ST. JOSEPH – If history and results from the first two weeks are any indication, fans at Spratt Stadium are in for a great football game Saturday night. Griffon Football (1-1) hosts No. 21-ranked Central Missouri (2-0) in the Griffons' Military Appreciation game.
 
SETTING THE STAGE

• Missouri Western faces its third ranked opponent in as many weeks this season. The Griffons are receiving votes in the latest AFCA DII top-25, while Central Missouri is No. 21. Then No. 6 Northwest scored two late touchdowns to thwart a Griffon rally in week one. Last week, the Griffs won at then No. 25-ranked Fort Hays. 
• This is the 36th all-time meeting between the two programs. After four straight Central Missouri wins, the series is tied 17-17-1. The Mules scored 117 points, combined, in the previous two meetings.
• Both teams have defeated Fort Hays State this season. The Griffons won 28-17 in Hays, Kansas, while the Mules took their first lead with 1:33 remaining two weeks ago in Warrensburg to win 34-30
• Griffon running back Markel Smith goes against his old team. Smith rushed for 913 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman at UCM in 2015. After two seasons at Illinois State, Smith transferred to MWSU as a graduate student prior to this season and ranks third in the MIAA, averaging 90.5 rushing yards per game this season.
• Neither team has attempted a field goal through two games. The Griffons have scored nine touchdowns on nine red zone opportunities while UCM has scored nine TDs in 11 trips inside the 20.
• Don't miss the second quarter. Central Missouri scored 42 total points in the second quarter of its first two games and Missouri Western scored 28, two touchdowns more than any other quarter for the Griffs. UCM's six touchdowns in the second quarter are three more than any other for the Mules.

 
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS

• The Griffons are coming off a 28-17 win at Fort Hays State that snapped a 12-game home win streak for the Tigers and gave MWSU its first win at a ranked opponent since 2013 (Washburn).

• MWSU is averaging 31.5 points per game and giving up 31 through its first two games, but take away two defensive scores by Northwest, and the defense is giving up 24 points a game.
• As the only MIAA team to face ranked opponents its first two weeks out, the Griffon D ranks fifth in the MIAA, allowing 353.5 total yards per game.
• The offense has been pretty balanced through two weeks, averaging 237.5 yards through the air and a deceiving 121.5 on the ground. That rushing total was hurt by some fumbled snaps and sacks in week one. MWSU has actually gained 326 on the ground, but only gets credit for 243. The Griffs have attempted 79 rushes and 62 passes.
• Averaging 34.2 yards per kick return, the Griffs lead the MIAA and rank sixth in DII. True freshman Trey Vaval leads the nation, averaging 45.8 yards per kick return.
• They led the nation in red zone offense last year and still do two weeks into the 2019 season. MWSU is 9-for-9 on trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line, all touchdowns.
• It's early, but Wyatt Steigerwald ranks sixth in DII and second in the MIAA with 42 points responsible for. The senior QB has thrown five touchdowns and rushed for two more.
• DJ Stirgus has six passes defended through the first two games, second most in DII and most in the MIAA.

 
SCOUTING THE MULES

• UCM is coming off a 70-7 win at Northeastern State that saw the Mules total 592 yards of offense and score eight touchdowns in the first half.
• The lopsided affair last week and a late charge in week one have the Mules leading the MIAA in scoring (52) and total offense (554), while ranking second in rushing (238.5) and passing (315.5).
• UCM also leads the conference in scoring defense (18.5) and ranks second in total defense (318) after the first two weeks.
• Brooke Bolles ranks third in the MIAA, averaging 196.7 passing yards per game and leads the league with seven passing TDs.
• Shae Wyatt leads the MIAA with 116.5 receiving yards per game and a whopping 38.8-yard per catch average on six receptions.

THE SERIES

• The all-time series is tied 17-17-1 after four-straight wins for UCM against the Griffs.
• The last two meetings in the series have produced 175 total points and 1,823 total yards of offense.
• Prior to UCM's current streak, MWSU had won 11 of 12 in the series.
• UCM is making its first trip to St. Joe since 2016, a 38-34 for the then No. 14-ranked Mules.

 
MISSOURI WESTERN HEAD COACH MATT WILLIAMSON

• The 1996 Missouri Western graduate and two-time All-MIAA defensive lineman is 12-13 in his third season as a head coach.

 
CENTRAL MISSOURI HEAD COACH JIM SVOBODA

• Now in his 10th season as UCM's head coach, Jim Svoboda enters the weekend with a 72-34 record leading the Mules.