GRIFFON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Missouri Western (4-3) vs #8 Fort Hays State (7-0)
When: Saturday, October 21 - 1PM
Where: Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium; St. Joseph, MO
Watch: The MIAA Network
Listen: Griffon Sports Network – 680 KFEQ
Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/missouri/football/
Follow: @GriffonFootball @GoGriffons
GAME DAY PRIMER
MWSU Game Notes | Fort Hays State Game Notes
ST. JOSEPH - Griffon football returns home this Saturday and puts its perfect home record on the line against the No. 8-ranked team in the nation, Fort Hays State.
Missouri Western is 3-0 on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium this season and has outscored opponents 126-52 in home games. Fort Hays State is 3-0 on the road this season, and 7-0 for the first time in 100 years. The Tigers have outscored opponents 117-66 in road games, but each of the team's last two road trips have been one-score games.
MISSOURI WESTERN LAST WEEK
Missouri Western's win streak was stopped at three games and the Griffons' five-game streak of scoring at least 40 points came to an end in a 26-10 loss at Pittsburg State
The Griffons were limited to just 189 offensive yards without quarterback
Dom Marino and the MIAA's leading rusher,
Joshua Caldwell limited due to an injury suffered during the game.
Missouri Western's defense kept the Griffons close holding the Gorillas to just 57 total yards through the second and third quarters, but a late Pittsburg State touchdown put the game out of reach.
MISSOURI WESTERN THIS SEASON
The Griffon defense now out-ranks the offense, standing fourth in the MIAA in total defense (358.3 yards/game). The offense ranks seventh in total yardage (392.4), but stands third, averaging 35.4 points per game.
Missouri Western's 22 turnovers gained lead the MIAA and rank second in all of Division II. The Griffons' 13 interceptions are sixth most in the nation and lead the MIAA while their nine fumbles recoverd are most in the conference and sixth most in the country.
Brandin Dandridge leads the team with four interceptions.
Jonathan Owens regained the team lead with a career-high 16 tackles last week and now has 29 on the season.
Three different quarterbacks have started at least one game this season for the Griffons. After
Dom Marino took over for
Skyler Windmiller in week No. 2,
Corey Bertini took the reigns for last week's loss at Pittsburg State. All three QBs have had the advantage of leading the MIAA's top rushing offense at 246.7 yards per game. That rushing attack is led by the MIAA's top rusher,
Joshua Caldwell, who enters Saturday's game with 784 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Tyler Basch continues to lead the MIAA in scoring and field goals made with 66 and 13, respectively.
Jonathan Owens' 15 yards per punt return are second most in the MIAA and
Shamar Griffith ranks second with a 25.4-yard per kick return average.
UP NEXT
Homecoming at Missouri Western is next Saturday, Oct. 27 when Washburn comes to Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.
HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2017
Seven individuals and one team will receive their rings at halftime of Saturday's game as members of the Griffon Athletics Hall of Fame.
The 2017 induction class includes former football student-athletes Chris Ball and Gijon Robinson. Ball played defensive back for the Griffons from 1982 through 1985, earning All-America honors. Ball has since become a highly respected coach and is currently defensive coordinator at the University of Memphis. Robinson was an All-America tight end at Missouri Western, playing on teams from 2003 through 2006 before spending six years in the NFL including four with the Indianapolis Colts.
The rest of the 2017 class includes: 1981-82 Men's Basketball team, Clint Gilliland (Baseball, 2003-06), Nick Jenkins (Men's Basketball, 1997-99), Lindsay (Palaia) Seyller (Volleyball, 1999-2002), Patsy Smith (Administrator, 1998-2014) and Lamont Turner (Men's Basketball, 2000-02).
FORT HAYS STATE
For the first time in 100 years, Fort Hays State is 7-0 and will be looking for the program's best-ever start this Saturday. The No. 8-ranked Tigers have been tested this season, coming back in the second half the last two weeks to earn victories over Pittsburg State and Washburn.
FHSU features the MIAA's fourth-ranked scoring offense at 34.4 points per game and the second ranked scoring defense at 16.6 points per game. The Tigers average 464 yards per game (3rd in MIAA) and allow 312.9, second fewest in the MIAA.
Kenneth Iheme ranks second in the MIAA with 769 rushing yards. Despite missing the better part of the Pittsburg State game, Jacob Mezera ranks fifth in the MIAA with 1,696 passing yards. Mezera's 15 passing touchdowns are third most in the MIAA. Seven of those touchdown passes have went to Moterio Burchfield who ranks fourth in the MIAA in that category and third with 599 receiving yards.
Jose Delgado averages 10 tackles per game and has 60 on the season. Delgado also has 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss this season. Kamon Clayton's 10 passes defended are tied with MWSU's
Brandin Dandridge for second most in the MIAA. Doyin Jibowu has nine passes defended and three interceptions on the season.
