Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football team will be back at home this weekend as the Lions play host to Washburn for the annual Hall of Fame Game. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is slated for 4 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 1-5, 1-5 MIAA | WU 2-4, 2-4 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019
Kick-Off: 4:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Series Record: WU leads the series 24-21-1
Coaches:
Jeff Sims (1-5 at MSSU, 1-5 overall -
first year as a 4-year head coach) | Craig Schurig (117-84 overall, at WU)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 101.7 and AM 1560; 88.7 FM KXMS - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Video Webcast: http://www.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions
Live Stats: https://www.mssulions.com.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Lions on Facebook: Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
Lions on Instagram: @mososports
The Series: The Ichabods lead the series between the two teams at 24-21-1. The Lions hold an 11-11-1 mark at Hughes Stadium and a 10-13 mark in Topeka. Southern last defeated the Ichabods in 2014 when the Lions won 42-21 at home. Washburn had won eight in a row before the Lions' win in 2014 .
From 1989 to 1997, the Lions won nine games in a row in a stretch that included ten of 11, as well.
The Dish On The Ichabods: The Ichabods are 2-4 on the season with wins at home against Lincoln and on the road at Northeastern State. Those wins sandwiched four-straight losses.
The Ichabods are led on the ground by Taylon Peters who has 67 carries for 308 yards and four touchdowns. Zach Willis has 234 yards and 2 scores, while Percy Mitchell has 22 carries and five touchdowns. Quarterback Mitch Schurig has just under 1,000 yards (997) and nine touchdowns, while James Letcher Jr. has caught four of the touchdowns on 30 receptions for 400 yards. Collin Wilson has the other five touchdowns through the air and has 290 yards on 22 receptions.
Defensively, the Ichabods are led by Kevin Neal with 42 tackles and Grant Bruner with 40 of his own. Nigel Burgess has a team-high two sacks, while Marquise Manning has a team-high two interceptions.
As a team, The Ichabods average 200 yards of offense on the ground each game, while getting 232 in the air for 432 per game of total offense.
A Victory vs. The Ichabods Would: snap a four-game losing streak to the Ichabods and it would be the third win since 1998 against Washburn.
NFL Representation: The Lions will have Brandon Williams as the lone MSSU alum in the NFL this season. Williams has blossomed into one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL and in 2017 became one of the highest-paid, as well, signing a five-year, $54 million contract.
NFL Executive: Former Lion and former NFL wide receiver James Thrash is in his third 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 Fox Sports Joplin this year as Southern can now be heard on three separate FM stations, as well as an AM station. Fox Sports Joplin will air the Lions' games on 101.3 and 101.7 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 7th, while Central Missouri is 14th and Pittsburg State is 19th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has four 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.
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 6 pm.
Lions On The Web: All of MSSU's football games are carried live online as part of the MIAA Network. Fans can go to www.mssulions.com to view live and on-demand games.
Streaming Options: Fans now have even more options to view the Lions online in their homes and on the road. Not only can you view on your computer, fans can now view The MIAA Network on its over the top apps for either Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Android TV.
New Head Coach: Jeff Sims was announced as the new head coach for the Lions at the conclusion of the 2018 football season.
NFL Pedigree: In his career, Sims has coached more than 50 players to NFL careers, including two first-round NFL Draft picks, (Jason Pierre-Paul and Mike Hughes), well as NFL All-Pro Lavonte Davis. In total, seven players he has coached have been drafted. Two former players, Pierre-Paul and Jacquian Williams, both played for the New York Giants in a Super Bowl victory.
NCAA Team Stats Rankings: The Lions lead Division II blocked punts allowed (fewest) and passing offense. Southern ranks 10th in total offense, 14th in first downs, 29th in blocked punts and 36th in passing yards per completion.
MIAA Team Stats Rankings: This year, the Lions lead the MIAA in blocked punts allowed and passing offense, while ranking second in total offense, blocked kicks, blocked punts and first downs.
Individual Stats Rankings: Jacob Park leads Division II in passing yards, while ranking second in passing yards per game and third in total offense and completions per game. Park also ranks 30th in passing yards per game and points responsible for, while ranking 33rd in points responsible for per game. JaTece Wright ranks third in punt return touchdowns, while Dwayne Lawson ranks 17th in receiving yards per game. David Rose is 37th in passes defended, while Paul Wolff is 42nd in punting.
Defensive Touchdowns: The Lions had a pair of defensive touchdowns against Northwest Missouri as Southern blocked a punt that JaTece Wright returned for a score, while Jaylon Alexander returned an interception 55 yards for a score.
Record Setting Passer: Park broke his own school record against Central Missouri as he threw for 519 yards becoming the first Lion quarterback to throw for a half a thousand in a single game. He went 36-of-59 with four touchdowns in the game, helping the Lions set the team record for passing yards in a game with 519, as well. Park also tied the single-game completion record with 36, tying the mark held by TJ Fleeton in 2015 against Fort Hays State. Park's total of 519 yards is also second-best total offense mark all-time in a single game at Southern.
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 nine different 100-yard receiving games from five different individuals. Lawson has three of them, while Brian Boyd, Jr. and Benjamin Phillips have two each. 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.
Have A Game Charles: Charles West had a big game this past week at Missouri Western where he had three rushing touchdowns, carrying the ball for 137 yards. He also caught ten passes for 92 yards, tying a Missouri Southern record for receptions in a game by a running back.
Hall of Fame: This weekend, former Missouri Southern head coach Jon Lantz will be inducted into the Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Fame (posthumously). Lantz coached the Lions to the program's only MIAA Title in 1993 when the team went 9-1-1.
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.
Defensive Lineage: Three former Lions' defensive coaches, all whom current assistant coach Joe Bettasso learned under, are in high-profile positions. Scottie Hazelton (04-05) is the Defensive Coordinator at Kansas State, Brian Ward (2005) is the Defensive Coordinator at Syracuse and Todd Wash (2004) is the Defensive Coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.
Weather Report: The weather report for the Joplin area on Saturday calls for morning showers and a high of 70 with a precipitation chance of 40 percent. Wins will be out of the west-southwest at six miles per hour.
Up Next: Southern will head back out on the road, heading to Northeastern State for a game on October 26 with the RiverHawks.
