Joplin, Mo. -- The Missouri Southern football program will be back inside the friendly confines of Fred G. Hughes Stadium this Saturday as the Lions play host to Lincoln for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.
Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 3-2, 3-2 MIAA | LU 0-5, 0-5 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 8
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium (7,000)
Series Record: MSSU leads 10-2
Coaches:
Atiba Bradley (7-10, overall/at MSSU) | Jermaine Gales (0-5, overall/at LU)
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: Lincoln won the first two games in the series back in 1969 and 1970, but the Lions have won ten in a row since. Southern is 10-2 overall in the series and are 5-1 at home, while carrying a 4-1 record in Jefferson City. Last season the Lions won 52-32 in Jefferson City as Brian Boyd Jr. became the first wide receiver since Landon Zerkel in 2011 to catch three touchdowns finishing with five receptions for 169 yards and Dawson Herl would also become the first freshman quarterback since Adam Hinspeter in 2005 to throw for three touchdowns after going 12-for-20 with 246 yards in the game.
A Victory vs. The Blue Tigers Would: give the Lions 11-straight wins against the Blue Tigers. It would also be the first four-win season for the Lions since 2014.
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: 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 in Division II in red zone offense this year, while ranking fiffth nationally in punt defense. Southern ranks tenth in punting, 15th in fumbles recovered, 17th in turnovers lost, 23rd in turnover margin, 24th in tackles for a loss allowed, 28th in passes had intercepted, 31st in passing yards allowed and 36th in turnovers gained.
MIAA Team Rankings: Southern leads the MIAA in red zone offense and punt defense, while ranking second in fumbles recovered, passing yards allowed, turnover margin, turnovers gained, and sacks. The Lions rank third in fumbles lost, punting, passes had intercepted, tackles for a loss and turnovers lost.
National Individual Rankings: Nick Williams leads Division II in field goal percentage, while Richard Jordan Jr. leads Division II in forced fumbles. Williams is fourth in punting, while Coleman Booker is fifth in fumbles recovered. Jordan is also 11th 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 Jordan and Booker lead the league in forced fumbles and fumbles recovered, respectively. Williams is second in punting, while Jordan is second in solo tackles and total tackles.
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 344 in his career at Southern, ranking seventh all-time at MSSU.
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 Famers Ron Burton and his father Richard Jordan.
KICK IT NICK: Nick Williams leads Division II in field goal kicking and is 11th in field goals per game. He ranks fourth nationally in punting and has the fourth-longest field goal (52 yards) and fifth-longest punt (72 yards) in all of Division II this season.
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 46-28 in the final quarter of play this year. Take away game one against UNK, and that number becomes 46-14.
Mr. 1000: Nathan Glades went over 1,000 rushing yards in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Glades currently has 1,194 rushing yards.
Mr. 200: Colton Winder went over 200 tackles in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Winder currently has 230 tackles in 28 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 11 takeaways this year and given just six. The Lions rank second in the MIAA in both turnover margin and turnovers gained.
This Week's Officials: The officials as assigned by the MIAA this week are as follows: referee: Brian Stelzer, umpire: Troy Hofstetter, linesman: Bill Gannaway, line judge: Jeremy Deringer, side judge: Zac Dickey, field judge: Josh Hewitt, back judge: Jacob Wolf, center judge: John Dostal.
Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Pittsburg State is 7th, while Northwest Missouri is 9th and Nebraska-Kearney is 24th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has six teams in the top ten and has nine 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 Joplin area on Saturday calls for partly cloudy skies. There will be a high of 70 with winds out of the northeast at 8 MPH and a two percent chance of rain.
