STORY LINES
• The Griffons are in their 44th season of football as the first year was in 1970
• This marks the 11th time under Partridge that the Griffons have opened up the season 2-0.
• The Griffons have opened up the season 3-0 four times under Partridge (2006, 2009, 2010, 2012).
• This marks the 12th time that the Griffons have played the Lopers in Kearney. Missouri Western is just 2-9 all-time against the Lopers on the road.
• MWSU and UNK played 19 of its contests back in the CSIC (Central States Intercollegiate Conference) days.
• The first time the two teams met was on October 31, 1970 when the Lopers defeated the Griffons 34-14 in St. Joseph.
• The Griffons first victory in the series came on November 2, 1974 by a score of 9-7 in St. Joseph.
• Coach Partridge is 3-0 against UNK winning in 1997 in St. Joseph, 39-16, in Kearney in 1998 26-23 and in St. Joseph last season by a score of 38-14.
• The Griffons only two victories in Kearney came on 9/5/98 (26-23) and on 9/7/96 by a score of 47-32.
• The Griffon defense has been outstanding so far this season as they lead the MIAA in scoring defense (13.0 ppg), total defense (287.5 ypg), rushing defense (45.5 ypg), punting (43.9 ypp), opponent 1st downs (15.5 pg) and opponent 3rd Down Conversions percentage (23.1%)
• Individually punter
Scott Groner leads the way in with a 44.8 yards per punt average. He has kicked 14 times for 627 yards.
• 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 126-64 (.661) in his 17th season as the Griffon head coach.
• Is 95-49 (.657) 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 126 wins.
• Is third in all-time wins in the MIAA.
• Is 3-0 all-time against Nebraska-Kearney and is 1-0 against UNK in Kearney.
• Played four years at Missouri Western (82-85).
• MIAA Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2012.
• Partridge is 71-23 at home in his career with three undefeated seasons at home (2003, 2006, 2010).
• This marks the second meeting between Partridge and Morris.
Nebraska-Kearney head coach Darrell Morris . . .
• Is 95-49 in his 14th season as the Loper head coach.
• Second highest winning percentage in Loper lore (69.2), ranks third in wins (95) and has led UNK to four RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) titles and four NCAA Division II playoff berths.
• Was 2-8 in his first season in the MIAA in 2012.
• Was named the 16th head football coach in school history in October of 1999
• He was named RMAC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2005.
• A native of Tampa, Morris played quarterback at NW Missouri State where he earned a B.A. degree in physical education in 1983.
TEAM NOTEBOOK
Quick Starts Key for Griffons
• In the last two seasons the Griffons are 17-2 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 and 1-0 when leading after the first quarter.
September Success
• In the month of September under Partridge the Griffons are 40-24 overall and 20-12 in Spratt Stadium and 20-12 on the road. Last season the Griffons were 4-0 in the month of September and are off to a good start this season going 2-0.
In Spratt Stadium
• The Griffons are 124-64-3 since 1979 in Spratt Stadium...MWSU was 6-1 last season...Partridge is 65-22 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 two games this season the Griffons are 5-of-6 in the redzone with five touchdowns. They were 2-of-3 against Central Missouri and 3-for-3 against Missouri S&T in red zone opportunities. All were 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 September 21
• The Griffons have struggled in games played on September 21 going 0-5 all-time.
• The Griffons are 0-1 in the Partridge era falling to then #14 Central Missouri in Spratt Stadium 21-14.
• The Griffons are 0-2 at home and 0-3 on the road on September 21.
Rushing Attack
• 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.
Griffons in Home Openers
The Griffons are now 30-14-1 in home openers since they started playing football in 1970. The Griffons are 13-4 under Partridge in home openers after defeating Missouri S&T last week by a score of 63-3.
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 1-0 this year after racking up over 300 yards on the ground against Missouri S&T last week. 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 werre a perfect 8-0 when going over 200 yards on the ground.
Missouri Western at home when ranked since 1989
• When the Griffons are ranked and play at home under coach Partridge they are 19-7 and 15-10.
• The Griffons are 35-19 when they are ranked since 1989.
• Missouri Western is 34-17 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.
Against the Lopers in September
The Griffons are 4-0 all-time against the Lopers in September. The Griffons are 2-0 at home and 2-0 on the road. The Griffons won 26-23 on September 5, 1998 and 47-32 on September 7, 1996 in Kearney.
Griffon Football History
Missouri Western is 259-205-9 in their 44th year of Griffon football.
A win for Missouri Western would
Lift the Griffons to 260-205-9 in their football history...be the Griffons eighth victory over the Lopers in the series and fifth straight...lift the Griffons to 8-16 all-time against UNK....improve coach Partridge to 4-0 all-time against the Nebraska-Kearney...cut the Loper lead to 3-9 in the series in Kearney and give MWSU its third straight victory in Kearney...give quarterback
Travis Partridge a w-0 record all-time against UNK...give coach Partridge a 3-0 record for the fifth time in 17 seasons.
A loss for Missouri Western would
Drop the Griffons to 259-206-9 in their football history...drop the Griffons to 2-10 all-time on the road against UNK and 7-17 overall...be the first win for the UNK in Kearney since October 29, 1988 when the Lopers beat the Griffons 29-14...drop Partridge to 3-1 all-time against UNK...drop
Travis Partridge to 1-1 as a starting quarterback against the Lopers.
Series Notes
This marks the 24th meeting between the two schools. The Lopers hold a 16-7 advantage in the series. Missouri Western beat UNK the last time they met in 38-14 on September 15, 2012 in St. Joseph and won the last time the two teams met in Kearney by a score of 26-23 on Saturday, September 5, 1998 in both teams season opener. The Griffons have won the last four meetings in the series. The Lopers lead the series 9-2 in Kearney and 7-5 in St. Joseph. The Griffons longest winning streak in the series is four games from 1996 - 1998, 2012. The Griffons are 4-0 all-time when playing the Lopers in September. The Griffons fell in the two teams first ever meeting on October 31, 1970 by a score of 34-14 in St. Joseph, Mo.
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 22 polls and has received votes in 42 of the last 43 polls by the American Football Coaches Association. Missouri Western was listed 6th in the latest 2013 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.
Up Next
The Griffons return home on Saturday, September 28 for the annual Wendy's Hall of Fame game. The Griffons will host the Fort Hays State Tigers at 6:00 pm from Spratt Stadium.
