Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football team will close out 2016 this Saturday when the Lions play host to the Pittsburg State Gorillas for the 2016 Miners Bowl. The game will also be Senior Day for the football team and will be Military Appreciation Day.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU - 2-8, 2-2 MIAA | PSU 6-4, 6-4 MIAA
Date: Saturday, November 12, 2016
Kick-Off: 3:30 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Series Record: PSU leads the series 38-9-1
Coaches:
Denver Johnson (3-18 at MSSU, 72-84 overall) | Tim Beck (59-24 overall/at PSU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: ESPN Joplin 101.3, 103.5 FM and AM 1560; 88.7 FM KXMS - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Video Webcast: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/mssu/
Live Stats: http://sidearmstats.com/mssu/football
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
The Series: Pittsburg State holds a 38-9-1 advantage in the series and had won 19 in a row before the Lions won 35-21 2013 in Pittsburg. Missouri Southern has won six of 24 meetings in Joplin, but the Lions have won just three times in Pittsburg (3-20-1). The Lions are 6-17 in Joplin. The win in 2013 for MSSU stopped a 19-game winning streak and was the first win in Pittsburg since 1983. The two teams have played each year since 1968 in what is the longest running series for MSSU. The Lions led 5-4-1 after the first 10 meetings. The two teams began competing for the Miners' Bowl Trophy in 1986.
The Dish On PSU: Pittsburg State comes into this year's Miners Bowl with a 6-4 record on the season. Three of the Gorillas' four losses have come to ranked opponents (#20 UCM, #12 ESU, #1 NWMO), with the fourth coming at home to Fort Hays State. PSU won four in a row after a season-opening loss and have lost three of the past five games. The Gorillas are led by quarterback John Roderique. Roderique has thrown for 2,273 yards on 152-258 with 19 touchdowns through the air. He has also rushed for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Rose has 584 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, while Dre Holman has three scores on the ground. Levi Copelin has been Roderique's top target through the air, catching 55 passes for 952 yards and 10 touchdowns. Austin Panki has five touchdowns through the air, while Brenner Clemmons has caught four touchdown passes. Defensively, Spencer Brown leads the Gorillas with 87 tackles and two sacks with one interception. Heath Wilson leads the team with 11.5 tackles for a loss and five sacks, while Darrius White has a team-leading three interceptions. The Gorillas average 483.6 yards per game of total offense, while giving up 477.2 yards per game. The team averages 169 yards on the ground and 313 yards through the air.
A Victory vs. Pitt State Would: be just the second in the last 23 meetings against the Gorillas and the first win at home over PSU since 1993.
NFL Representation: The Lions will have two different starters on NFL rosters to start the season. Brandon Williams is a starter on the defensive line for the Baltimore Ravens, while Allen Barbre will start on the offensive line for the Philadelphia Eagles.
NFL Leaders: Brandon Williams has become a leader on the defense for the Baltimore Ravens, shoring their defensive line. Last year, the third-year pro had a career-high 52 tackles and two sacks. He was listed by many as a notable snub for the NFL Pro Bowl in 2015. Allen Barbre will be in his second year as a starter on the offensive line for the Eagles and head coach Doug Pedersen is very high on Barbre, naming him the starter prior to training camp. Barbre started all 16 games for the Eagles in 2015.
NFL Executive: Former Lion and former NFL wide receiver James Thrash is in his second season serving as the NFL and NFLPA's Appeals Officer. He hears all appeals for the NFL regarding on-field player discipline. Thrash played 12 seasons in the NFL for the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.
Lions On Radio: The Lions will partner with ESPN Joplin this year as Southern can now be heard on three separate FM stations, as well as an AM station. ESPN Joplin will air the Lions' games on 101.3 and 103.5 FM, as well as AM 1560. MSSU's KXMS 88.7 will also simulcast the games giving the Lions a larger reach in the four-states than they've ever had.
Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 1st, while Emporia State is 9th and Central Missouri is 25th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has seven teams in the top 24. There are 10 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.
Lions On TV: Missouri Southern's KGCS will air every Lions home game live this year during the season. They will also re-broadcast the games on Sunday evenings at 7 pm.
Lions On The Web: All of MSSU's football games are carried live online as part of the MIAA's streaming contract with Stretch Internet. Fans can view games live by clicking on the link on www.mssulions.com.
Have A Game Son: Brayden Scott became the first Lions' quarterback since 2011 to throw four touchdown passes in a game when he threw for four and ran for another against Central Oklahoma.
Team Stats Rankings: The Lions, as a team, lead Division II in blocked punts allowed, ranking 32nd in sacks allowed, 37th in fumbles lost, 38 in fumbles recovered and 47th in blocked punts.
Individual Stats Rankings: Individually, Josiah Bennett ranks seventh nationally (third in the MIAA) in yards per reception. Chris Williams ranks 27th in fumble recoveries, while Keith Beverly ranks 34th in passes defended. Scott Lathrop ranks 42nd in receptions per game, while ranking 43rd in punt returns.
Magnetic Personality: Senior wide receiver Scott Lathrop became just the fifth Lion to catch at least 12 passes in a game when he did so against Central Missouri. Lathrop was one catch off of Rod Smith's school record and joins Colin Bado, Landon Zerkel and Dave Evans as others to catch 12 in a game. Bado did it three times.
Safety First: The Lions forced a safety against Missouri Western after blocking a punt out of the end zone. It was the first time since 2012 the Lions have had a safety.
Score Some Points: The Lions scored 40 or more points in two games in a row this year (42 at Central Oklahoma and 45 vs. Northeastern State). It is the first time since the 2008 season the Lions have scored 40+ points in back-to-back games (Harding - 45, Haskell - 66).
Call Me A Hall Of Famer: Allen Barbre was inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame on September 24. Barbre was a multiple All-American offensive lineman in his four-year career for the Lions and is now a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles.
NCAA D-II Super Region 3 Rankings: The NCAA released its second regional rankings this week and the MIAA has three teams in the poll. Northwest Missouri is first, while Emporia State is fourth and Central Missouri is seventh. Seven teams make the NCAA post season with the top seed getting a bye.
Record Setter: TJ Fleeton tied his own school record this year as he completed 36 passes against Fort Hays. He tied the record he had previously set last season, ironically against FHSU.
Weather Report: The weather report for the Joplin area on Saturday calls for mostly sunny conditions and a high of 60 degrees with a zero percent chance of precipitation.
