Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern football team will be back at home this weekend as the Lions play host to Central Missouri on Saturday. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 4 pm. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 2-4, 2-4 MIAA | UCM 2-4, 2-4 MIAA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 16
Kick-Off: 4:00 pm, CT
Location:  Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium  (7,000)
Series Record: UCM leads 24-15-2
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (3-4, overall/at MSSU) | Jim Svoboda (137-59 overall/83-40 at UCM)

Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: Fox Sports Joplin 101.3, 101.7 and AM 1560; - Mike McClure, Play-by-Play, Scott Boudreaux, Color
Live Coverage: www.mssulions.com/coverage 
Lions on Facebook:  Facebook.com/mososports
Lions on Twitter: @mososports; @mosofootball
Lions on Instagram: @mososports

The Series:  Central Missouri holds the all-time series lead against the Lions at 24-15-2.  The Lions have an 8-10-1 record at Hughes Stadium against the Mules, while the Lions are just 7-14-1 in Warrensburg. Central has won 18 out of the last 21 meetings. Southern defeated the Mules in 2006 and 2013, both games at home. From 1983-1996, the Lions were 7-2 against the Mules.

The Dish On The Mules: The Mules have won two in a row after dropping the first four games of the year against the top four teams in the MIAA. Central Missouri is being outscored by nearly a touchdown a game and the Mules average 309 yards per game in the air and 116 on the ground for 426.5 per game. Logan Twehous leads the offense for the Mules as he has thrown for 1,369 yards this year and 12 touchdowns, while running for 118 yards and a score. Through the air, Cameron Saunders is the top target with 33 receptions for 663 yards and four scores. Arkell Smith has 22 catches for 366 yards and five touchdowns, while Trevor Twehous, the younger brother of Logan, has 17 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown. Koby Wilkerson leads the rushing attack for the Mules as he has 74 carries for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Devante Turner has 37 carries for 165 yards and an average of 4.5 per carry. Defensively, Codie Bell leads the way with 44 tackles, 34 of them  solo, including an interception, while Chima Dunga has 39 tackles, a pair of sacks, a pass break up and one fumble recovery. Deven Smith has 30 stops with four for a loss, one sack, one fumble recovery and a forced fumble. The Mules will be back at home next week for homecoming as Central plays host to Fort Hays State at 1:30 pm.

A Victory vs. The Mules Would: be stop a six-game winning streak for the Mules. It would also be just the fourth win in the last 22 games for the Lions over Central Missouri.

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 Football Team 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.

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.themiaanetwork.com/mssulions 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: Former Lion Atiba Bradley will be the new head coach for the Lions this year. Bradley played for the Lions and graduated in 2005. He was a student assistant in 2006 and returned as an assistant coach before making other coaching stops at Missouri, Quincy, South Dakota and McKendree.

Defensive Lineage: Three former Lions' defensive coaches, all whom current head coach Atiba Bradley and assistant coach Joe Bettasso learned under, are in high-profile positions. Scottie Hazelton (04-05) is the Defensive Coordinator at Michigan State, Brian Ward (2005) is the Defensive Coordinator at Nevada and Todd Wash (2004) is the Defensive Line Coach for the Detroit Lions in the NFL.

Green And Gold Alums: The Lions have four members of their staff that were either players or earned a degree from Missouri Southern. Head Coach Atiba Bradley, as well as Defensive Coordinator Joe Bettasso and Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator Matt Rahl all played for the Lions, while Director of Operations, Rylee Hartwell is a MOSO grad.

Have A Game Brian: Senior wide receiver Brian Boyd Jr. became the first Lion since Landon Zerkel in 2011 to catch three touchdown passes in the same game when he did just that against Lincoln this past week. Boyd's 169 yards in the game is also tied for 9th-most in a single game at Southern.

Thank You Very Much: Southern defensive back Dylan Bolden had a pair of interceptions at Central Oklahoma and both were key in the win. Bolden's first was a 27-yard pick six for the Lions' first score and his second was after Southern had gone ahead late and secured the win. The pick-six was the first time since Jaylon Alexander had one in 2019 against Northwest Missouri and it was the first time since 2015 for a player to have multiple interceptions.

I'll Take That: Dylan Bolden is one of just two players in Division II with two interceptions returned for a touchdown this season. It ties a single-season MSSU record. Bolden picked up his second pick-six at Lincoln in week six.

4th Quarter Comeback: The Lions came-from-behind in the fourth quarter for a win at UCO this past weekend. It was the first time since 2012 (MWSU) that the Lions had done that.

Young Guns: Nathan Glades ranks 12th nationally among freshmen in Division II in rushing yardage. Glades is fifth overall in the MIAA in that category (regardless of class). Dawson Herl ranks 10th nationally among freshmen in DII in passing yardage.

National Rankings: Dylan Bolden is third in Division II in interceptions with five, while Richard Jordan ranks 16th in total tackles and 31st in solo tackles. Bolden ranks 15th nationally in passes defended.

National Rankings II: The Lions lead Division II in blocked punts allowed (fewest), while ranking third in turnovers lost (fewest), fourth in passes had intercepted (fewest), 11th in both kickoff return defense and defensive touchdowns, 24th in fumbles lost (fewest) and 25th in sacks allowed (fewest).   

Turnover U: The Lions have forced nine turnovers this season and have given up only three, ranking the Lions as one of the best teams in Division II in turnover margin.

MIAA Rankings: The Lions lead the MIAA in five different categories, while ranking in the top five in 15 total categories.         

Uncanny Accuracy: Dawson Herl threw his first interception of the year at Lincoln in week six. Up until that point, Herl had thrown 138-straight passes without throwing a pick, setting a new MSSU school record.

Mr. 200: Richard Jordan, Jr. went over the 200 tackle plateau against Fort Hays State. Jordan has 238 in his career at Southern.

Kick It Nick: Nick Williams had three field goals against PSU and had another one pulled off the board after a running into the kicker penalty that led to a Southern TD. Williams leads the MIAA in field goals.

This Week's Officials: The officials as assigned by the MIAA this week are as follows: referee: Kyle Sommer, umpire: Keith Kinley, linesman: Biran Hyatt, line judge: Jake Osgood, side judge: Brandon Bermea, field judge: Chris Kilmer, back judge: Ben Schmidt, center judge: Johnathon Webster.     

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 2nd, while Nebraska-Kearney is 21st. 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 11 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.

Weather Report: The weather report for the Jefferson City area on Saturday calls for a high of 66 degrees with sunny skies with a northwest wind of 10 mph. Chance of rain is four percent.