GRIFFON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Missouri Western (1-1) at Central Missouri (1-1)
When: Saturday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m.
Where: Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field – Warrensburg, Missouri
Watch: The MIAA Network
Listen: Griffon Sports Network – 680 KFEQ
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/ucmo/football
Follow: @GriffonFootball @GoGriffons
MWSU Game Notes | Central Missouri Game Notes
 
ST. JOSEPH – Two teams coming off opposite feelings will meet Saturday in what has become one of the MIAA's most tightly contested rivalries.
 
Missouri Western travels to Central Missouri coming off Matt Williamson's first win as a head coach. The Griffons rushed for more than 300 yards in a 45-7 win over Missouri Southern at Spratt Stadium last week. Central Missouri dropped out of the top-25 after a 35-6 loss at Fort Hays State one week ago. The last four meetings between the two teams have been decided by a total of nine points.
 
LAST WEEK: Missouri Western bounced back from a season opening loss to throttle Missouri Southern. The Griffon offense showed extreme efficiency, running a total of 25 plays in its seven scoring drives. Joshua Caldwell averaged more than 10 yards per carry with three touchdowns on 14 rushes. Dom Marino and Corey Bertini threw just 15 passes combined, but three of them went for touchdowns. Meanwhile the defense continued its stellar early season play, holding the Lions to 186 fewer yards than the Griffon offense despite Southern running 19 more plays than MWSU.
 
Central Missouri allowed 377 yards, 227 through the air in a 35-6 loss at Fort Hays State. The Mules gained 304 yards of total offense, but rushed for just 31 and were 5-of-18 on third down and 1-of-5 on fourth down. Fort Hays led 7-0 after the first quarter, but scored 14 in both the second and third quarters to take a 35-6 lead to the fourth quarter.
 
THE SERIES: Missouri Western leads the all-time series 17-15-1 … UCM has won the last two meetings, but MWSU has won 11 of the last 14 … last double-digit margin of victory was MWSU's 12-point win in 2012 … last four games decided by four points or less and total of nine points … UCM won 38-34 in St. Joseph last season
 
MISSOURI WESTERN: The defense ranks third in the MIAA in total defense (276), scoring defense (10.5), pass defense (165.5) and 3^rd down defense (27%) … defense has allowed just two touchdowns, one in each game … Joshua Caldwell leads the MIAA in rushing (189 yards) … quarterback duo of Dom Marino and Corey Bertini showed efficiency last week, combining to go 10-of-15 for 157 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception
 
CENTRAL MISSOURI: Passing offense (249.5) ranks third in the MIAA … total offense (387) ranks fourth in the MIAA … scoring defense (29) ranks 10^th in the MIAA … Brook Bolles has passed for 499 yards and ranks third in the MIAA … Kyrion Parker has caught 11 passes for 155 yards, averaging 14.1 yards per catch
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western returns to St. Joseph for a 6 p.m. kickoff with Central Oklahoma on Sept. 23. It will be Family Day at Missouri Western.