Kickoff
The 9th ranked Missouri Western football will try and continue its magical run this weekend when they take on 6th ranked Henderson State University Reddies in the second round of the 2012 DII National Playoffs in Arkadelphia, Ark. on Saturday, November 24. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm in Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at Ruggles Field. The Griffons are coming off a 57-55 triple overtime thrilling victory on Saturday, Novmeber 17 in the first round of the playoffs against #7 Minnesota-Duluth. The victory marked the first ever for the Griffons in the playoffs. The Griffons are 1-3 all-time in the playoff and 0-2 on the road in the playoffs. They come into the week with a 11-1 overall record.
STORY LINES
• This marks the 1st meeting between the Griffons and the Reddies...the two teams have won a combined 21 games this season.
• This marks the 1st time in school history that the Griffons have made it past the first round. MWSU defeated Minnesota-Duluth 57-55 in 3OT last weekend in St. Joseph, Mo.
• The Griffons are 0-2 on the road in playoff games falling 28-26 against Midwestern State in 2006 and 28-24 against Northwest Missouri State in 2010.
• The Griffons are 6-1 at home defeating, Central Missouri, William-Jewell, Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma, Washburn and Minnesoa-Duluth. Their only loss came against Missouri Southern.
• The Griffons are a perfect 5-0 on the road this season and 5-0 in MIAA play on the road...MWSU beat Fort Hays State 21-7, Northeastern State 45-31, #7 Pittsburg State 63-14, #15 Emporia State 57-28 and #4 NW Missouri State 21-20.
• For the first time in history the Griffons have won 11 games in a season and are the outright MIAA Champions.
• This Griffons are 1-3 in playoff games with their first victory coming last weekend against Minnesota-Duluth...MWSU is 1-1 at home winning last weekend and falling 35-29 last season against #10 NW Missouri State.
• The Griffons
Michael Hill and Henderson State Kevin Rodgers are both in the top-8 for the Harlon Hill Trophy.
• The Griffons highest ranking ever in the AFCA poll is 4th while their highest in the D2Football.com poll is 3rd.
• Dating back to last season the Griffons have won 17 of 18 regular season games with 16 being MIAA games.
• Missouri Western broke the single game record for yards per rush against William Jewell with 9.7 yard per carry average. The old record was 7.8 which was set on October 22, 2005 vs. Southwest Baptist.
•
Taylor Anderson broke the record for most consecutive PATs made in a season with 67 and has made 73 straight in his career.
• MWSU leads the MIAA in rushing yards per game averaging 282.2 yards per game while senior running back
Michael Hill is second in the the nation averaging 166.3 yards per game.
• Senior defensive end
David Bass leads the MIAA in sacks per game averaging 0.88...he is tied for 20th in the nation...he set the MWSU record for tackles for a loss in a career with 52 and sacks in a career with 39.5.
• Hill is 8th in the nation in All-Purpose yards per game averaging 181.83 per game.
•
Travis Partridge has thrown for or ran for 43 touchdowns this season...he leads the MIAA and is 9th in the nation in passing efficiency at 161.04.
• The 11 victories is a school record for wins in a season. The previous record was 9 which was done six times (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011).
COACHES
MWSU head football coach Jerry Partridge. . .
• Named the sixth head coach of the Griffon football program in 1997
• Is 123-63 (.661) in his 16th season as the Griffon head coach.
• Is 93-49 (.660) against the MIAA.
• 2012 & 2000 MIAA Coach of the Year
• Has led the Griffons to four NCAA Playoff
appearances and six Mineral Water bowl appearance.
• Led the Griffons to the 2012 MIAA Championship and 2003 Co-MIAA regular season championship.
• Has secured his seventh winning seasons in last eight years
• Led the Griffons to a school record 11 victories this season and to nine victories or more in eight of his 16 seasons which included last and this season.
• Is Missouri Western's all-time winningest coach with 123 wins.
• Is third in all-time wins in the MIAA.
• This marks Coach P's 1st meeting with Henderson State...This is Coach P's third road playoff game and fifth all-time. He is 0-2 on the road and 1-1 at home.
• Played four years at Missouri Western.
• Partridge is 70-23 at home in his career with three undefeated seasons at home (2003, 2006, 2010).
• Marks the 1st meeting against coach Maxfield.
Henderson State head coach Scott Maxfield.. .
• 2012 Great American Conference Coach of the Year and 2010 Gulf South Conference Co-Cocah Of The Year
•Scott Maxfield has created and built one of the top offensive programs in the country since taking over as Henderson State head coach in 2005.
• Guided the Reddies to a 10-0 record and their first Great American Conference title in 2012.
• In 2010, Maxfield led the Reddies to their first conference championship in 25 years as Henderson State claimed a share of the Gulf South Conference title.
• Henderson's explosive offense set 25 team and individual records in 2010, including total offense averaging 480.6 yards per game, and scoring offense averaging 35.3 points per contest. Maxfield was tabbed GSC Co-Coach of the Year while quarterback Nick Hardesty earned Player of the Year honors.
• Henderson State Head Football Coach Scott Maxfield was named Great American Conference Coach of the Year, while Kevin Rodgers was Offensive Player of the Year, Maxie Graham Defensive Player of the Year and Tim Llewellyn Freshman of the Year.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
Quick Starts Key for Griffons
• Missouri Western was 5-1 when leading after the first quarter last season and are 10-1 this season...The Griffons were ahead 14-6 against UMD on Saturday after the first quarter. MWSU won 57-55 in 3OT.
September Success
• In the month of September under Partridge the Griffons are 38-24 overall and 19-12 in Spratt Stadium and 19-12 on the road.
Outstanding October
• In the month of October under Partridge the Griffons are 49-22 overall, 25-9 in Spratt Stadium and 24-13 on the road.
Playing in November
The Griffons are 24-12 in November under coach Partridge...MWSU is 16-4 at home and 8-8 on the road...two of the road losses came in the Division II playoffs.
Playing on November 24
• The Griffons have played just one game on November 24...The beat William-Jewell 72-44 in the Moila Shrine Bowl held in St. Joseph, Mo.
In Spratt Stadium
• The Griffons are 123-64-3 since 1979 in Spratt Stadium...MWSU is 6-1 this season.
Red Zone Success
• In their 12 games this season Missouri Western is 55-61 with 48 touchdowns and seven field goals when in the red zone.
• In 2011 the Griffons continued that trend scoring on 46 of 51 trips into the red zone with 29 touchdowns and 17 field goals. Opponents scored on 29 of 37 trips in the Griffons red zone collecting 21 touchdowns with eight field goals.
• In the 2009 and 2010 seasons the Griffons were outstanding in the red zone converting on a combined 95 of 115 trips into the red zone scoring 71 touchdowns with 24 field goals.
Missouri Western at home when ranked since 1989
• When the Griffons are ranked and play at home under coach Partridge they are 18-8.
• The Griffons are 30-18 when they are ranked since 1989.
• Missouri Western is 30-16 when ranked under Partridge.
Missouri Western against ranked opponents
MWSU is 25-36 against DII ranked opponents after defeating 7th ranked Minnesota-Duluth last weekend in St. Joseph, Mo. The also beat 4th ranked NW Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. 25th ranked Washburn Ichabods 56-28 on November 3, 2012 in Spratt Stadium. MWSU beat 15th ranked Emporia State 57-28 on October 25, 2012 in Emporia. MWSU beat #7 Pittsburg State on October 20, 2012 in Pittsburg. Under head coach
Jerry Partridge the Griffons are 21-29 against ranked opponents as their previous victory before the PSU win came came on September 10, 2011 by a score of 23-6 against the 12th ranked Central Missouri Mules.
Missouri Western against ranked opponents at home
The Griffons are 14-14 under Partridge at home against ranked opponents after their victory against Washburn last weekend. The Griffons have defeated two ranked opponents at home this season. No. 25 Washburn and No. 7 Minnesota-Duluth. Last season the defeated #3 Northwest Missouri State 31-28 on November 5, 2011.
Missouri Western against ranked opponents on the road Under Partridge
Missouri Western is 7-15 under coach Partridge on the road against ranked opponents. MWSU's last victory on the road came last week by a score of 21-20 against NW Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. Before this year it was in 2010 defeating #15 Washburn by a score of 36-33 on September 18, 2010. The Griffons first victory against a ranked opponent under Partridge on the road was on October 2, 2004 when they defeated 16th ranked Central Missouri 49-44.
Griffons in TV Games Under Partridge
Missouri Western is 7-4 under Partridge in television games after defeating NW Missouri State, 21-20 and Emporia State 58-17. MWSU defeated Nebraska-Kearney 38-14 earlier this season. MWSU went 3-0 this season on TV. Missouri Western went 2-1 last season in televised games. Last season MWSU defeated UCM and NWMSU on the MIAA Television Network and lost to Washburn on CBS College Sports. In 2010 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. Western is 0-1 in nationally televised games falling to Washburn last season.
When rushing for over 200 yards since 2011
Last season the Griffons were 12-0 when they rushed for over 200 yards as a team. This season they are 10-1 as they went for, 225 against UMD and 418 against Washburn in their last two home games. They went for 382 against Emporia State and 240 in their victory against PSU. They went for 260 loss against MSSU. In their victories they went for 237 against Northeastern State, 243 against Central Oklahoma, 264 against Fort Hays State., 358 against Nebraska-Kearney, 216 yards against Central Missouri Mules and 398 against William Jewell.
When controlling the time of possession
When the Griffons lead in time of possession they are 14-1 since last season. They were 8-1 in 2011 and 6-0 this season controlling the ball.
Defensive Success
This season the Griffons defense has been outstanding. MWSU is third in the MIAA and is 41st in the nation giving up just 22.75 points per contest. They are tied for 40th in the nation and 5th in the MIAA sacking the quarterback 2.50 times per game.
David Bass is 20th in the nation and 1st in the MIAA averaging 0.88 sacks per game.
Ben Pister is 1st in the MIAA and 15th in the nation at 1.79 tackles for loss per game.
Series History with Henderson State
First Meeting
History in the Playoffs
11/17/12 at #9 MWSU 57, #7 UMD 55 - 3OT
11/19/11 #10 NWMSU 39, at #16 MWSU 29
11/20/10 at #3 NWMSU 28, MWSU
11/18/06 at #18 MSU 28, #15 MWSU 26
MSU = Midwestern State
NWMSU = Northwest Missouri State
UMD = Minnesota-Duluth
History in the Postseason
11/17/12 at #9 MWSU 57, #7 UMD 55 - 3OT
11/19/11 #10 NWMSU 39, at #16 MWSU 29!
11/20/10 at #3 NWMSU 28, MWSU!
12/05/09 MWSU 35, vs. AC 21
12/06/08 vs. AC 37, MWSU 16 #
12/01/07 MWSU 20, vs. WSC 13 #
11/18/06 at #18 MSU 28, #15 MWSU 26!
12/03/05 MWSU 35, vs. CSP 23 #
12/06/03 MWSU 24, vs. CSP 14 #
12/02/00 vs. WSU 43, MWSU 41 (3OT) #
11/22/75 at MWSU 44, GC 0 #
11/19/77 at MWSU 35, BC 30 *
11/24/79 at MWSU 72, WJC 44 ^
* = Boot Hill Bowl
^ = Moila Shrine Bowl
# = Mineral Water Bow
! = D2 Playoffs
GC = Graceland College
BC = Benedictine College
WJC = William Jewell College
MSU = Midwestern State
NWMSU = Northwest Missouri State
WSU = Winnon State
CSP = Concordia-St. Paul
AC = Augustana College
WSC = Wayne State (Neb.) College
UMD = Minnesota-Duluth
About HSU:
• The Reddies lead the nation in scoring averaging 53.3 points per game. Henderson is third nationally in total offense averaging 520.5 yards per contest including 374.2 yards passing per game.
• Henderson State is one of only six teams in the country that remains undefeated, with the Reddies along with Minnesota State-Mankato having the longest current winning streak at 12.
• The Reddies completed the regular-season with a perfect 10-0 record and claimed the outright Great American Conference championship with the win over the Tigers.
• Henderson State quarterback Kevin Rodgers has been named one of the eight national finalists for the 2012 Harlon Hill Trophy
• Henderson State has scored 50 points or more in five of its eight games played this year. Never before has a Reddie team scored 50 points or more five times in a season. Since Coach Maxfield's arrival in 2005, the Reddies are 10-0 when hitting the half-century mark. All-time, Henderson State is 28-1 when scoring 50 or more points in a game. The lone loss was a 55-50 loss to Arkansas-Monticello in 2003 at Carpenter- Haygood Stadium. In that game, the Reddies built a 29-14 halftime lead before UAM outscored Henderson 28-7 in the third quarter.
Griffon Football History
Western is 256-204-9 in their 43rd year of Griffon football.
A win for Missouri Western would
Lift the Griffons to 257-204-9 in their football history...lift the Griffons to 1-0 all-time against the Reddies and 1-0 in Arkadelphia...give MWSU a record 12 wins in a season...give MWSU their first ever road DII Playoff victory...lift Partridge to 1-0 against HSU and 1-0 in Arkadelphia...give
Travis Partridge a 1-0 record against HSU as the starting quarterback and 2-1 in the NCAA Playoffs.
A loss for Missouri Western would
Drop the Griffons to 256-205-9 in their football history...drop Partridge to 0-1 against the Reddies...drop MWSU to 1-4 in the playoffs...drop MWSU to 0-3 on the road in the Playoffs...drop
Travis Partridge to 0-1 against the Reddies and 1-2 in the NCAA Playoffs.
Series Notes
This marks the 1st meeting between the two schools.
Griffons in the National Polls
The Missouri Western Griffons were tabbed No. 9 in the AFCA preseason top 25 poll. Missouri Western has been ranked in the top 25 in the last 19 polls and has received votes in 39 of the last 40 polls by the American Football Coaches Association. Missouri Western was listed at No. 8 in the d2football.com media poll. The #3 ranking the Griffons had earlier this season is the highest ranking for the Griffons. The #4 ranking was the highest by the AFCA.
Up Next
The winner will move on in the playoffs to take on the #1 ranked Minnesota-State Mankato or #6 NW Missouri State on Saturday, December 1. If MWSU wins and Mankato wins the Griffons will be going to Mankato, Minn. If the Griffons win and the Bearcats win then the Griffons will host the Bearcats.
