Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football program will head back out on the road as the Lions travel to Warrensburg to take on Central Missouri this Saturday. Kickoff from Walton Stadium is set for 1:30 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 4-2, 4-2 MIAA | UCM 1-5, 1-5 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 15
Kick-Off: 1:30 pm, CT
Location: Warrensburg, Mo.
Site: Walton Stadium (12,000)
Series Record: UCM leads 24-16-2
Coaches:
Atiba Bradley (8-10, overall/at MSSU) | Josh Lambertson (1-5 overall/at UCM)
Media Coverage
MSSU Radio: 101-7 The Vault 101.7 FM; - 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 24-16-2. The Lions have a 9-10-1 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 22 meetings. Southern defeated the Mules in 2006 and 2013, both games at home, as well as winning last year's game on a last-second field goal from Nick Williams.
The Dish On The MUles: The Mules are 1-5 on the season with their lone win coming at home against Northeastern State two weeks ago. Central averages 108 yards per game on the ground and 218 per game through the air for 326 per game of total offense. The Mules have been out scored 180-117 this season for an average of 30-19.5 per game. Cedric Case quarterbacks the offense for the Mules as he is 120-of-195 this season for 1,305 yards through the air and eight touchdowns. He also has 52 carries for 121 yards and two scores. Through the air, Arkell Smith is his top target, catching 20 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns, while Xavier Jackson (19 rec., 230 yards) and Malik Clayborn (20 rec., 175 yards) have caught one and two touchdowns each. On the ground, Xavier Jackson has 50 carries for 135 yards and three scores, while Avian Thomas has 31 carries for 128 yards. Defensively, Central Missouri is led by Noah Blair with 52 tackles, 31 of them being solo stops. Blair has three interceptions and four pass break ups. Curtis Appleton II has 31 tackles with 4.0 TFL and one forced fumble, while Kingsley Ayeni IV has 28 stops, a sack and a quarterback hurry. Weston King leads the team with a pair of sacks. After this, the Mules will be at Fort Hays State next week for a 1 pm kickoff from Lewis Field Stadium.
A Victory vs. The Mules Would: give the Lions two straight against Central Missouri and would be the first back-to-back wins against UCM since the 93-96 seasons when the Lions won four-straight. It would also be the first five-win season for the Lions since the 2013 season.
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 101-7 The Vault this year as Southern can now be heard on 101.7 FM.
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.
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 Washington State 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.
Returning All-MIAA: The Lions return six players that were named All-MIAA a season ago in Richard Jordan Jr., Solomona Fetao, Dylan Bolden, Nick Kruse, Colton Winder and Nick Williams. Williams won All-MIAA honors at two different positions (kicker and punter).
I'll Take That: Dylan Bolden was one of just nine players in Division II with two interceptions returned for a touchdown last season. It tied a single-season MSSU record. Bolden picked up his two pick-six's at UCO in week three and Lincoln in week six.
MIAA Special Teams Athlete Of The Week: Last week, Nick Williams was named the MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week for the second time this season. Williams had three field goals in the game at No. 10 Pitt State. The senior hit field goals from 52, 24 and 42 yards with the 52-yarder being his longest of the season. Williams also had seven punts for an average of 46 yards, including a long of 72 yards and three inside the Gorillas 20-yard line.
National Team Rankings: The Lions rank second nationally in red zone offense, while ranking ninth in punt returns and tenth in punt return deefens and punting. Southern ranks 17th in both tackles for a loss allowed and turnover margin, while ranking 21st in passes had intercepted, turnovers gained and turnovers lost. The Lions rank 29th in sacks, 31st in red zone defense and 36th in passes intercepted.
MIAA Team Rankings: Southern leads the MIAA punt returns, red zone defense and red zone offense and turnovers gained. The Lions rank second in fumbles recovered, punting, passes intercepted, punt return defense, tackles for a loss allowed, sacks and turnover margin, while ranking third in passes had intercepted, tackles for a loss and passing yards allowed.
National Individual Rankings: Nick Williams leads Division II in field goal percentage, while Richard Jordan Jr. leads Division II in forced fumbles and Jaedon Stoshak leads in punt return touchdowns. Williams is fourth in field goals per game and sixth in punting, while Coleman Booker is sixth in fumbles recovered, Stoshak is seventh in punt returns and Jordan ranks 12th in solo tackles and 17th in total tackles.
MIAA Individual Rankings: Williams leads the MIAA in field goal percentage and field goals per game, while ranking secodn in punting. Jordan leads the MIAA in forced fumbles, while Booker leads the league in fumbles recovered and Stoshak leads in both punt returns and punt return touchdowns.
Force It: Southern forced seven fumbles and recovered five at Fort Hays State in week four. None bigger was a force of a fumble from Jalen Dennis that stopped a Tigers' drive deep inside MSSU territory and secured the win for the Lions.
I'm Seeing Double: Dawson Herl will be joined by his younger brother Dayne Herl this year on the roster. Both Herls play quarterback.
Mr. 300: Richard Jordan, Jr. went over the 300 tackle plateau in week one against UNK. Jordan has 352 in his career at Southern, ranking sixth all-time at MSSU as he moved one in front of Melvin Monet last week.
New Record: Richard Jordan Jr. forced a pair of fumbles in the win at Fort Hays State in week four. Those forced fumbles gave him 11 in his career, breaking the previous record of 10 held by MSSU Hall of Famer Ron Burton.
D2football Elite 100 Watch List: Richard Jordan Jr. was announced on the 2022's version of the websites Elite 100 Watch List hat was selected by the staff of the publication and looks to point out the top 100 players in Division II. Jordan Jr. was listed as under the Squad team and is one of 12 from the MIAA listed.
All-American Lineage: Richard Jordan Jr. and his father Richard Jordan are the first father-son duo to be named All-American in the football program's history. Jordan, Jr. was named an All-American last year by the Don Hansen Football Committee.
Fourth Quarter Play: The Lions have out scored their opponents 49-35 in the final quarter of play this year. Take away game one against UNK, and that number becomes 49-21.
Mr. 1000: Nathan Glades went over 1,000 rushing yards in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Glades currently has 1,290 rushing yards.
Mr. 200: Colton Winder went over 200 tackles in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Winder currently has 235 tackles in 29 career games played.
Herl For Five: Dawson Herl was responsible for five touchdowns in the 41-20 win over UCO in week three. Herl had three passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.
Bass Brothers From Another Mother: Colton and Avery Bass (no relation) both had interceptions in the fourth quarter for the Lions at NSU that were key in turning the momentum in the game.
Takeaway U: Southern has forced 13 takeaways this year and given just six. The Lions lead the MIAA in turnovers gained and rank second in turnover margin.
This Week's Officials: The officials as assigned by the MIAA this week are as follows: referee: Dwight Neibling, umpire: Gavin Darr, linesman: Troy Davis, line judge: Jordan Sharp, side judge: Brandon Bermea, field judge: Brandon Friesen, back judge: Tyus Heinrich-Schwieger, center judge: Taylor Darr.
Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Pittsburg State is 7th, while Northwest Missouri is 16th and Nebraska-Kearney is 22nd. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has five 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 Warrensburg area on Saturday calls for partly cloudy skies. There will be a high of 73 with winds out of the northwest at 8 MPH and a one percent chance of rain.
