Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern football team will be back at home inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium as the Lions play host to Missouri Western this Saturday for Hall of Fame Weekend. Kickoff is set for 2 pm. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 3-5, 3-5 MIAA | MWSU 3-5, 3-5 MIAA
Date: Saturday, Oct. 30
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium  (7,000)
Series Record: MWSU leads 26-23
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (4-5, overall/at MSSU) | Matt Williamson (23-18 overall/ at MWSU)

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:  The all-time series record between the two teams has Missouri Western leading 26-23. The Lions are 13-14 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium and the Southern record is 10-12 in St. Joseph.  Western has won 12 of the last 16 against the Lions, but Southern has two wins against MWSU when the Griffons were ranked including a huge fourth-quarter comeback against then 12th ranked Western in 2009 in St. Joseph and another fourth-quarter comeback in 2012 in St. Joseph against then fourth-ranked Western. Southern dominated the series with the Griffons early on, winning the first five meetings in a row, and ten out of the first 13. The largest margin of victory for the Lions was in two separate games (1970 & 1972 - 45 points), and for the Griffons was in 2015 (42).

The Dish On The Griffons: The Griffons have went 1-4 after opening the season 2-1. Western is averaging 28.6 points per game, while giving up 32.8. The team is averaging 139.6 yards on the ground and 228.8 through the air for 368.4 total offense per game. The Griffons are led by quarterback Anthony Vespo who has gone 104-for-174 for 1,442 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. On the ground, Shen Butler-Lawson has 76 carries on the year with 252 yards and seven touchdowns, while Brandon Hall has 61 carries for 360 yards and a pair of rushing scores. Reagan Jones has 264 yards on 39 carries for two touchdowns. In the air, Cooper Burton has caught 34 passes for 562 yards and three touchdowns, while Traveon James has 35 receptions for 536 yards and four scores. Defensively, the Griffons are led by Evan Chohon and Kobe Cummings. Chohon has a team-high 73 tackles with 51 solo, including a pair of pass breakups and quarterback hurries. Cummings is tied for the D2 lead in interceptions with six, one in front of the Lions' Dylan Bolden. CJ Ravelell leads the Griffons with two sacks. The Griffons will be back in action next week when Western plays host to Central Missouri on Senior Day. Kickoff from Spratt Stadium is set for 1 pm.

A Victory vs. The Griffons Would: stop a seven-game winning streak for Missouri Western against the Lions. The win would also be the first four-win season for MSSU since 2014.

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 five 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 third overall in the MIAA in that category (regardless of class). Dawson Herl ranks eighth nationally among freshmen in DII in passing yardage.

National Rankings: Dylan Bolden is second nationally in Division II in total interceptions with five, while Richard Jordan ranks 15th in total tackles, 15th in solo tackles and 24th in tackles for a loss. Bolden ranks 34th nationally in passes defended. Nick Williams ranks 18th 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), eighth in passes had intercepted (fewest), tenth in fumbles lost (fewest), 19th in defensive touchdowns, 23rd in kickoff defense and 28th in blocked kicks allowed.

Turnover U: The Lions have forced 11 turnovers this season and have given up only five, ranking the Lions as one of the best teams in Division II in turnover margin.

MIAA Rankings: The Lions lead the MIAA in turnovers lost (fewest) and blocked punts allowed (fewest), while ranking in the top five in 18 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 is second in 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.

Freshman Herler: Dawson Herl is moving up the ladder in passing touchdowns by a freshman at Southern. Herl has nine this year and is third in a single-season behind Nathan Emert (24, 2004) and Adam Hinspeter (15, 2005). Herl also became the first freshman quarterback since Hinspeter in 2005 to throw for 300 plus yards in a game when he picked up 308 at Emporia State.

Mr. 200: Richard Jordan, Jr. went over the 200 tackle plateau against Fort Hays State. Jordan has 258 in his career at Southern, ranking tenth all-time at MSSU.

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: Dwight Neibling, umpire: Gavin Darr, linesman: Brian Hyatt, line judge: Jeremy Deringer, side judge: Josh Schmidt, field judge: Brandon Friesen, back judge: Tyus Heinrich-Schwieger, center judge: Taylor Darr.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 8th, while Nebraska-Kearney is 17th. 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 Joplin area on Saturday calls clear skies There will be a high of 62 with winds out of the northwest at 7 MPH and an 8 percent chance of rain.