STORY LINES
• The Griffons are in their 44th season of football as the first year was in 1970
• The Griffons have opened up the season 4-0 four times under Partridge (2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013).
• The Griffons have went 4-0 or better to start the season 8 different times in school history. The best start in history was in 1981 when they opened up 7-0.
• MWSU has went 3-0 in MIAA play to start the season three times (2000, 2012 & 2013).
• The Griffons have opened up the season 5-0 twice under Partridge (2009 2013).
• The Griffons have opened up the season 4-0 in MIAA play under Partridge just once which was last season.
• Currently the Griffons have won seven straight MIAA games dating back to the 2012 season...they won 12 straight ending the 2011 season and opening up the 2012 season 5-0 in MIAA play. The won seven straight MIAA game ending the 2011 season which is the most in a row in a season.
• MWSU and UCO played two of its three contests as non-conference games when Central Oklahoma was part of the Lone Star Conference. Last season was the first meeting as MIAA opponents. MWSU leads the series 3-0.
• The Bronchos are coming off a 29-18 defeat against the 18th ranked Washburn last weekend in Topeka, Kan.
• Coach Partridge is 3-0 against UCO winning in 2005, 2006 & 2012.
• The only road contest for the Griffons against UCO came in 2006 when they Griffons used two interception return for touchdowns to come away with a 32-29 double overtime victory.
• The first time the two teams met was on August 25, 2005 when the Griffons defeated the 12th ranked Bronchos 26-7 in St. Joseph, Mo..
• Coach Partridge is 3-0 against UCO.
• The Griffon defense has been outstanding so far this season are second in scoring defense (16.5 ppg), third in total defense (347.2 ypg), third in rushing defense (120.2 ypg), second in pass defense efficiency (108.1), and lead the league in net punting (41.0 ypp).
• Individually punter
Scott Groner leads the way in with a 43.0 yards per punt average. He has punted 20 times for 872 yards with a long of 61.
Raphael Spencer is fourth in the league averaging 114.2 yards per game.
Josh Walker is second in the league averaging 24.9 yards per return.
• Missouri Western is coming off their best season in school history where they posted a 12-2 record which was the most wins ever in a season. They also made their fourth trip in school history to the NCAA Division II National where they went to the quarterfinals. The Griffons hosted a home playoff game for the second consecutive season and won their first ever playoff game against Minnesota-Duluth by a score of 57-55 in triple overtime on November 17, 2012. They followed that up by winning their first ever road playoff game by a score of 45-21 against #6 Henderson State on November 24, 2012 in Arkadelphia, Ark.
• The 12 victories was the most in a season and was the seventh time in the last 10 years that they had at least victories in a season. (2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 & 2012).
• The Griffons were voted 1st in the 2013 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and 2nd in the MIAA Media Poll.
COACHES
MWSU head football coach Jerry Partridge. . .
• Named the sixth head coach of the Griffon football program in 1997
• Is 128-64 (.667) in his 17th season as the Griffon head coach.
• Is 96-49 (.662) against the MIAA.
• 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.
• Led the Griffons to a school record 12 victories this season and to nine victories or more in eight of his 16 seasons.
• Is Missouri Western's all-time winningest coach with 128 wins.
• Is third in all-time wins in the MIAA.
• This marks the 3rd meeting with UCO...Coach Partridge won his only meeting with the Bronchos on the road in 2006.
• Played four years at Missouri Western (82-85).
• MIAA Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2012.
• Partridge is 72-23 at home in his career with three undefeated seasons at home (2003, 2006, 2010).
• This marks the second meeting between Partridge and Bobeck.
Central Oklahoma head coach Nick Bobeck. . .
• Is 2-12 in his second season as the Broncho head coach.
• Is 44-13 in his 6th season as being a head coach.
• Came to the Bronchos after a sparkling four-year head coaching stint at junior college powerhouse Navarro (Texas) College
• The Bulldogs won the 2010 national championship along with three regular season Southwest Junior College Football Conference (SWJCFC) titles.
• Bobeck was a four-year letterman and two-year starter at fullback for UCO from 1999-02, earning first-team All-Lone Star Conference North Division honors as a senior. He stayed on with the Bronchos as a graduate assistant coach the next three seasons, helping UCO go 20-12 during that stint while making the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2003.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
Quick Starts Key for Griffons
• In the last two seasons the Griffons are 18-2 when leading after the first quarter. Last season the Griffons were 11-1 when leading after the first quarter...This season they are 1-0 when trailing, 1-0 when tied and 2-0 when leading after the first quarter.
September Success
• In the month of September under Partridge the Griffons are 42-24 overall and 21-12 in Spratt Stadium and 21-12 on the road. The Griffons went 4-0 last seaosn and this season in September. They are a perfect 8-0 in the last two years.
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...This marks the first meeting between the two schools in October. The Griffons are 2-0 in August and 1-0 in September.
In Spratt Stadium
• The Griffons are 125-64-3 since 1979 in Spratt Stadium...MWSU was 6-1 last season...Partridge is 66-22 at home since 1997.
Red Zone Success
• In their 14 games last season Missouri Western was 61-68 with 53 touchdowns and eight field goals when in the red zone...In their first four games this season the Griffons are 16-of-18 in the redzone with 15 touchdowns. They were 2-of-3 against Central Missouri and 3-for-3 against Missouri S&T in red zone opportunities. The Griffons were 5-for-5 against Nebraska-Kearney with four touchdowns and one field goal. Against Fort Hays State the Griffons converted on 6-of-7 red zone opportunities with all six being touchdowns.
• 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.
Playing on October 5
• The Griffons have struggled in games played on October 5 going 1-3 all-time.
• The Griffons are 0-1 in the Partridge era falling to Emporia State at home in 2002 by a score of 21-14.
• The Griffons are 0-1 at home and 1-2 on the road. They are 1-1 in MIAA play with the only victory coming in 1991 by a score of 26-14 against Missouri-Rolla.
Rushing Attack
• The Griffon rushing attack continued to rack up the yards going for 240 yards against Fort Hays State.
Raphael Spencer,
Dominic Thomas and
Dalton Krysa all had rushing touchdowns in the game.
• Against Nebraska-Kearney the Griffons rushed for 210 yards.
Raphael Spencer had a career day with 171 yards on 27 carries.
• The Griffons had two players rush for over 100 yards against the Miners of Missouri S&T.
Raphael Spencer rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns while
Tra Brown rushed for 109 and a touchdown.
• The last time two Griffons ran for over 100 yards was on November 12, 2011 when
Michael Hill ran for 182 yards and
Travis Partridge rushed for 105.
Non-Conference Success Under Partridge
• Under Partridge the Griffons are 31-11 in non-conference games.
• Missouri Western is 4-2 in neutral site games with all six games coming in the Mineral Water Bowl.
• The Griffons are 17-3 in home games in non-conference games which includes a victory in the playoffs last season against Minnesota-Duluth and this years victory against Missouri S&T.
• Missouri Western is 10-6 in road non-conference games with three of the losses coming in the NCAA Playoffs against Midwestern State in 2006, Northwest Missouri State in 2010 and Minnesota State in 2012.
Success when going over 200 yards rushing
When the Griffons rush for over 200 yards in a game they are almost perfect. The Griffons are 3-0 this year when racking up over 200 yards on the ground. They had over 300 against Missouri S&T, 210 against Nebraska-Kearney and 240 against Fort Hays State. Last season the Griffons were 11-1 when rushing for over 200 yards as a team with their lone loss coming against Missouri Southern. In 2011 the Griffons were a perfect 8-0 when going over 200 yards on the ground.
Missouri Western when ranked since 1989
• When the Griffons are ranked and play at home under coach Partridge they are 20-8.
• When on the road the Griffons are 16-9.
• The Griffons are 37-19 when they are ranked since 1989.
• Missouri Western is 36-17 when ranked under Partridge.
Missouri Western against ranked opponents
MWSU is 26-37 against DII ranked opponents after going 6-1 last season against ranked opponents. The Griffons only loss against a ranked opponents was against #5 Minnesota State. The Griffons defeated #7 Pittsburg State, #15 Emporia State, #25 Washburn, #4 Northwest Missouri State, #7 Minnesota-Duluth and #6 Henderson State. All those games were consecutive.
Missouri Western against ranked opponents at home
The Griffons are 14-14 under Partridge at home against ranked opponents. Last season the Griffons defeated #25 Washburn and #7 Minnesota-Duluth at home.
Missouri Western against ranked opponents on the road Under Partridge
Missouri Western is 8-16 under coach Partridge on the road against ranked opponents after going 4-1 last year. The Griffons defeated #7 Pittsburg State and #15 Emporia State in back to back weeks on the road and then won the MIAA Title in Maryville against #4 NW Missouri State before defeating #6 Henderson State on the road in the NCAA II Playoffs.
Griffons in TV Games Under Partridge
Western is 7-4 under Partridge after their victory over Central Missouri last Thursday which was aired on the MIAA Broadcasting Network. Last season the Griffons went 3-0 in televised games. The Griffons defeated Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State and NW Missouri State in televised games. Missouri Western went 2-1 in 2011 in televised games beating UCM and NWMSU and losing to Washburn. 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. MWSU 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. Missouri Western is 0-1 in nationally televised games falling to Washburn in 2011.
Double Numbers
For the rest of the season two Griffons will have two separate numbers. Sophomore Chris Kottwitz will wear 68 or 82 depending on if he is playing offensive line or tight end while long snapper
Cameron Glenn will be wearing 51 at home and 48 on the road.
About UCO:
• The Bronchos have struggled this season falling in its first four games. They have gotten beaten twice at home and twice on the road. they lost to Missouri Southern 52-38, Pittsburg State, 65-24, Emporia State 54-38 and Washburn 28-19.
• The Bronchos are averaging 29.8 points per game but have giving up 49.8 points per game. They are averaging 188.8 yards on the ground per game and 486.8 total yards per game, but they give up 541.8 yards per game and 335.2 yards per game through the air.
• The Bronchos have turned the ball over nine times to its opponents three.
• 2012 All-MIAA performer Josh Birmingham leads the MIAA and the Bronchos on the ground. He averages 120.8 yards per game and has scored 10 touchdowns.
• Adrian Nelson has completed 57.2-percent of his passes for 1,192 yards averaging 298 yards per game. He has completed 83-of-145 passes. He has tossed four touchdowns but has thrown six interceptions.
• His favorite receiver is Marquez Clark who has caught 32 passes for 597 yards and four touchdowns. He is averaging 149.2 yards per game.
• Defensively Adrian Shoecraft leads the way with 36 tackles and three passes defended. They have 24 tackles for a loss with just five sacks and one interception.
Griffon Football History
Missouri Western is 261-205-9 in their 44th year of Griffon football.
A win for Missouri Western would
Lift the Griffons to 262-205-9 in their football history....lift the Griffons to 4-0 all-time against the Bronchos and 2-0 in Edmond...give Missouri Western its 3rd 5-0 start under Partridge (2009 & 2012)...lift Partridge to 4-0 against UCO and 2-0 in Edmond...lift the Griffons to 1-0 in October against UC...give
Travis Partridge a 2-0 record against UCO as the starting quarterback...give MWSU an eight game MIAA winning streak.
A loss for Missouri Western would
Drop the Griffons to 261-206-9 in their football history...drop Partridge to 3-1 against the Bronchos...snap his three game winning streak against Central Oklahoma...drop Missouri Western to 1-1 in Edmond...drop MWSU to 3-1 against UCO and 0-1 in October against UCO...drop
Travis Partridge to 1-1 against UCO...snap MWSU's seven game MIAA winning streak.
Series Notes
This marks the 4th meeting between the two schools. Missouri Western leads the series 3-0. The Griffons have controlled the series winning the only three meetings. The Griffons defeated the Bronchos 26-7 on August 25, 2005 in St. Joseph when UCO was ranked 12th in the nation. MWSU won the the only meeting on the road on August 31, 2006 in Edmond in double overtime by a score of 32-29. The Griffons won last seasons meeting 45-23 on September 29, 2012 in St. Joseph. Two of the meetings were in season openers and in 2006 the Griffons opened up the season with a victory which helped the Griffons to their first ever playoff appearance.
Griffons in the National Polls
The Missouri Western Griffons were tabbed No. 6 in the AFCA preseason top 25 poll. Missouri Western has been ranked in the top 25 in the last 24 polls and has received votes in 44 of the last 45 polls by the American Football Coaches Association. Missouri Western was listed 6th in the latest d2football.com poll and were No. 4 in the d2football.com final 2012 media poll. The #3 ranking the Griffons last season is the highest ranking for the Griffons. The #4 ranking was the highest by the AFCA.
Dominic Thomas Named MIAA and Beyond Sports Network Special Teams Player of the Week
Missouri Western running back
Dominic Thomas has been named MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career for his performance last week in the Griffons 52-21 victory over the Fort Hays State Tigers. For his efforts he was also named Beyond Sports Network's Special Teams Player of the Week.
Up Next
The Griffons return home on October 12th to take on the Northeastern State RiverHawks in a Saturday afternoon game. Kickoff is set for 1:30 pm from Spratt Stadium. The Griffons defeated the RiverHawks last season by a score of 45-31 on October 6 in Tahlequah, Okla. on October 6.
