GRIFFON FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Missouri Western (1-2) vs Central Oklahoma (1-2)
When: Saturday, September 23 - 6PM
Where: Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium
Watch: The MIAA Network
Listen: Griffon Sports Network – 680 KFEQ
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/missouri/football
Follow: @GriffonFootball @GoGriffons
GAME DAY PRIMER (PDF)
MWSU Game Notes | Central Oklahoma Game Notes
ST. JOSEPH - Two teams looking to even their season records collide Saturday on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium as Missouri Western hosts Central Oklahoma.
LAST WEEK: The Griffons were defeated 66-44 at Central Missouri. An eight-point MWSU deficit with 4:30 remaining in the game, UCM scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the game to turn what had been a back-and-forth affair into what looked like a more lopsided contest. The two teams combined for 1,044 yards of offense in the game.
No. 21 Fort Hays State scored on a 64-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds remaining to defeat Central Oklahoma 31-24 in Edmond, Oklahoma. The long touchdown capped ten unanswered fourth quarter points by the visiting Tigers to complete the comeback win. Chas Stallard became UCO's all-time leader in total offense during the game.
THE SERIES: Missouri Western holds a 5-2 advantage in the all-time series, winning all three times the teams have met at Spratt Memorial Stadium. Central Oklahoma has won the previous two match-ups in Edmond, including a 31-21 win last year that featured a 90 minute weather delay.
MISSOURI WESTERN: The Griffons enter this week's contest 1-2 after three games that couldn't have been much different than one another. Missouri Western put forth strong defensive efforts in the first two weeks of the season, holding both Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern to less than 300 yards of offense and only one touchdown each. That changed last week in Warrensburg as the defense gave up 614 yards of offense and the most points allowed by a Griffon team since Missouri Western's first-ever football game in 1970.
The offense has shown the ability to move the ball and score quickly each of the last two weeks. Despite just three points in the season opener at Nebraska-Kearney, the offense enters this week averaging more than 372 yards of offense and 30 points per game after back-to-back 40+ point efforts.
2016 All-MIAA running back
Joshua Caldwell leads the MIAA with 319 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. Six turnovers forced last week at Central Missouri have the Griffons with 10 total takeaways this season, which is the fifth most in all of Division II.
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA: After an impressive 35-14 win over Lindenwood to open the season, the Bronchos have dropped two-straight heartbreakers. Central Oklahoma saw a potential upset over Fort Hays State escape them late last week after trading punches for four quarters in a 31-28 loss at Pittsburg State the previous week.
Quarterback Chas Stallard leads the MIAA with seven passing touchdowns and is fifth with 704 passing yards. He's completing 67 percent of his passes, good for third in the MIAA. J.T. Luper leads the MIAA and ranks seventh in the nation with 398 receiving yards and 198 all-purpose yards per game.
Riley Galyon is among the MIAA leaders in tackles with 31. He ranks first in the league and seventh in the nation with 7.7 solo tackles per game.
UP NEXT: Missouri Western goes to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to face Northeastern State (0-3). The RiverHawks are at No. 18 Fort Hays State this week. The Griffons' next home game comes on Oct. 7 against Lindenwood. It will be the annual Military Appreciation game. Central Oklahoma is home next week against No. 15 Emporia State.
