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Kickoff
The 9th ranked Missouri Western football will try and continue its magical run this weekend when they take on 5th ranked Minnesota State-Mankato University Mavericks in the Super Region 3 Final of the 2012 DII National Playoffs in Mankato, Minn. on Saturday, December 1.  Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm in Blakeslee Stadium. The Griffons are coming off a 45-21 road victory on Saturday, Novmeber 24 in the second round of the playoffs against #6 Henderson State. The victory marked the first ever road playoff record for the Griffons. The Griffons are 2-3 all-time in the playoff and 1-2 on the road in the playoffs. They come into the week with a 12-1 overall record.

Game Information Date / Time: December 1, 2012 / 12:00 p.m. CST Site: Mankato, Minn. - Blakeslee Stadium (7,000) Radio: Griffon Sports Network (KFEQ 680 AM St. Joseph & KMRN 1360 AM Cameron)     Talent: Dave Riggert (pxp), Bob Orf (analyst),       Brett Esely (sideline)     Television: None Twitter Updates: @gogriffons Series: Series Tied 1-1     St. Joseph, Mo.: MWSU 1-0     Mankato, Minn.: MSU 1-0     First Meeting: September 12, 1998 - MWSU         won 35-28 in St. Joseph     Last Meeting: September 18, 1999 - MSU             won 55-41 in Mankato

Missouri Western Grffons (12-1, 9-1 MIAA) Football Page Roster Statistics (2012) Schedule Game Notes Athletic Website

MSU-Mankato (12-0, 11-0 NSIC) Football Page Roster Statistics Schedule Game Notes Athletic Website

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STORY LINES
• This marks the 3rd meeting between the Griffons and the Mavericks...this is the first time the two teams have meet in the playoffs and second time in Mankato.
• 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 on November 17 in St. Joseph, Mo. and defeated Henderson State 45-21 in Arkadelphia, Ark.
• The Griffons are 1-2 on the road in playoff games falling 28-26 against Midwestern State in 2006, 28-24 against Northwest Missouri State in 2010. They picked up their first road victory in the playoffs against Henderson State.
• 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 6-0 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, #4 NW Missouri State 21-20 and #6 Henderson State 45-21.
• For the first time in history the Griffons have won 12 games in a season and are the outright MIAA Champions.
• This Griffons are 2-3 in playoff games with only two victories coming this season.
• Both MWSU and MSU have won overtime games in the playoffs this year. MWSU defeated UMD and MSU defeated NWMSU.
• This marks the first game on grass for the Griffons this season. The beat SBU last season on October 28, 2011 31-28 on grass.
• The Griffons Michael Hill is in the top-8 for the Harlon Hill Trophy while senior defensive end David Bass is in the top-8 for the Gene Upshaw award.
• 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 18 of 20 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 73 and has made 79 straight in his career. Anderson is one extra point away from breaking the MIAA record for consecutive extra points in a season. He is tied with 73.Travis Partridge tied the single season record for most touchdowns with 17.
• MWSU leads the MIAA in rushing yards per game averaging 278.4 yards per game while senior running back Michael Hill is second in the the nation averaging 162.9 yards per game.
• Senior defensive end David Bass leads the MIAA in sacks per game averaging 0.81...he is tied for 20th in the nation...he set the MWSU record for tackles for a loss in a career with 52.5 and sacks in a career with 39.5.
• Hill is 8th in the nation in All-Purpose yards per game averaging 178.5 per game.
• Travis Partridge has thrown for or ran for 47 touchdowns this season...he leads the MIAA and is 9th in the nation in passing efficiency at 160.7.
• The 12 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 124-63 (.663) 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 12 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 124 wins.
• Is third in all-time wins in the MIAA.
• This marks Coach P's 3rd meeting with MSU-Mankato...This is Coach P's fourth road playoff game and fifth all-time. He is 1-2 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 with coach Keen.

MSU-Mankato acting head coach Aaron Keen.. .
• Enters his second season as Minnesota State's Offensive Coordinator/Associate Head Coach.  Last year, Keen oversaw an offensive unit that averaged 31.8 points per game and 357.8 yards of total offense.
• The Maverick running backs averaged 167.9 yards per game on the ground and 4.1 yards per carry while scoring 25 touchdowns while the passing game averaged 189.8  yards per game, and 12.7 yards per catch while grabbing 20 touchdowns.  Offensively, three Mavericks were named First Team All-NSIC South Division, two were named Second Team All-NSIC South Division and three were Honorable Mention All-NSIC South Division.  
• Prior to coming to Minnesota State after spending the previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and receivers coach at Nebraska Omaha.
• While at Nebraska-Omaha, Keen helped oversee a Maverick squad that went 19-15, scoring 30 or more points in 19 games.  During his time at UNO, he helped lead the Mavericks to an NCAA appearance in 2008 and saw the team participate in the Kanza Bowl in 2009.  In 2008, UNO ranked third in the NCAA in rushing offense and in 2009 the team was ranked 14th in the nation in total offense and set team records in passing and total offense.  He also served as the quarterback coach for Zach Miller who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

TEAM NOTEBOOK
Quick Starts Key for Griffons
• Missouri Western was 5-1 when leading after the first quarter last season and are 11-1 this season...The Griffons were ahead 14-6 against UMD after the first quarter. MWSU won 57-55 in 3OT. The Griffons were ahead 17-7 against Henderson State.

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 25-12 in November under coach Partridge...MWSU is 16-4 at home and 9-8 on the road...two of the road losses came in the Division II playoffs.

Playing on December 1
• The Griffons have played just one game on December 1...They beat Wayne State College (Neb.) 20-13 in the 2007 Mineral Water Bowl held in Excelsior Springs, 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 13 games this season Missouri Western is 60-66  with 53  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 26-36 against DII ranked opponents after defeating #6 Henderson State last weekend in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Griffons also beat 7th ranked Minnesota-Duluth last weekend in St. Joseph, Mo. They 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 8-15 under coach Partridge on the road against ranked opponents. MWSU beat #6 Henderson State last weekend on the road. 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.

When rushing for over 200 yards since 2011
Last season the Griffons were 8-0 when they rushed for over 200 yards as a team. This season they are 11-1 when rushing for over 200 yards. They rushed for 233 yards against Henderson State and  went for, 225 against UMD. The Griffons rushed for 418 against Washburn in their last home of the regular season. 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 15-1 since last season. They were 8-1 in 2011 and 7-0 this season controlling the ball.

Offensive Dominance
On the season, MWSU is averaging 44 points per game while giving up 22.6.  As a team they are gaining 278.4 yards on the ground and 196.8 in the air for an average of 475.2 yards.  As a team, MWSU is giving up 154.8 per game on the ground and 228.3 in the air for a total of 383.1.

Defensive Success
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Stephen Juergens has 84 tackles while Harrison has 76 stops.  As a unit, the defense has 19 interceptions this year and has broken up 56 passes.

Series History with MSU-Mankato
9/18/99    at MSU 55, MWSU 41
9/12/98    at MWSU 35, MSU 28

History in the Playoffs
11/24/12    #9 MWSU 45, at #6 HSU 21
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
HSU = Henderson STate

History in the Postseason
11/24/12    #9 MWSU 45, at #6 HSU 21
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
HSU = Henderson State

About MSU:
• Playoff History: Minnesota State is 2-5 all-time in seven NCAA Division II postseason games. The Mavericks have played two games in Blakeslee Stadium, suffering a 27-24 loss to Hillsdale on Nov. 14, 2009 and winning in double overtime last weekend.

MSU in the Playoffs
Date            Opponent                                         Result
11/28/87     at Portland                                        L, 27-21
11/23/91     at North Dakota State                     W, 27-7
11/30/91     at Portland                                        L, 37-27
11/20/93     at Missouri Southern State            W, 34-13
11/27/93     at North Dakota                                L, 54-21
11/15/08     at Ashland                                         L, 27-16
11/14/09     Hillsdale                                            L, 27-24 (ot)
11/24/12     N'west Mo. State                              W, 38-35 (2ot)

• Ground Game: Minnesota State has rushed for 2,770 yards this season, 1,331 of which have been in the second half and overtime. The Mavericks are averaging 110.9 yards per game in the second half and overtime this season and 4.44 yards per carry.

Converting: Minnesota State is 65-of-157 (41.4%) in third down conversions this season while its opponents are 62-of-171 (36.3%). On fourth-down, Minnesota State is 13-for-21 (61.9%) while its opponents are 6-for-26 (23.1%).

Controlling: The Mavericks have held onto the ball for 399 minutes and 47 seconds this season, averaging 33:18 minutes of possession a game while their opponents are averaging just 26:32. MSU has controlled the ball for an average of 8:53 in the third quarter this season.

Seeing Red: Minnesota State has entered the red zone 65 times this season and has scored in 57 of those trips (87.7%). MSU has 43 touchdowns – 30 rushing and 13 passing – to go with a 14 field goals in its trips inside the opponents 20 this season. Conversely, MSU's opponents have entered the red zone just 34 times and have scored 25 times (18 touchdowns and seven field goals). Of the 454 points Minnesota State has scored this season, 342 (75.3%) have came inside the red zone.

Team Single-Season Top-Ten: Through 12 games, the 2012 squad sits on several single-season team lists including: pass efficiency (1st, 147.5), total offense per play (1st, 5.92), PAT kicks made (1st, 56), PAT kicks attempted (1st, 57), field goals made (1st, 18), rushing touchdowns (2nd, 35), average yards per pass (2nd, 8.4), tackles for loss (2nd, 93), yards from tackles for loss (2nd, 363), pass completion percentage (3rd, 58.9), total offensive yards (3rd, 4,845), touchdowns responsible for (third, 75), all purpose yards (3rd, 6,071), total points scored (3rd, 454), touchdowns scored (3rd, 57), fumble return yards (3rd, 79), rushing yards (4th, 2,770), total offense per game (4th, 403.8), rushing attempts (5th, 571), average yards per rush (5th, 4.845), rushing yards per game (5th, 230.8), yards from sacks (5th, 178), all-purpose yards per game (7th, 505.9), quarterback sacks (5th, 178), average yards per kick return (8th, 21.91), interceptions (8th, 19), average yards per completion (9th, 14.2), average yards per catch (9th, 14.2), field goal percentage (9th, 81.8%), average yards per punt return (9th, 11.52), punt return yards (10th, 265).

Catch It: Minnesota State senior wideout Adam Thielen established career-highs in pass receptions (11) and receiving yards (167) in MSU's 34-31 overtime win against Southwest Minnesota State (10/13). His 11 receptions is the most since Omaar Balton caught 11 passes against Augustana on 9/15/07 and his 167 yards was the most by a Maverick since Dennis Carter recorded 162 yards of receiving against St. Cloud State on 10/9/10.

Minnesota State, Missouri Western Renew Rivalry
Two teams set to play for first time since 1999

What Happened & What's Ahead: The fifth-ranked Minnesota State football team (12-0, 11-0 NSIC) hosts Missouri Western State in the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II
Football Playoffs this weekend. Last week, the Maverick earned a 38-35 victory over Northwest Missouri State while Missouri Western State downed Henderson State, 45-21.

A Little History Lesson: The 2012 season marked the school's 86th season playing football. The Mavericks are 394-375-28 (.511) in 798 games since their inception as a varsity sport in
1922. Minnesota State is in its fifth season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 42-9 (.823) record in league action. Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 18 conference championships, including 16 NIC titles.

What's in a Win: It would also mark the 395th win in program history...A win would be MSU's fourth all-time in the NCAA playoffs and its second all-time against Missouri Western State...A win would push the Maverick home winning streak and its overall winning streak to 13 games...A win would be its second playoff win in Blakeslee Stadium...Finally a win would be MSU's second victory in the month of December in program history.

Griffon Football History
Western is 257-204-9 in their 43rd year of Griffon football.

A win for Missouri Western would
Lift the Griffons to 258-204-9 in their football history...lift the Griffons to 2-0 all-time against the Mavericks and 1-1 in Mankato...give MWSU a record 13 wins in a season...give MWSU their second ever road DII Playoff victory...lift Partridge to 2-1 against MSU and 1-1 in Mankato...give Travis Partridge a 1-0 record against MSU as the starting quarterback and 3-1 in the NCAA Playoffs.

A loss for Missouri Western would
Drop the Griffons to 257-205-9 in their football history...drop Partridge to 1-2 against the Mavericks...drop MWSU to 2-4 in the playoffs...drop MWSU to 1-3 on the road in the Playoffs...drop Travis Partridge to 0-1 against the Mavericks and 2-2 in the NCAA Playoffs.

Series Notes
This marks the third all-time meeting between the two schools and first in the playoffs. The Griffons won at home in 1998 by a score of 35-28 while the Mavericks won 55-41 in 1999. Both games were played in September.

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
Should Missouri Western defeat Minnesota State, it will face the winner of the Super Region 2 championship game Dec. 8 in the national semifinals. The Super Region 2 game pits Valdosta State hosting Carson-Newman. Both teams are 9-2 on the season.