THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON FOOTBALL
Griffs Give Back presented by Alorica
Saturday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m. vs Washburn (2-2)
 
ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Football will try to win consecutive games for the first time this season when the team hosts Washburn for its second-straight home game.
 
Beyond trying to stay undefeated at home, the Griffons are trying to get on the plus side of .500 for the first time since 2017.
 
SATURDAY AT CRAIG FIELD AT SPRATT MEMORIAL STADIUM

• Griffs Give Back Night: Through partnership with the St. Joseph School District, every elementary school student in the district was issued a free ticket to Saturday's game along with SJSD faculty and staff. Students from Pershing Elementary will run onto the field with the Griffons after winning a district-wide attendance competition. Several school district recognitions are also planned throughout the game.
• Pavilion Party Deck on the Bill Snyder Pavilion featuring VanZinos BBQ and Budweiser products from Hi-Ho Bar & Grill
• Plasma Biological Services Tailgate Zone featuring live music from Minor Rewind and inflatable games for all ages

 
5 THINGS TO WATCH

• The Griffon Offense - After averaging 285 yards and 12 points through its first three games, the offense racked up 612 yards and 66 points last week against Northeastern State.
• Dom Marino - The senior quarterback hit his stride last week, completing 65 percent of his passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in a little more than two quarters of work. Marino also carried the ball five times for 70 yards, reclaiming the team lead in rushing yards with 229
• Sacks - Missouri Western sacked Northeastern State quarterbacks six times last week and now sits tied for second in the MIAA with 12 on the season. Washburn's nine sacks allowed are tied for fifth most in the MIAA
• Washburn's Passing Game - The Ichabods rank third in the MIAA, averaging 263 passing yards per game while the Griffons sit 12^th in pass defense, giving up 286 per game. The Washburn 2-deep for this week lists the starting quarterback as Blake Peterson or Mitch Schurig. Peterson started the first three games    of the season before Schurig went 24-of-37 for 361 yards and four touchdowns against Central Missouri last week.
• Penalties - Missouri Western was penalized 15 times for 180 yards last week and leads the MIAA with 110 penalty yards per game. This week may help the Griffons as Washburn's opponents are averaging just 32 penalty yards per game. Ichabod opponents have been penalized just 18 times all season.

 
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS (2-2)

• Missouri Western got back to .500 and moved to 2-0 at home this season with a 66-16 win over Northeastern State last week
• After rushing for 326 yards on Northeastern State, the Griffons rank fifth in the MIAA, averaging 192 rushing yards per game
• MWSU shares the load on the ground, with four different Griffons over 100 rushing yards this season. Those four have also found the end zone at least once each. Quarterback Dom Marino leads the team with 262 rushing yards. Shamar Griffith isn't far behind with 237. James Bailey Jr. went for 151 last week and is now up to 208 for the season. Each of those three has two TDs on the ground. Derek Gray Jr. has 113 rushing yards with a rushing and a receiving touchdown.
• The rushing totals in most of the Griffons' games have been lopsided with the Griffon defense holding opponents to the second lowest average in the MIAA (100.3)
• MWSU's 12 sacks on the season are tied for the second most in the MIAA while the three sacks allowed are the fewest in the conference
• Marino's second quarter interception last week was the first of the season by a Griffon quarterback. The defense ranks fifth in the MIAA with four interceptions this season

 
SCOUTING WASHBURN (2-2)

• Washburn bounced back from a close loss to Fort Hays State by upsetting No. 16 Central Missouri 28-21 in Topeka last week
• The Ichabods two losses have come by a total of 27 points with an 21-point loss to Northwest Missouri and a six-point loss to Fort Hays State. Their wins haven't been blowouts either, with a seven-point win over UCM and a 13-point margin over Lindenwood in the season opener
• Mitch Schurig, the son of head coach Craig, made his first-career start last week, completing 65 percent of his passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns
• The Ichabods rank 11^th in the MIAA, averaging 101 rushing yards per game
• Washburn ranks second in the MIAA with six interceptions this season and 104 return yards

 
THE SERIES

• Missouri Western leads the all-time series 24-20-2
• Washburn has won the last three, including a 34-24 victory in St. Joseph last year

 
MISSOURI WESTERN HEAD COACH MATT WILLIAMSON

• 2nd season at MWSU, 2nd overall as a head coach
• 6-9 all-time record as a head coach
• 1996 Missouri Western graduate
• 2-time All-MIAA defensive tackle

 
WASHBURN HEAD COACH CRAIG SCHURIG

• 17^th season as head coach, all at Washburn
• 112-74 all-time record, most-ever at Washburn
• 1987 graduate of Colorado School of Mines