GRIFFON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Missouri Western at Nebraska-Kearney
When: Thursday, August 31 - 7:00 p.m.
Where: Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field - Kearney, Nebraska
Watch: The MIAA Network 
Listen: Griffon Sports Network - 680 KFEQ
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/unk/football/
Follow: @GriffonFootball @GoGriffons
MWSU Game Notes (PDF) | Nebraska-Kearney Preview

ST. JOSEPH - It is finally here. Griffon football, 2017 begins this Thursday as Missouri Western travels to Nebrasa-Kearney. 

Thursday night's match-up pits two new head coaches: Matt Williamson for Missouri Western and Josh Lynn for Nebraska-Kearney. While Williamson is no stranger to Missouri Western, it is his first-ever season as a head coach. Lynn is new to UNK, but is in his seventh year as a head coach after five seasons at Eastern New Mexico and one at New Mexico Military Institute. 

The Series: UNK leads the all-time series 16-11, but MWSU has won eight straight over the Lopers, including a 44-21 win in St. Joseph to open the 2016 season. 

Missouri Western: 4-7 in 2016 (7th in MIAA) ... picked 7th in the 2017 Preseason MIAA Coaches Poll ... picked 8th in the MIAA Preseason MIAA Media Poll ... Joshua Caldwell led the MIAA and finished 7th in DII with 1,408 rushing yards in 2016 ... Skyler Windmiller was 6th in DII last year averaging 16 yards per completion ... Dijuan Ussery was 6th in DII with a 24-yard per reception average last year ... the Griffons return their leaders in every statistical category from 2016

Nebraska-Kearney: 1-10 in 2016 (12th in MIAA) ... picked 12th in both the media and coaches MIAA preseason polls ... Steve Worthing passed for 2,016 yards and 11 TDs last season in nine starts last season ... 2016 leading rusher Luke Quinn is out for the season with an injury ... new coaching staff expected to employ option attack on offense 

Around the MIAA: All MIAA games are Thursday night this week and feature some marquee match-ups with #4 Emporia State opening at defending national champion #1 Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State (RV) at #21 Central Missouri ... Missouri Western's home opening opponent, Missouri Southern, is at home against Fort Hays State

Next Week: Another Thursday night game, but this time at Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium as MWSU kicks off against Missouri Southern at 7 p.m. on Sept. 7