Football 10/9/2019 4:21:00 PM MWSU Athletic Communications

Griffons Host Missouri Southern for Homecoming 2019

MWSU looking for seventh straight win over Lions

GRIFFON FOOTBALL (3-2) vs MISSOURI SOUTHERN (1-4)
Oct. 12, 4 p.m.
Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Football returns to Spratt Stadium for homecoming after a two-week road swing. Missouri Western hosts Missouri Southern, Saturday, at 4 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE

Missouri Western returns home after back-to-back road wins that extended the team's win streak away from Spratt Stadium to seven games.
While the Griffs have been great away from St. Joe, they're looking to snap a five-game skid at home. MWSU's last home win came last Sept. 29 against Washburn. The Griffons' last homecoming win came on Oct. 12, 2013 against Northeastern State, also a five-game streak.
Last week's win and losses by Central Oklahoma and Emporia State left the Griffs in a three-way tie for fourth in the MIAA standings, two games back of the three remaining unbeaten teams, Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri and Pittsburg State. Missouri Southern is two games back of the Griffs, tied with Washburn at 1-4.
The two teams share three common opponents so far this season. Southern lost 66-34 to Northwest, 44-3 at Fort Hays and 71-42 last week to Central Missouri. MWSU lost 45-25 to Northwest, won 28-17 at Fort Hays State and lost 48-45 in overtime to Central Missouri.
MWSU is looking for three-straight wins for the first time since defeating Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State and Lindenwood between Sept. 23 and Oct. 7, 2017.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS

Missouri Western put up 503 yards of offense in a 46-21 win at Washburn last week. The offensive total gave the Griffons three straight 500-yard performances for the first time in program history.
MWSU ranks second in the MIAA and 17^th in the nation in total offense, averaging 469 yards per game. The current pace has the Griffon offense trending toward the second highest output in program history, 5,159 yards.
Three different Griffons have rushed for more than 100 yards in the past two weeks (Markel Smith, 112 at Northeastern State; Jared Scott, 110 at Northeastern State; Shamar Griffith, 113 at Washburn).
Fourteen Griffons have at least one touchdown this season, 13 on the offensive side of the ball. Eight have scored two TDs or more. Markel Smith leads the MIAA and ranks 10^th in DII with seven rushing TDs. Wyatt Steigerwald is third in the MIAA and 13^th in DII with 92 points responsible for.
Freshman Trey Vaval continues to lead the MIAA and rank third nationally, averaging 35.7 yards per kick return. MWSU is second as a team in the MIAA and ninth in the nation with a 27.3 yard average.
DJ Stirgus is ties for second in the MIAA with eight passes defended.
Markel Smith moved into second in the MIAA with 423 rushing yards this season.

SCOUTING MISSOURI SOUTHERN

The Lions have dropped three in a row to Northwest Missouri, Fort Hays State and Central Missouri.
Jacob Park leads DII with 1,685 passing yards this season. He's third in the MIAA with 12 passing TDs. The Iowa State transfer has also thrown 17 interceptions.
Missouri Southern ranks fifth in the MIAA, averaging 458.4 offensive yards per game and 10^th, giving up 504 per game.
The Lions' passing offense leads the MIAA and the nation at 358.4 yards per game. Their rushing offense ranks 11^th in the MIAA at 100 yards per game.
At -14 for the season on turnovers, the Lions have seven takeaways and 21 giveaways.

SERIES HISTORY

MWSU has won the last six in the series to take a 27-22 lead all-time.
The Griffons won 33-10 in Joplin last year and are 15-9 in St. Joseph against the Lions.

MISSOURI WESTERN HEAD COACH MATT WILLIAMSON

The 1996 MWSU graduate and two-time All-MIAA defensive lineman is 14-14 in his third season as a head coach.

MISSOURI SOUTHERN HEAD COACH JEFF SIMS

Sims is in his first year at Missouri Southern. He went 32-12 in four seasons as head coach at Garden City Community College where he led the team to a Junior College National Championship in 2016.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#3 Shamar Griffith: RB; 5' 7"; Junior

#6 Markel Smith: RB; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#12 Wyatt Steigerwald: QB; 6' 0"; Senior

#21 D.J. Stirgus: DB; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#30 Jared Scott: RB; 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman

#31 Trey Vaval: DB; 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#3 Shamar Griffith
: 5' 7"; Junior
: RB

#6 Markel Smith
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: RB

#12 Wyatt Steigerwald
: 6' 0"; Senior
: QB

#21 D.J. Stirgus
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DB

#30 Jared Scott
: 5' 11"; Redshirt Freshman
: RB

#31 Trey Vaval
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: DB