Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern football program will conclude the regular season as the Lions play host to Washburn this Saturday for Senior Day. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 pm. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 4-6, 4-6 MIAA | WU 6-4, 6-4 MIAA
Date: Saturday, Nov. 12
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Joplin, Mo.
Site: Fred G. Hughes Stadium  (7,000)
Series Record: WU leads 27-21-1
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (8-14, overall/at MSSU) | Craig Schurig (136-92 overall/at WU) 

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: The Ichabods lead the series between the two teams at 27-21-1. The Lions hold an 11-13-1 mark at Hughes Stadium and a 10-14 mark in Topeka. Southern last defeated the Ichabods in 2014 when the Lions won 42-21 at home. Washburn had won eight in a row before the Lions' win in 2014 .From 1989 to 1997, the Lions won nine games in a row in a stretch that included ten of 11, as well. 

The Dish On The Ichabods: The Ichabods are 6-4 on the season and have split their last four games with wins over Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State. The Ichabods out score their opponents by nine points a game, averaging 124 yards per game rushing and 283 yards through the air, averaging 407 yards of total offense.  Taylon Peters leads the rushing game with 124 carries for 548 yards and 4.4 per carry, including five scores. Hunter Browning has 64 carries for 307 yards and two scores, while Tyler Bowden has 31 carries for 155 yards and two scores. Kellen Simoncic has 2,393 yards on 196 completions to go with 25 touchdowns on the season. Simoncic, however, will not start the game with Jared Taylor getting the nod. Taylor is 39-of-72 on the season for 444 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.  James Letcher, Jr. is the top target through the air, catching 74 passes for 1,005 yards and nine touchdowns, while Peter Afful has 31 catches for 613 yards and eight touchdowns, while Collin Wilson has 23 catches for 305 yards and four scores.  Defensively, Grant Bruner has 127 tackles, including 76 solo and seven tackles for a loss, a sack and two interceptions. Derrick McClendon has 57 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and an interception, while Jordan Finnesy has 56 stops, an interception and a forced fumble. Phoenix leads the team with five sacks. 

A Victory vs. The Ichabods Would: stop a 6-game losing streak to Washburn for the Lions and would be just the fourth win against the Ichabods since 1997. 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 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 Fetuao, 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 after he 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 third nationally in punt return defense, while ranking fourth in red zone offense and ninth in both turnovers lost atnd passes had intercepted. Southern ranks tenth in tackles for a loss allowed, while ranking 14th in punting, 15th in turnover margin, and 19th in fumbles recovered. 

MIAA Team Rankings:  Southern leads the MIAA in turnover margin, tackles for a loss allowed, punt return defense, passes had intercepted and fumbles recovered. The Lions rank second in turnovers lost and red zone defense, while ranking third in punting, passing yards allowed, punt returns, sacks allowed, team sacks and turnovers gained. 

National Individual Rankings: Jaedon Stoshak ranks fourth nationally in punt return touchdowns and eighth in punt returns. Nick Williams ranks seventh nationally in punting and 17th in field goals, while Richard Jordan, Jr. is fifth nationally in forced fumbles, 22nd in total tackles and 30th in solo tackles. Coleman Booker is 19th in forced fumbles, while Booker, Jalen Dennis and Colton Winder are ranked 16th in fumbles recovered. Ezekiel Lang ranks 23rd nationally in yards per reception. 

MIAA Individual Rankings: Jordan leads the MIAA in forced fumbles, while Stoshak leads the league in punt return touchdowns and Williams leads in punting. Booker is second in both fumbles recovered and forced, while Dennis and Winder rank second in fumbles recovered. Jordan is second in total tackles and Winder is third, while Jordan ranks third in solo tackles and Stoshak is third in punt returns. 

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. 

Successful Start:  Luke Sampson had a solid game from in his first collegiate start as he went 12-for-20 with 154 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Run It Dwayne:  Dwayne Lawson ran for 125 yards on seven carries, including a huge 80-yard touchdown run that is the longest rush of the season for the Lions.

Mr. 300:  Richard Jordan, Jr. went over the 300 tackle plateau in week one against UNK. Jordan has 381 in his career at Southern, ranking third all-time at MSSU as he has passed Steve Forbis at No. 3. He is 25 tackles from tying his father, Richard Jordan Sr. for second on the MSSU career tackles list. 

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.

Mr. 1000:  Nathan Glades went over 1,000 rushing yards in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Glades currently has 1,576 rushing yards. 

Mr. 200:  Colton Winder went over 200 tackles in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Winder currently has 267 tackles in 32 career games played. Winder is now 10th in career tackles at MSSU.

The Century Mark:  Nathan Glades has ran for 100 yards or more in four of the eight games this season. In his career, Glades has eight 100-yard rushing games. 

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 17 takeaways this year and given just 10. The Lions rank second the MIAA in turnovers lost and lead the league in turnover margin.

This Week's Officials:  The officials as assigned by the MIAA this week are as follows: referee: James Brookhart, umpire: Richard Owens, linesman: John Livingston, line judge: Jordan Sharp, side judge: Zach Dickey, field judge: Braxton Nicks, back judge: Tyus Heinrich-Schwieger, center judge: Travis Jobe.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Pittsburg State is 5th, while Northwest Missouri is 10th and Emporia State is 22nd. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has five teams in the top ten and has 11 teams in the top 25. There are 12 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region. 

Senior Day:  The Lions will recognize 12 seniors on the roster on Saturday as they play their final home game. Nick Williams, Jalen Dennis, Luke Taggart, Coleman Booker, Jamie Tago, Soloman Garcia, Jeremiah Hawkins, Jokiem Crawford, Richard Jordan, Jr., William Williams, Dwayne Lawson and Chris Boudreaux will all be honored. 

Weather Report:  The weather report for the Joplin area on Saturday calls for sunny skies. There will be a high of 41 with winds out of the northwest at 11 MPH and a 2 percent chance of rain.