AGENT BARRY LIVE UNITED BOWL
Missouri Western (6-5) vs. Southern Arkansas (8-3)
Saturday, Dec. 1, 12:00 p.m.
Razorback Stadium | Texarkana, Arkansas
 

ST. JOSEPH – For the first time since 2012, Missouri Western Football will play in the postseason. The Griffons will travel to Texarkana to take on Southern Arkansas in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl on Saturday.
 

AGENT BARRY LIVE UNITED BOWL

• One of only four NCAA Div. II postseason bowl games
• Features the highest place finisher in the Great American Conference that does not qualify for the Div. II playoffs, and an at-large opponent from either the Lone Star Conference or Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
• This year's game will be the sixth year of the bowl.

 
5 THINGS TO WATCH

• Saturday will be the fourth time in which the bowl featured an MIAA school. MIAA teams have won all three of those games.
• The Griffon secondary will face one of their biggest tests of the season on Saturday. Southern Arkansas' Karonce Higgins was named one of the nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the Division II National Player of the Year award. Higgins enters the bowl game with 66 receptions, 1,083 receiving yards, and nine touchdowns. The Griffon defense, however, is second in the MIAA with 14 interceptions.
• It will be a matchup of contrasting styles on offense. The Griffons have one of the top rush offenses in the MIAA at nearly 230 yards rushing per game. Southern Arkansas' offense is centered on its passing attack, averaging 267 yards passing per game.
• Converting on third down has been a strength all season long for the Griffons. Missouri Western's offense led the MIAA with a 41 percent conversion percentage on third down.
• Missouri Western has responded well to losses all season long. The Griffons have not lost back-to-back games all season, winning all four games following a loss by an average of 21 points.

 
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS

• The Griffons use a balanced rushing attack on offense, with three players with over 600 yards rushing in Dom Marino, James Bailey Jr., and Shamar Griffith.
• The Griffons have one of the top rush defenses in the MIAA, allowing just 134 yards per game.
• Anthony Williams (89) and James Huskey (82) are the team's leading tacklers.
• The offensive line is what makes the Griffon offense go. Missouri Western has given up just six sacks this season, the fourth-best in Div. II.
• Marino has started every game at quarterback, completing 53 percent of his passes for 146 yards per game.

SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS

• Southern Arkansas leads the GAC with an average of 402 yards of total offense per game.
• Barrett Renner has completed 67 percent of his passes for 255 yards per game.
• Defensive back Brock Floyd is second on the team in tackles (52) and leads the team in interceptions (4).
• The Southern Arkansas defense has only allowed more than 21 points three times this season.
• Lorenzo Alexander is the team's leading rusher at 63 yards per game.

 
MISSOURI WESTERN COACH MATT WILLIAMSON

• Second season at MWSU and second overall as a head coach
• 10-12 all-time record as a head coach
• 1996 Missouri Western Graduate
• Two-time All-MIAA defensive lineman

 
SOUTHERN ARKANSAS COACH BILL KEOPPLE

• 10^th season as head coach at Southern Arkansas
• 57-49 all-time record at Southern Arkansas
• Coached 54 all-conference players and 8 All-Americans
• Finished .500 or better in seven of his 10 seasons with the Muleriders.