Kickoff
The No. 18-ranked Missouri Western Griffons will open the 2012 season as they will play host to the Central Missouri Mules at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30 in Spratt Stadium. The two teams are both coming off post season apperances in 2011.
STORY LINES
• The Griffons are entering it's 43rd season of football as the first year was in 1970
• This marks the fourth time since 1989 that Western has opened up the season with an MIAA game and second straight as they fell to Pittsburg State University by a score of 34-7 on September 1st in Spratt Stadium.
• The Griffons are just 1-2 in season openers that are MIAA games. Western fell last season against Pittsburg State 35-7 on September 1. Western fell on September 2, 1989 in Spratt against Northwest 45-29 and won on September 1 against #15 Northwest 27-25 in Maryville, Mo.
• This marks the second time in school history that the Griffons and the Mules have opened up the season against each other.
• The first time was on August 30, 1986 when the Griffons fell to the Mules 23-17 in St. Joseph, Mo.
• The Griffons have opened up MIAA play twice against Central Missouri. The Griffons lost 34-28 on September 15, 2001 in Warrensburg and fell 21-14 on September 21, 2002 against the #14 Mules in St. Joseph.
• This marks the second consecutive year that the Griffons and the Mules will face off in St. Joseph, Mo.
• The Griffons have defeated the Mules eight out of the last nine meeting which includes five straight time in Spratt Stadium.
• The Griffons last loss against UCM at home came on September 12, 2002 falling 21-14 against the 14th ranked Mules.
• The Griffons are 2-3 against the Mules since 2001 when ranked in the top-25. Western is 4-2 against the Mules when Central Missouri is ranked in the top-25 poll.
• Western is coming off a season where they went 9-3 and made their third trip in school history to the NCAA Division II National Playoffs and hosted its first ever playoff game at Spratt Stadium.
• The nine victories tied a school record for most victories in a season. Missouri Western has done it 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 112-62 (.644) in his 16th season as the Griffon head coach.
• Is 84-48 (.636) against the MIAA.
• Has led the Grifons to three NCAA Playoff appearances and six Mineral Water bowl appearance.
• Led the Griffons to the 2003 Co-MIAA regular season championship.
• Has recorded six winning seasons in seven years
• Led the Griffons to a school record nine victories in six of his 15 seasons which included last season.
• Is Missouri Western's all-time winningest coach with 112 wins.
• Is third in all-time wins in the MIAA.
• Is 10-5 all-time against the University of Central Missouri and is 6-2 against UCM in St. Joseph.
• Played four years at Missouri Western.
Central Missouri head coach Jim Svoboda . . .
• Is 19-7 entering his 3rd season as the Mules head coach.
• Led the Mules to an 11-3 and 8-1 MIAA record during his first season at the helm.
• Came to UCM after three seasons at Montana State University
• A 1983 graduate of Northwestern College in Iowa
• Was at Northwest Missouri State from 1994-2003 as the offensive coordinator.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
Quick Starts Key for Griffons
• Missouri Western was 5-1 when leading after the first quarter last season.
August Action
• The Griffons are 7-3 in August action under head coach
Jerry Partridge
In Spratt Stadium
• The Griffons are 117-63-3 since 1979 in Spratt Stadium...Partridge is 64-22 at home since 1997. He went 5-2 in 2011 and 6-0 in 2010.
Red Zone Success
• 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.
• 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.
Griffons in season openers
• The Griffons are 25-15-2 all-time in season openers
• Uner coach Partridge the Griffons are 11-4 in openers. Western has won the last six of the last seven openers.
• All-time the Grifofns are 15-8 at home in openers and 10-7-2 on the road.
• Under Partridge the Griffons are 7-3 at home and 4-1 on the road.
• The last Grifon loss in the season opener was last season on September 1st against Pittsburg State 34-7. • The Griffons are 11-12 in MIAA openers. Western is 5-6 at home and 6-6 on the road.
• Missouri Western has gone 7-8 under head coach
Jerry Partridge. Western is 3-4 at home and 4-4 on the road in MIAA openers.
vs. Central when the Mules are ranked
The Griffons are just 4-2 since 1990 against the Mules when Central Missouri is ranked in the top-25. They are 3-1 at home against Central Missouri and 1-1 on the road. Under Partridge the Griffons are 4-2 against Northwest when the Bearcats are ranked. They are 3-1 at home and 1-1 on the road. The Griffons defeated the Mules last season on September 8, 2011 in Spratt Stadium by a score of 23-6 when the Mules were ranked #12.
vs. Central when the Griffons are ranked
Since 1990 the Griffons are 2-3 when they are ranked against the Mules. Western is 1-1 at home and 1-2 on the road. Last season the Griffons were not ranked when they defeated the Mules at home. Western's first meeting with Central when they both were ranked was in 2002 when they were 22nd and the Mules were 14th. The Griffons last victory over the Mules when they were ranked was in 2009 when Western defeated UCM 36-21 on October 16 in St. Joseph when they were ranked 15th and the Mules were ranked 14th.
Western against Ranked Opponents
Western is 20-36 against DII ranked opponents after defeating 3rd ranked NW Missouri State 31-28 on November 4, 2011 in Spratt Stadium. Under head coach
Jerry Partridge the Griffons are 16-29 against ranked opponents as their previous victory came on September 10, 2011 by a score of 23-6 against the 12th ranked Central Missouri Mules.
Western against ranked opponents at home
The Griffons are 12-14 under Partridge at home against ranked opponents after their victory against Northwest last season. The previous victory at home against a ranked opponent was on September 10, 2011 when they beat #12 Central Missouri by a score of 23-6.
Western against ranked opponents on the road Under Partridge
Western is 4-15 under coach Partridge on the road against ranked opponents. Western's last victory on the road came last season in 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
Western is 3-4 under Partridge after their against the Bearcats last weekend. Western is 2-1 this season in televised games beating UCM and NWMSU and losing to Washburn. 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. Western is 0-1 in nationally televised games falling to Washburn earlier this season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTEBOOK
Running Down Hill
• Senior running back
Michael Hill led the MIAA in 2011 averaging 108.8 yards rushing per game.
• All-MIAA first team selection in 2011
• Started all 12 games last season
• Is 596 yards away from breaking the school record for rushing yards in a career which is 3,396 and is held by Tony Williams. Hill has 2,801.
• He is 77 carries away from breaking the school record for most carries in a career. Thomas Hodges holds the career record of 693 while Hill has 617.
• 2011 Awards: MIAA Offensive Player of the Week on October 31, 2011...First Team all-MIAA...Second Team Daktronics Super Region Four...Second Team DonHansen Super Region Four...Honorable Mention Don Hansen all-American...Honorable Mention Beyond Sports Network all-American.
Sack Machine
• Senior defensive end
David Bass led the MIAA with 14.5 sacks a season ago which is a half a sack short of tying the MWSU single season record.
• He set the record for most tackles for a loss in a season with 20. The previous record was 18.5 set by Eric
McDowell.
• Was fourth in the nation averaging 1.21 sacks per game.
• Had two games in which he tied a single game record for most sacks with four twice. He did it against Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist last season.
• Has started all 36 games since his redshirt freshman season.
• 2011 Award List...Don Hansen Football Gazette First Team All-American...BSN First Team All-American...All-MIAA First Team Selection...Daktronics All-American...AP Little All-American Second Team...D2Football.com All-America...First Team Daktronics First Team All- Region...First Team All-MIAA defensive end...2-time MIAA Defensive Player of the Week...Once named D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Week...Don Hanson First Team All-Super Region Four
The Leg from Down Under
• Junior punter
Scott Groner from Australia was a plesant suprise in 2011 being name to the honorable mention All-MIAA squad.
• Punted the ball 50 times for 2,193 yards...broke the single season record for yards per punt at 43.9...had a long of 80
yards...had 13 go for 50 or more yards and 17 inside the 20.
• Don Hansen second team all-American...honorable mention all-American by Beyond Sports College Network...second team all-Region by Don Hansen...Beyond Sports College Network Punter of the Week on November 23.
The Anchor
• Senior offensive lineman
Macon Allan has stared all 36 games at right tackle since his redshirt freshman season.
• In 2011 he was a First Team all-MIAA...Second Team Don Hansen Super Region Four...Honorable Mention Don Hansen All-American
2012 Preseason Honors
David Bass
• Named to the 2012 Senior Bowl Watch List
• 2012 “D2 vs NAIA Senior Bowl” Preseason All-American
• USA Football News Division II Pre-Season All-American
• First team All-America by Lindy's Magazine
• First team All-American by Beyond Sports Network
Macon Allan
• 2012 “D2 vs NAIA Senior Bowl” Preseason All-American
• Third Team USA Football News Division II Pre-Season All-American
• First team All-America by Lindy's Magazine
• Second team All-American by Beyond Sports Network
Scott Groner
• First team All-American by Beyond Sports Network
• Honorable Mention All-American by Beyond Sports Network
Shane Simpson
• Honorable Mention All-American by Beyond Sports Network
Griffon Football History
Western is 245-203-9 in their 43rd year of Griffon football.
A win for Western would
Lift the Griffons to 246-203-9 in their football history...be the Griffons nineth victory in the last ten seasons over the Mules...lift the Griffons to 15-13-1 all-time against UCM....improve coach Partridge to 12-5 all-time against the Mules...give Western a 10-6-1 lead in the series at home...give quarterback
Travis Partridge a 2-0 record all-time against Central Missouri. Give Western it's sixth staight victory over the Mules at home.
A loss for Western would
Drop the Griffons to 245-203-9 in their football history...tie the all-time series 14-14-1...be the first win for the Mules in St. Joseph in the series since a 21-14 win over the Griffons on September 21, 2002...drop Partridge to 10-6 all-time against UCM...drop
Travis Partridge to 1-1 as a starting quarterback against the Mules.
Series Notes
This marks the 29th meeting between the two schools. The Griffons hold a 14-13-1 advantage in the series. Western won last season in St. Joseph and has won the last five meetings in St. Joseph. The Mules lead the series 7-6 in Warrensburg, Mo. while the Griffons hold a 8-6-1 lead in St. Joseph. The Griffons longest winning streak in the series is seven games from 2003 to present while the Mules longest winning streak was seven from 1986-1992. The Griffons are 0-1 all-time when playing the Mules in August. The Griffons fell on August 30, 1986 by a score of 23-17 in St. Joseph. The Griffons are 6-3 in August all-time at home and 2-1 on the road. Overall they are 8-4. Under Partridge the Griffons are 7-3 in August and 5-2 at home and 2-1 on the road. Coach Partridge is 4-3 in Warrensburg and 6-2 in St. Joseph. Western has scored 30 or more points against the Mules in four of their last six meetings and 27 or more in six of the last eight meetings.
Climbing The Record Books
Griffon senior running back Michael hill keeps climbing the record book in the rushing category. Hill sits in 4th all-time with 2,801 yards in his career. He is 172 yards out of third and 595 yards out of first. He is second all-time in carries with 617 just 76 behind Thomas Hodges for first. Defensively
David Bass is climbing the record books as well. Bass sent a single season record with 20.0 tackles for a loss last season. He broke Eric McDowells mark of 18.5 which was set in 2003. He had 14.5 sacks which was .5 sack behind Eric McDowell's record of 15 set in 2003 and he has 29.0 sacks in his career which is 1.5 behind Kinney Redding 30.5 which he set during the stretch of 1974-1977. He is 10.0 tackles for a loss away from tying Michael Cobbins 50 which was set between 2002-2006.
Griffons in the National Polls
The Missouri Western Griffons were tabbed No. 18 in the AFCA preseason top 25 poll. Missouri Western has been ranked in the top 25 in the last 8 polls and has received votes in 26 of the last 30 polls by the American Football Coaches Association. Missouri Western was listed at No. 7 in the d2football.com preseason media poll.
Up Next
Missouri Western will host William Jewell on Sept. 8 in a non-conference game at 6:00 pm in St. Joseph, Mo. Missouri Western's next game will be in Spratt Stadium at Sept. 15 Y when the Griffons will take on another new MIAA foe in University of Nebraska-Kearney at 6:00 pm.
