Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern football team will head to Emporia this weekend as the Lions take on Emporia State on Saturday. Kickoff from Welch Stadium is set for 2 pm. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 3-4, 3-4 MIAA | ESU 3-4, 3-4 MIAA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 23
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Emporia, Kan. 
Site: Welch Stadium  (7,000)
Series Record: ESU leads 23-22
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (4-4, overall/at MSSU) | Garrin Higgins (136-81 overall/85-72 at ESU)

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:  ESU leads the series between the two schools 23-22. Southern is 13-9 at home and 9-14 in Emporia. Emporia has won the last eight games in a row, but the Lions had won the previous four meetings. Southern dominated the series early when both teams were in the NAIA, winning 12 of the first 15 matchups.

The Dish On The Hornets: The Hornets come into the game with the Lions, having lost two in a row. Emporia State features the league's best passing offense, but they'll be going up against the Lions and the MIAA's top passing defense. ESU averaged 34.5 points per game with 144.7 yards on the ground per game and 339.3 per game in the air for a total of 484 per game. Braden Gleason leads the way for the Hornets as the quarterback has thrown for 2,313 yards and 19 touchdowns already this season. He has touchdown passes to ten different receivers this season. Gleason has also rushed the ball 52 times for 181 yards and three scores. On the Ground, Canaan Brooks leads the way with 86 carries for 434 yards and five touchdowns. Billy Ross Jr. has a touchdown of his own on the ground. Through the air, the Hornets are led by Dalton Cowan and Cole Schumacher. Both have 29 receptions and nearly the same amount of yards with three scores each. Tyler Kahmann has 20 catches for 258 yards and two scores. Defensively, the Hornets are led by Dawson Hammes with 53 tackles and 8.5 for a loss, while Cade Harelson leads the team with 4.5 sacks and also has three quarterback hurries on the season. Jace McDown has 43 tackles, including ten for a loss, two sacks, an interception and one forced fumble and recovery. Jaedon Pool leads the team with two interceptions. The Hornets will be back in action next week as they travel to Fort Hays State for a 1 pm match up with the Tigers.

A Victory vs. The Hornets Would: stop an eight-game winning streak for Emporia State against the Lions. The win would also be the first four-win season for MSSU since 2014 and be the first three-game winning streak since the start of the 2013 season.

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 four 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 posted their second fourth-quarter comeback this season as Southern defeated Central Missouri in week seven on a game-winning field goal from Nick Williams.

Young Guns: Nathan Glades ranks 9th nationally among freshmen in Division II in rushing yardage. Glades is fourth 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 fifth in Division II in interceptions with five, while Richard Jordan ranks 17th in total tackles and 26th in solo tackles and 25th in tackles for a loss. Bolden ranks 16th nationally in passes defended. Nick Williams ranks 24th nationally in field goals per game.

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 11 turnovers this season and have given up only four, ranking the Lions as one of the best teams in Division II in turnover margin.

MIAA Rankings: The Lions lead the MIAA in six different categories, while ranking in the top five in 17 total categories.

MIAA Rankings II: Richard Jordan Jr leads the MIAA in total tackles and tackles for a loss, while Dylan Bolden leads the MIAA in passes defended. Nick Williams leads the league in field goals per game.

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 247 in his career at Southern.

Kick It Nick: For the second-time this season, Nick Williams had three field goals in a game as Williams kicked the game-winner against Central Missouri as part of three against the Mules in week seven.

This Week's Officials: The officials as assigned by the MIAA this week are as follows: referee: Chris Scott, umpire: Gavin Darr, linesman: Troy Davis, line judge: Matthew Barth, side judge: Anthony Davis, field judge: Josh Schmidt, back judge: Quincy Smith, center judge: Justin Dennig.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 10th, 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 seven teams in the top 25. There are 10 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.

Weather Report: The weather report for the Emporia area on Saturday calls for showers in the morning and then clearing off. There will be a high of 75 with winds out of the southeast at 13 MPH and a 38 percent chance of rain.