Joplin, Mo. --  The Missouri Southern football team will head on the road as the Lions travel to Tahlequah to take on the RiverHawks of Northeastern State University. Kickoff from Doc Wadley Stadium is set for 6 pm on Saturday. 

Game Information
Team Records: MSSU 0-1, 0-1 MIAA | NSU 0-1, 0-1 MIAA
Date: Saturday, September 10
Kick-Off: 6:00 pm, CT
Location: Tahlequah, Okla.
Site: Doc Wadley Stadium  (8,300)
Series Record: NSU leads 13-11
Coaches: Atiba Bradley (4-9, overall/at MSSU) | JJ Eckert (2-21 overall/at NSU)

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: This will be the 26th meeting in the series between the two schools. Northeastern State leads the series 13-11, but the Lions have won 11 of the last 18 games between the two teams. Northeastern State was the Lions' first-ever opponent as a four-year school as NSU downed Southern 45-0 in 1968. The RiverHawks dominated the series early on, winning the first seven games in a row, but it has been mostly Southern over the last nine outings. The Lions are 4-7 in Tahlequah, while holding an 6-5 mark in Joplin with one game being vacated by the Lions in 1997. The 86-7 win in 2019 set school records for total offense (743), points (86), margin of victory (79), and first downs (42).

The Dish On The RiverHawks: The RiverHawks are coming off a 42-17 loss on the road to Emporia State to start the year. In the game, ESU had ten more first downs than the RiverHawks had, and out gained NSU 451 to 262. Leading the way for NSU would be quarterback Jacob Frazier. He went 14-of-26 for 105 yards and two touchdowns against the Hornets in the opener and also carried the ball eight times for 28 yards. Darius Salters and Isaiah Davis had 16 and 12 carries, respectively, with Salters posting 65 yards and Davis racking up 44. Dashawn Williams was the top threat in the air catching eight passes for 59 yards and both touchdowns. Malik Antwine caught five passes for 32 yards and Claude Williams had one catch for 14 yards. Defensively, the RiverHawks are led by Chris Lee and Dawandrick Crockett who had four tackles each. Crockett had a tackle for a loss, while Lee and Skaakir had a half a sack each. As a team, NSU put up 157 yards on the ground and 105 in the air and had six penalties for 53 yards. The RiverHawks controlled possession, having the ball for 11 more minutes than the Hornets. After this weekend, NSU will be back at home inside Doc Wadley Stadium next weekend, playing host to Pittsburg State for a 7 pm kickoff.

A Victory vs. The RiverHawks Would: give the Lions 12 wins in the last 19 tries against NSU. It would also be six wins in the last nine games against the RiverHawks.

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.

Welcome Back O: The Lions welcome back eight starters on offense this year. Dawson Herl will have Nathan Glades in the backfield, as well as Jaedon Stoshak at wide receiver, while four different offensive linemen return as starters.

Welcome Back D: Just like the offense, the defense returns eight starters from a year ago. Richard Jordan Jr., Coleman Booker and Colton Winder shore up the linebackers, while Dylan Bolden returns at cornerback. Solomona Fetuao, Solomon Garcia and Nick Kruse return to shore up the defensive line, while Romel Readus returns after missing last year due to injury.

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.

A Good Offense Starts With A Good Defense: Dylan Bolden sparked a scoring drive in week one against Nebraska-Kearney when he intercepted a pass from TJ Davis inside the UNK red zone. That play set up a scoring drive that saw Dawson Herl rush in from four yards out for the score.

Herl for 6: Dawson Herl recorded is first career rushing touchdown in week one against Nebraska-Kearney when he took a read option and scored from four yards out.

National Rankings: The Lions lead Division II in blocked kicks allowed, blocked punts allowed, fumbles lost and red zone offense, while ranking second in passing yards allowed, fourth in passing efficiency defense and tenth in punting. Southern also ranks 21st nationally in red zone defense.

MIAA Rankings: Southern leads the MIAA in blocked kicks allowed, blocked punts allowed, fumbles lost, red zone offense, passing defense, red zone offense and team passing defense efficiency. The Lions are second in the MIAA in passes intercepted and third in punting and red zone defense.

Individual Rankings: Dylan Bolden leads the MIAA and is 17th nationally in interceptions, while Nick Williams is tops in the MIAA and fourth nationally in punting. Richard Jordan Jr. leads the MIAA in both total and solo tackles, while ranking second nationally in total stops and fifth in solos.

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 305 in his career at Southern, ranking seventh all-time at MSSU.

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 programs history. Jordan, Jr. was named an All-American last year by the Don Hansen Football Committee.

Rack up the points: Nick Williams had 62 points last year as a kicker, ranking second all-time in a single season amongst kickers in that category. Williams had 26 PAT's and 12 field goals.

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. He had three punts over 50 yards setting up the Southern defense nicely throughout the game.

This Week's Officials: The officials as assigned by the MIAA this week are as follows: referee: Stan Lopeman, umpire: Jason Simpson, linesman: James Brigance, line judge: David Burge, side judge: Christopher Scott, field judge: Casey Farley, back judge: Quincy Smith, center judge: Armando Espinoza.

Tough League/Region: The MIAA has two teams in the coaches top 25 this week. Northwest Missouri is 2nd, while Nebraska-Kearney is 11th. The Super Region Three, which the Lions are a part of, has four teams in the top ten and has six 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 Tahlequah area on Saturday calls for clear skies. There will be a high of 90 with winds out of the east, northeast at 3 MPH and an three percent chance of rain.