THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON FOOTBALL
Senior Day
Boy Scouts/Youth Football Day
Missouri Western (6-4) vs. Lindenwood (3-7)
Saturday, Nov. 10, 1:00 p.m. | Spratt Stadium

 
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western football will take on Lindenwood at home on Saturday to close out the regular season. The Griffons will return home after defeating Nebraska-Kearney in a comeback win on the road last week.

 
THIS WEEK ON CRAIG FIELD AT SPRATT MEMORIAL STADIUM

• It will be Senior Day for Griffon Football as the team will honor its 16 seniors for their years in the program. The ceremony will take place prior to kickoff.
• It will also be Boy Scouts and Youth Football Day on Saturday. All boy scouts and youth football players ages 12 and under that are wearing their uniform or jersey will receive free admission.

 
5 THINGS TO WATCH

• The Griffons enter their final game of the regular season with hopes of a postseason bowl game. A win on Saturday would bolster the team's chance of putting another game on its schedule.
• Saturday will be Lindenwood's final MIAA football game before the team departs for the GLVC. This academic year (2018-19) will mark the end of Lindenwood's eight-year stint in the MIAA.
• The Griffons have proved to be a much better team in the second half. In the last four games, the Griffons have been outscored by their opponents 72-33 in the first half, but have outscored their opponents 64-24 in the second half in those games.
• Turnovers have been key for Missouri Western all season. The Griffons have gone 4-0 in games that they win the turnover battle and are just 1-3 in games where they turn the ball over more than their opponent.
• Lindenwood will have to stop the Griffon rushing attack to have a chance on Saturday. The Griffons are second in the MIAA with 237 rushing yards per game while the Lions have the third-worst rushing defense in the league.

 
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS

• The Griffons have three players with over 600 yards rushing this season in Dom Marino, James Bailey Jr., and Shamar Griffith.
• Anthony Williams and James Huskey are the team's two leading tacklers at linebacker and have been playing well in recent games. Williams had seven tackles and an interception and Huskey tallied 12 tackles in the Griffons' win at Nebraska Kearney last week.
• The Lions will need to be aware of where Brandin Dandridge is at all times. The senior has been one of the top defensive backs in the MIAA and ranks second in the conference in both interceptions (4) and pass breakups (11).
• Missouri Western has the second-best rushing defense in the MIAA, allowing just 132 yards per game. The Griffons are outrushing opponents by an average of over 100 yards per game.
• A combination of an experienced offensive line and Marino's ability to escape pressure has led to just six sacks allowed this season.

 
SCOUTING THE LIONS

• Lindenwood runs one of the most balanced offenses in the MIAA. The Lions have 384 rush attempts this season, which totals to 52 percent of their offensive play-calling.
• The Lions average 224 yards passing per game.
• Cade Brister ranks third in the MIAA in touchdown-to-interception ratio. Brister has thrown just seven interceptions with 20 touchdown passes.
• Erik Henneman is Brister's favorite target at receiver. Henneman has hauled in 50 catches for 580 yards and nine touchdowns.
• Even with just three wins, Lindenwood has had chances to win in nearly all of its games. The Lions lost by just three last week to Central Missouri and took Pittsburg State into overtime before losing to the then-undefeated Gorillas.

 
THIS SERIES

• Missouri Western has won all four games between the two teams in the series.
• The Griffons won 40-8 in last year's matchup at Spratt Stadium.

 
MISSOURI WESTERN COACH MATT WILLIAMSON

• Second season at MWSU and second overall as a head coach
• 10-11 all-time record as a head coach
• 1996 Missouri Western Graduate
• Two-time All-MIAA defensive lineman

 
LINDENWOOD COACH JED STUGART

• Second season as head coach at Lindenwood
• Career record of 98-38 as a head coach
• 2016 NSIC Coach of the Year
• 2016 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year