Football 9/14/2011 11:05:00 AM

MISSOURI WESTERN HOST LANGSTON IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION

Setting the scene:
Missouri Western had a nice victory over 12th ranked Central Missouri last weekend by a score of 23-6 in front of 6,251 fans at Spratt Stadium. The Mules were the highest ranked team the Griffons have defeated since September 22, 2007 when they defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas 39-32 in Pittsburg, Kan. The Griffons will look to avoid going 1-2 for the first time since the 2008 season. Western last loss against a non-conference opponent came on September 6, 2008 when they fell 47-18 against 17th ranked Minnesota-Duluth. The last NAIA opponent that the Griffons faced was back on August 30th, 2007 when they defeated Baker University 42-24 in front of 4,118 fans at Spratt Stadium. The Langston Lions come into the contest with a 2-0 record defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 19-12 in the season opener and defeating Division II opponent Tuskegee 33-19. The Lions are currently ranked 18th in the latest NAIA poll.

Griffons on Radio:
The game will be broadcasted live on KFEQ 680 AM. The game can also be heard on the internet at www.gogriffons.com by following the “webcast” link under game day. Dave Riggert will be the play-by-play voice of the Griffons and Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Orf will be the color analyst. Kent Heier will provide sideline insight for listeners on the field. The broadcast will start approximately one hour prior to kickoff.

The Coaches:
Missouri Western head football coach Jerry Partridge is in his fifteenth season as the Griffons head coach. Partridge is 104-60 (.634) and 78-47 (.624) against MIAA opponents as the Griffons head coach and third all-time in the MIAA in victories. He led the Griffons to their first MIAA title and to two DII Playoff appearance in 2006 and 2010. He shared MIAA Coach of the Year honors in 2000 after leading the Griffons to an 8-1 MIAA record. This marks the 1st meeting in Coach Partridges era against the Lions. Coach Partridge if 4-0 in his career against NAIA opponents. Overall coach Partridge has guided Western to eight post season appearances with six being in the Mineral Water Bowl. Western is 0-2 in the playoffs and 7-4 in postseason games.

Langston University Interim Head Coach Mickey Joseph is in his first season as the leader of the Lions. He came to Langston after spending time at Desire Street Academy as the head coach and athletic director. While there he was named the 2007 Louisiana Coach of the Year. Before working at Desire Street Academy, Joseph worked stints at the University of Central Oklahoma, Nichols State University, Alabama State University, Tulane University, Archbishop Shaw High School, Wayne State College, and Omaha North High School. After graduating from Archbishop Shaw High School, Joseph went on to play quarterback at the highly proficient University of Nebraska, then of the Big Eight Conference. While at Nebraska, his team won the Big Eight Conference Championship three times. Joseph was named to the All Big Eight Team in 1990.

About Langston:
The Mickey Joseph Era of Langston University Football got off to a 2-0 start when the Lions defeated Tuskegee University 33-19 Saturday afternoon at Abbott Stadium. The Golden Tigers, an NCAA Division II school that has won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship four out of the last five years, suffered their first season opening defeat since 2003 and the first under their current coach Willie Slater. Senior Carlos Ross had a tremendous game for the Lions, as the Kenner, LA native rushed for 115 yards off of 20 carries. His longest run of the day was a 43-yard scamper in the fourth quarter that would eventually lead to the touchdown pass from Lewis to King. For his performance against Tuskegee Ross was named NAIA's Division II Player of the Week. After today, the Lions return to action on Saturday, September 24 when they take on another MIAA opponent in Emporia State in Emporia, Kan. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

Series Notes:
This marks the first meeting with the Griffons and the Langston Lions.

Record vs. NAIA Opponents Under Partridge:
The Griffons are 4-0 against NAIA opponents under head coach Jerry Partridge. Western is 2-0 at home and 2-0 on the road in his career. The Griffons have played one NAIA opponent that was ranked in the NAIA poll which was 13th ranked Benedictine on September 2, 2004 in St. Joseph, Mo. by a score of 34-14. Western's last contest against an NAIA opponent was on August 30, 2007 when the Griffons beat Baker University by a score of 42-24 in St. Joseph to open up the season. The Griffons two road contest against NAIA schools were against Quincy (Ill.) and Benedictine. Western beat Quincy by a score of 49-7 on September 13, 1997 and beat Benedictine 24-3 on September 6, 2003.

Western against Ranked Opponents:
Western is 19-34 against DII ranked opponents after defeating 12th ranked Central Missouri last Saturday night. Under head coach Jerry Partridge the Griffons improved to 15-27 against ranked opponents as their last victory came last season in a 36-33 victory against Washburn University who was ranked 15th at the time.

Western against ranked opponents at home:
The Griffons are 10-11 under Partridge at home against ranked opponents after last weeks victory over the Mules. The previous victory at home against a ranked opponent was on September 19, 2009 when they beat #22 Washburn University by a score of 37-34 on a 53 yard field goal by Brad Beckwith giving the Griffons the victory.

Griffons in TV Games Under Partridge:
Western is 2-3 under Partridge after last week victory over the Mules in television games. Last season the Griffons went 1-1 in television games defeating Pittsburg State 42-24 on September 25 in St. Joseph and falling 42-0- against Northwest Missouri State on October 2. Western fell at 10th ranked Pittsburg State 21-14 back on November 6, 1997 and to #18 Emporia State on October 8, 1998 by a score of 42-34 in St. Joseph, Mo.

Getting to the Quarterback:
The Griffons are tied for first as a team in sacks with Pittsburg State with eight and are tied for 14th in the nation. Individually David Bass is tied for 4th in the nation with four sacks and is first in the MIAA with four sacks. Ben Pister is second in the league with two sacks. Western had seven sacks and nine tackles for a loss against Central Missouri.

Defensive Success:
The Griffons have been successful on defense this season leading the league in pass defense giving up just 136 yards through the air to opponents after two games. Western has three interceptions with all three being in last weeks game against Central Missouri. Total defense the Griffons are second giving up 302 yards per game.

Rushing Attack:
Western had a solid rushing attack in week two against Central Missouri rushing for 238 yards. This marked the first time since last year against Lincoln that the Griffons rushed for over 200 yards. Travis Partridge rushed for 92 yards on five carries with a touchdown while Michael Hill went for 113 yards on 25 carries with the majority of his work being done in the second half. Hill has had a 100 yard game four times in his career. He had two last season against Mesa State when he went for 100 yards on 17 carries and against Nebraska-Omaha when he went for 146 yards on 21 carries. During his redshirt freshman season he had 143 yards on 28 carries against Missouri Southern at home. Three of his four 100 yard games have come in Spratt Stadium.

Griffon Football History:
Western is 237-201-9 in their 42nd year of Griffon football.

A win for Western would:
Lift the Griffons to 238-201-9 in their football history...give Western their fifth consecutive home victory over a non-conference opponent...give the Griffons their six consecutive victory over a non-conference opponent...lift the Griffons to 9-0 against NAIA opponents since 1989....lift Western to 7-0 at home against NAIA opponents since 1989...lift Western to 2-0 since 1989 against ranked NAIA opponents...improve them to 2-1 in their last three home openers against non-conference opponents.

A loss for Western would:
Drop the Griffons to 237-202-9 in their football history...drop Western to 1-2 for first time since 2008 and for just the third time under Partridge...the other time was in 2000....snap a four game winning streak at home against non-conference opponents...snap a five game winning streak over a non-conference opponent...give the Griffons their first loss against an NAIA opponent since joining DII...drop them to 1-2 in their last three home openers against non-conference opponents.

Post season under Coach Partridge:
The Griffons have made a postseason appearance seven of the last eight years with five of those being in the Mineral Water Bowl (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009). Western made its first ever playoff appearance in 2006 against Midwestern State in Wichita Falls, Texas. Last season Western made their second ever playoff appearance against Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo.

Griffons on Sept. 17:
Since the 1970 season, the Griffons are 3-2 on September 17. Western has not faced the Lions on September 17th. The last game the Griffons played on September 17 was in 2005 when they fell at home against 10th ranked Northwest Missouri State University by a score of 31-21. Western is 1-2 at home on September 17 and 2-0 on the road. Western's loan home victory on September 17 was in 1977 when they defeated Nebraska-Wesleyan 33-24. On the road the beat Northwest Missouri State 27-26 in 1988 and 20-0 in 1994.

Senior transfer kicker:
Senior transfer from Nebraska-Omaha Greg Zuerlein made his presence felt last weekend . He nailed two field goals of 45 and 51 yards to help Western to the victory. He also had one touchback on the opening kickoff of the game.

Up Next:
The Griffons will play their second televised game of the season. This time it will be broadcasted on CBS College Sports Network. Western takes on the 13th ranked Washburn Ichabods at Yager Stadium on Thursday, September 22nd at 7:00 pm. Western defeated the Ichabods last season 36-33 in Topeka and defeated them in St. Joseph in 2009 by a score of 36-33. Washburn was ranked 15th and 22nd respectively.

Print Friendly Version

Missouri Western State University Athletics

Schedule

Events

MISSOURI WESTERN HOST LANGSTON IN NON-CONFERENCE ACTION