ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri Western football team (2-3, 1-3 MIAA) will embark on a two-game road trip beginning with a matchup against No. 10 Pittsburg State (3-1, 2-1 MIAA) this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas.
 
Pregame coverage will begin at 1:00 p.m. on The Varsity Network app and at GoGriffons.com/listen. Tommy Rezac will provide play-by-play commentary; Kyle Schmidt of the St. Joseph News-Press will be the analyst and Ryan Menley will be the sideline reporter.
 
WATCH ONLINE - MIAA NETWORK
All MIAA football, women's soccer, volleyball, men's basketball and women's basketball, baseball and softball regular season conference games will be streamed live on the MIAA Network. The MIAA Network showcased over 1,500 live broadcasts for its 14 member schools last season. For more information, visit https://www.themiaanetwork.com/.
 
LISTEN - VARSITY NETWORK APP & GoGriffons.com/listen
Live streams of Missouri Western athletics are now available on The Varsity Network app. All home and away football and men's and women's basketball games will be available to listen to for free on Varsity and at GoGriffons.com/listen. Available on iPhone and Android, fans can access free audio streams for game days on the Varsity Network App. Fans can also receive push notifications as reminders for upcoming games and broadcasts. Once you download The Varsity Network app, search 'Missouri Western' and select which Griffon teams you want to follow. For more information on The Varsity Network and how to listen to the Griffons, click here. Audio broadcasts can also be found at GoGriffons.com/listen. Audio broadcasts will also be archived at GoGriffons.com/listen in the 'On Demand' section, and on the Griffon Sports Insider Podcast, which is available on Spotify, Apple and wherever you podcast.
 
MIAA GAME OF THE WEEK ON 38 THE SPOT
Missouri Western fans will be able to watch the Griffons twice on local television this season on Optimum Channel No. 17. The first will be a road game against No. 12 Central Missouri on October 12 at 1:00 p.m., followed by a home game against Nebraska-Kearney on October 19 at 2:00 p.m.
 
MIAA STANDINGS
Missouri Western (1-3 MIAA) is currently ninth in the conference standings after falling by one possession at home to Washburn last weekend. Two of MWSU's losses in conference play were against nationally ranked teams.
 
No. 17 Central Oklahoma is the only remaining undefeated team in the conference, with a perfect 4-0 (3-0 MIAA record). Just behind the Bronchos are the No. 18 Emporia State Hornets, who dropped their first game of the season last week to Northwest Missouri State.
 
School                                                          CONF            CPCT.         OVR.          PCT.           STREAK

Central Oklahoma	3-0	1.000	4-0	1.000	W4
Emporia State	3-1	.750	4-1	.800	L1
Northwest Missouri	3-1	.750	3-2	.600	W3
Pittsburg State	2-1	.667	3-1	.750	W1
Central Missouri	1-1	.500	3-1	.750	W2
Fort Hays State	1-2	.333	3-2	.600	L1
Nebraska Kearney	1-2	.333	2-2	.500	L2
Washburn	1-2	.333	1-3	.250	W1
Missouri Western	1-3	.250	2-3	.400	L2
Missouri Southern	0-3	.000	1-4	.200	W1

 
STAT NOTABLES
The Griffons are second in the MIAA and 25th nationally in rushing with 925 yards and eight touchdowns. They are also leading the league with an average of 6.7 yards per carry. Senior Brandon Hall leads the MIAA with 557 yards (averaging 139.3 yards per game) and has scored five times. The Kansas City native sustained an injury during the game against Emporia State earlier this season. Jaden Williams is second on the team with 130 yards on 25 attempts.
 
Defensively, MWSU ranks in the top 15 nationally in turnovers gained (11th), interceptions (13th) and fumbles recovered (15th) in part to six interceptions and four fumbles recovered. Additionally, the Griffons lead the league and are ninth in the country with 14 sacks. Jaden Brown's three sacks are tied for the fourth-most in the league. Antonio Taylor and Desmond Green have notched the third-most interceptions in the MIAA with two.
 
Senior kicker Cody Watson has excelled in the kicking game, making 6 out of 9 attempts, with 4 out of 5 being from beyond 40 yards. The Yukon, Oklahoma native achieved a career-long 52-yard field goal against the Ichabods last time out.
 
Also on special teams, Javerius McGuinn leads the MIAA in kick returning with five attempts for 211 yards, including a 100+ kickoff return against Missouri Southern in the home opener. Brandon Tryon is fifth with seven returns for 145 yards.
 
HISTORY AGAINST PSU
Missouri Western has a 14-34 record against Pittsburg State since 1970. In their last 10 meetings, the Gorillas have had the upper hand with an 8-2 advantage. Western and Pitt have split the last two meetings in Pittsburg, with MWSU winning 35-21 in 2019 and PSU taking the 2022 matchup 28-16.
 
Last season, the No. 23 Griffons spoiled the No. 2 Gorillas' perfect record with a 31-30 barnburner on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium. After finding themselves down by seven points at the half, MWSU rallied off 14 points in the third quarter to take their first lead of the contest. Brandon Johnson blocked a crucial PAT attempt that would have tied the game in the fourth quarter before All-American Dakari Streeter sealed the game with a strip sack that was recovered by CJ Ravenell on the final drive.
 
ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pitt State shared the 2023 MIAA Championship with an 11-2 (9-1 MIAA) record. They were projected to finish as the runner-up in the 2024 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 73 points and two first-place votes.
 
PSU has jumped out to a 4-1 (3-1 MIAA) start this season and is fourth in the conference standings. They opened the season with an impressive 19-3 win over No. 3 Farris State while also collecting victories over Missouri Southern and Washburn. Their lone blemish this season was a 24-21 loss at home against No. 21 Emporia State.
 
The spotlight player for the Gorillas' offense is quarterback #9 Chad Dodson. The senior from Jacksonville, Florida, has completed 78 out of 129 passes for 1116 yards, with eight touchdown passes and five interceptions. Three of his interceptions came in the loss to the Hornets.
 
On defense, keep an eye on linebacker #6 Alex Gaskill. The senior from Webb City leads the team with 30 tackles (13 solo). He has also collected an interception and a pass breakup.
 
The specialist to watch for Pitt State is #3 Jaylen Fuksa. The junior from Frisco, Texas, returned a kickoff for an 85-yard touchdown against Washburn.
 
LAST WEEKS RECAP AGAINST WASHBURN
Missouri Western scored 10 points in the final three minutes of the second quarter to take a 10-7 lead at halftime, but Washburn reeled off 17 unanswered points to start the second half and the Ichabods ultimately held on for a 24-16 win over the Griffons at Spratt Stadium on Military and First Responders Appreciation Day Saturday.
 
The Griffons mustered only 24 yards in the third quarter and fell behind 24-10 with 13:54 left in the game. Washburn scored on each of its first three drives of the second half, including a 10-play, 99-yard drive that put the Ichabods up by 14.
 
Missouri Western's defense still got some key stops late. TreVon Holmes recovered a fumble with 7:56 left, and Johnson blocked a FG with 4:11 remaining, but Missouri Western added just two field goals to its total in the second half - both coming in the fourth quarter.
 
Missouri Western found success running the ball early with 103 yards on the ground in the first half. The Griffons, though, finished with just 95 net rushing yards. Western was limited to 129 total yards in the second half after putting up 232 in the first.
 
Watson had a great day, accounting for 10 of Missouri Western's 16 points. He was 3-for-3 on field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder in the second quarter. His final FG, a 30-yard attempt, went through the uprights with 1:34 to go. Watson's ensuing onside kick attempt was recovered by Washburn, and the Ichabods were able to run out the remaining time.
 
Kody Kirk got his first start of the season at quarterback for Missouri Western, completing 27-of-58 passes for 266 yards. Kirk threw an interception, lost a fumble and was sacked four times.
 
Keller Hurla completed 19-of-28 through the air for Washburn for 218 yards and an interception. He also scrambled for a team-best 66 yards and a touchdown. Washburn won the time of possession battle 34:48 - 26:12. The Griffons were 6-of-17 on third down and 1-of-3 on fourth down.
 
Jonas Bennett had a career day for the Griffons, setting new career benchmarks with 11 catches for 147 yards. Marrell Fountain carried the ball 10 times for 69 yards and a touchdown - his first as a Griffon.
 
Holmes, Kienen Gaskin and Brown each had seven tackles to lead the way defensively. Green had an interception in the first half, while Johnson finished with a solo sack.