ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Putting a 36-12 loss at Emporia State in its rearview mirror, Griffon Football returns home for the first time in 23 days for a matchup on Family Day and Military Appreciation Day vs. Washburn at Spratt Stadium.

TICKETS + WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Griffon Football is once again gracing the airwaves of KFEQ Radio, as fans can tune in with "The Voice of the Griffons" Tommy Rezac, color commentator Paul Smith and sideline reporter Derek Zimmerman-Guyer. The game can be heard on KFEQ - AM 680 and the KFEQ Live Stream.

The game is also available to watch for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. with pregame starting at five. Game admission can be found by clicking on the "Tickets" tab. 

ABOUT LAST WEEK
Both Missouri Western & Washburn started the season 2-0 and received multiple votes for the top-25 poll in week two. After Washburn lost 21-13 to UNK, the Ichabods received just five votes this past week. Washburn's 247 total yards of offense vs. UNK marks their worst offensive outing of 2022 after collecting 450+ in the first two games.

Meanwhile, the Griffons' 36-12 loss at Emporia State took away all of their top-25 votes for week three entirely. For the first time since Oct. 23 of 2021, the Griffons didn't rush for over 300 yards as a team, nor did a single rusher eclipse 100 yards. In that unprecedented span, the Griffons were 5-0 before falling to ESU, notching just 153 rushing yards led by Jared Scott's final tally of 49. Out of Scott's 49 yards, 40 of them came on four carries on a single drive that ended with a Reagan Jones' touchdown in the second quarter.

COACHES
Missouri Western Head Coach Matt Williamson is 28-21 overall and 26-21 in the MIAA. In his time at MWSU, Williamson is 2-2 vs. Washburn.

Washburn is coached by 21-year man Craig Schurig. Under his leadership, Washburn has gone 132-89 overall and 116-83 in the MIAA, placing Schurig as the program's all-time winningest coach. Schurig is 9-11 vs. the Griffons. Saturday marks Schurig's 200th MIAA matchup.

THREE-HEADED BACKFIELD BARRAGE 
Despite last week's loss, the Griffons' backfield remains one of the best in all of Division II football. MWSU's 268.3 yards per game is good for second in the MIAA and eighth in the country, spearheaded by Brandon Hall, Jones and Scott. Hall's 273 yards leads the team and is good enough for third in the conference. Jones (228) and Scott (201) sit behind Hall at fourth and seventh respectively. The Griffons are the only team in the MIAA with three 200-yard rushers this season. Jones' four touchdown scampers lead all rushers in the conference, nipping at the heels of his seven ground scores in 2021. The Griffons grinded out two 100-yard rushers in the first two games and are 20-3 when someone reaches the century mark in the Williamson era.

AN ACCOMPLISHED AERIAL ATTACK
Washburn's offensive bread and butter is its passing game, beating its first two opponents thanks to strong performances by quarterback Kellen Simoncic. Passing for 351 yards and three touchdowns in a week one win over Lincoln, Simoncic stepped up with a 297 yard, six-touchdown night with passes as long as 46, 40 and 35 at Central Missouri. However, he did throw three picks and completed 48% of his passes. He threw for just 145 yards with no TDs, a long of 17 and completed 51% of his passes in week three's loss to UNK. Simoncic leads the MIAA with nine TD throws and is third with 793 yards. His main targets are James Letcher, Jr. (305 yards), Peter Afful (182) and Collin Wilson (151). Letcher, Jr.'s 305 yards leads all MIAA receivers while Afful's 182 has him at seventh.

RECORD & RIVALRY RABBIT HOLE
This is the 50th meeting between MWSU and Washburn, as the Griffons hold the advantage all-time at 28-19-2. Missouri Western is 15-6-2 when hosting the 'Bods, last beating them at Spratt Stadium 38-7 on Sept. 29 of 2018. MWSU's last win against Washburn occurred in the form of a 46-21 final on Oct. 5 of 2019. Last year's matchup on Sept. 25 saw Washburn walk away with a 47-41 victory in Topeka where fans witnessed five ties and five lead changes. Former Griffon QB Anthony Vespo set the program game record for passing yards with 448. The Griffons have scored 38 points or more in the last three meetings and average 37.3 on offense in Williamson's four bouts with the 'Bods. Williamson's defense has given up 27.3 points per game, inflated by last year's 47 points allowed. This is Jones' and Simoncic's first game starting against each other's programs, as Jones is 5-1 as a starter while Simoncic is 3-1.