Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern football team will go across the state line as the Lions will head west to take on 10th-ranked Pittsburg State as the two teams compete for the Miners Bowl this Saturday. Kickoff from Carnie Smith Stadium is set for 2 pm. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 3-1, 3-1 MIAA | PSU 4-0, 4-0 MIAA
Date: Saturday, October 1
Kick-Off: 2:00 pm, CT
Location: Pittsburg, Kan. 
Site: Carnie Smith Stadium  (7,950)
Series Record: PSU leads 43-9-1
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (7-9, overall/at MSSU) | Brian Wright (14-5 overall/at PSU)

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: Pittsburg State holds a 43-9-1 advantage in the series and had won 19 in a row before the Lions won 35-21 in Pittsburg in 2013. Missouri Southern has won six of 27 meetings in Joplin, but the Lions have won just three times in Pittsburg (3-22-1). The Lions are 6-21 in Joplin. The win in 2013 for MSSU stopped a 19-game winning streak and was the first win in Pittsburg since 1983. The two teams have played each year since 1968 in what is the longest running series for MSSU. The Lions led 5-4-1 after the first 10 meetings. The two teams began competing for the Miners' Bowl Trophy in 1986.

The Dish On The Gorillas: The Gorillas come into the game atop the MIAA and ranked tenth in Division II. PSU has out scored its opponents 119-65 this season and the Gorillas average 148 yards on the ground and 275 in the air per game, for 423 per game of total offense. PSU has fumbled the ball just three times this year with two losses and the Gorillas are 24-for-56 in third down conversions. The Gorillas' offense starts with quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. Dodson is 74-for-130 through the air for 1,067 yards and ten touchdowns this season. He has also rushed 22 times for 84 yards. Caleb Lewis has rushed the ball 61 times for 338 yards and three scores, while Noah Hernandez has 23 carries for 92 yards. Bryce Murphy is Dodson's favorite target with 17 receptions for 344 yards and 20.2 per catch with four scores. Devon Garrison and Christian Carter have both caught 13 passes with Garrison registering a pair of scores and Carter, one. Defensively, PJ Swarinski has a team-high 26 tackles this year with 15 solos and 3.5 tackles for a loss. Alex Gaskil and Brandon Miekus both have 19 tackles this year, while Antoine Nunn Jr. has the team's lone two interceptions. Four different players have an interception each. After this game, PSU will be back at home next week to play host to Northwest Missouri at 2 pm.

A Victory vs. The Gorillas Would: stop a seven-game winning streak for PSU against the Lions. It would be the second win in the last five tries in Pittsburg and just the fourth win on the road against the Gorillas in the series.

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 Defensive Player Of The Week: Coleman Booker was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week this week after helping the Lions to a 25-24 win at FHSU. Booker had seven tackles, while also posting a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, including the game-sealing recovery as the Tigers were driving deep in MSSU territory.

National Team Rankings: The Lions lead Division II in red zone offense, while ranking sixth in punt return defense, eighth in fumbles recovered, 12th in both turnover margin and turnovers gained, 13th in fumbles lost, 14th in tackles for a loss allowed, 21st in turnovers lost, 25th in passing yards allowed, and 26th in red zone defense and punting.

MIAA Team Rankings: Southern leads the MIAA in funbles lost and recovered, passing yards allowed, punt return defense, red zone offense, tackles for a loss allowed, turnover margin and turnovers gained. The Lions rank second in passing efficiency defense and sacks, while ranking third in fewest penalties and penalty yards per game, red zone defense, 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. Jordan is fifth in solo tackles and sixth in total tackls, while Coleman Booker is fifth in fumbles recovered.

MIAA Individual Rankings: Williams leads the MIAA in field goal percentage, while Jordan leads the league in forced fumbles and Booker leads in fumbles recovered. Jordan is second in total tackles and solo tackles, while Nathan Glades ranks second in rushing touchdowns, rushing yards and rushing yards per game.

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 334 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 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.

Kicking Some D: Nick Williams punted the ball seven times for an average of 47.6 yards and a long of 61 yards including three inside the 20 in week one against UNK. He had three punts over 50 yards setting up the Southern defense nicely throughout the game.

Mona's Game: Solomona Fetuao had a stellar game at NSU as he had a pair of sacks, three total tackles for a loss of 12 yards and a forced fumble.

Second-Half D: The Lions' D came on strong in the second half against Northeastern State. Southern held the RiverHawks to just one touchdown in the half, but the fourth quarter saw NSU have just seven yards on 12 plays.

Mr. 1000: Nathan Glades went over 1,000 rushing yards in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Glades currently has 1,134 rushing yards.

Mr. 200: Colton Winder went over 200 tackles in his career at Missouri Southern against UCO. Winder currently has 220 tackles in 27 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 ten takeaways this year and given just four. The Lions lead 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 Moore, umpire: David Burham, linesman: Matthew Barth, line judge: Phil Lombardi, side judge: Jason Boswell, field judge: Justin Denning, back judge: Zachary Shanline, center judge: Michael Edwards.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has three teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Pittsburg State is 10th, while Northwest Missouri is 12th and Nebraska-Kearney is 23rd The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has four teams in the top ten and has nine teams in the top 25. There are 12 teams total that are either ranked or receiving votes in the poll from the region.

Weather Report: The weather report for the Pittsburg area on Saturday calls for mostly sunny skies. There will be a high of 80 with winds out of the northeast at 8 MPH and a three percent chance of rain.