11, as well.
A Victory vs. The RiverHawks Would: be the second in a row over the RiverHawks. It would also be the 11th win in the last 17 tries over NSU.
Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Central Missouri is 11th, while Northwest Missouri is 14th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has three teams in the top ten and has eight teams in the top 25. There are 12 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.
NCAA Team Stats Rankings: The Lions lead Division II passing offense, while ranking eighth in first downs, 14th in total offense and 32nd in blocked punts.
MIAA Team Stats Rankings: This year, the Lions lead the MIAA first downs and passing offense, while ranking second in total offense and blocked punts, third in blocked kicks and fourth in tackles for a loss.
Individual Stats Rankings: Jacob Park leads Division II in passing yards, while ranking second in passing yards per game and third in both completions per game and total offense. JaTece Wright ranks third nationally in punt return touchdowns, while Richard Jordan Jr. ranks 16th nationally in tackles. Park is 29th in passing yards per completion, while ranking 33rd in points responsible for. Paul Wolff is 41st in punting.
Passing The Bar: Park leads Division II in passing yards this season with 2,498 yards through seven games. When compared with the other three divisions in the NCAA, Park is fourth amongst all NCAA passers, trailing only Anthony Gordon of Washington State, Bailey Zappe of Houston Baptist and Jake Maier of UC Davis.
Lawson With The Catch: Dwayne Lawson made the switch from quarterback to receiver rather nicely as the junior caught six passes for 179 yards and two scores. That included a 93-yard touchdown catch. The 179 yards is tied for fifth-best all-time in a single game at MSSU. Lawson now has three 100-plus yard games this season and has caught 24 passes for 465 yards this year.
Run, Sean, Run: Sean Kelly came into the game at Lincoln in the second half and ran for 126 yards (zero negative yardage) and two touchdowns.
Spread The Receptions: This season, the Lions have ten different 100-yard receiving games from five different individuals. Lawson has and Brian Boyd Jr. have three of them, while Benjamin Phillips has two. Brailon Mouton and Devond Blair, Jr. have one game each. The Lions have had two different games where three different individuals had 100 or more yards receiving.
Watch Party Headquarters: For those wanting to catch the Lions on the road, but not able to travel, Gusanos in Joplin will host the official road watch party each Saturday. Come by their location at 7th and Duquesne to check out all the action.
Weather Report: The weather report for the Tahlequah area on Saturday calls for showers with a high of 59 degrees. Chance of rain is listed at 50% with a northwest wind of 5 MPH.
Up Next: Southern will be back out on the road, heading to Central Oklahoma for a game on November 2 with the Bronchos.
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