ST. JOSEPH, Mo.  - The Missouri Western football team will kick off its 2024 season this Thursday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma against the Northeastern State RiverHawks.
 
Kickoff from Gable Field at Doc Wadley Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Pregame coverage will start at 5 p.m. on The Varsity Network app and at GoGriffons.com/listen. Tommy Rezac will provide play-by-play commentary, with Ryan Menley as the sideline reporter.
 
WATCH ONLINE - MIAA NETWORK & 38 The Spot (Select Games)
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/.
 
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. 2 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.
 
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.
 
SERIES HISTORY AGAINST NSU
Missouri Western has a perfect 13-0 record against Northeastern State all time, dating back to 1994. The first meeting between the two schools resulted in a 33-13 victory for MWSU, and the Griffons' largest margin of victory against NSU was 66-16 in 2018. Last season, Western claimed a dominant 44-0 win at Spratt Stadium, gaining 534 yards of total offense and maintaining possession for over 34 minutes.
 
The RiverHawks are entering the 2024 season with a completely rebuilt team. There'll be about 70 new players, including 30 freshmen, joining the team under newly appointed head coach Darrin Chiaverni. Coach Chiaverni brings over 16 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and junior college levels. He was most recently the head coach at Chaffey College in California, where he went 11-0 and ended the season as the American Metro Conference Champions and American Division Bowl Champions.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
With Northeastern State being independent in football this season, the Griffons will have two non-conference games. The regular season concludes with a non-conference game at home against GLVC member Quincy on November 16, which will also be Senior Day.
 
MIAA SCHEDULE OUTLOOK
Four of the Griffons' first six games will be on the road this season. The first conference game will be at Fort Hays State at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 7. MWSU will face difficult competition in its final three road games against Emporia State on September 21, No. 3 Pittsburg State October 5 and No. 2 Central Missouri October 12 (game televised on 38 The Spot).
 
The home opener falls on September 14, as the Griffons will look to avenge a heartbreaking loss to Missouri Southern at 6:00 p.m. That'll also be Family Weekend. MWSU will host Washburn on September 28 before concluding MIAA play with three consecutive home games against Nebraska-Kearney on October 19 (Homecoming), Central Oklahoma (Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame Game) November 2 and No. 22 Northwest Missouri State November 9.
 
In the first season of the Tyler Fenwick era, the Griffons put together an impressive season in 2023, tying for third in the MIAA with a conference record of 7-3. The Griffs secured a spot in the Farmers Bank & Trust Live United Bowl against Southern Arkansas, ending the season at 8-4 overall. Despite an impressive turnaround, the Griffons were picked to finish sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and fourth in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll this year.
 
MWSU was a defensive nightmare last season, putting up an average of 37.4 points per game - the third most in the league. The Griffons led the MIAA in rushing yards last season with 2402 yards (200.2 YDS/G) and 33 touchdowns.
 
Defensively, Missouri Western lived in the opponent's backfield with a league-leading 27 sacks and a league-best 89 tackles for loss. The Griffons forced 22 takeaways last season (13 INT, 9 fumble recoveries). On special teams, Missouri Western led the league with a remarkable eight blocked kicks, which tied for third most in the nation in NCAA Division II. MWSU's Cody Watson, a first-team All-MIAA place kicker, was the highest scoring kicker in the league last season with 97 points.
 
MIAA SEASON OUTLOOK
Central Missouri, a co-champion from last season, was picked to win the MIAA in both preseason polls with eight first-place votes from head coaches and 20 first-place nods in the media poll. Pittsburg State, the other co-champion from last season, was tabbed to finish second.
 
MEET THE QUARTERBACKS
Heading into 2024, the quarterback position has several new faces. Sophomore and St. Joseph native Jaron Saunders is the only returning quarterback from last season. Three other QBs have been battling it out this fall: Branden Berwald, a transfer from Saddleback JC, Kane Donovan, a transfer from Southeastern Oklahoma State and Kody Kirk - a Garden City CC transfer.
 
Freshman Ben Baker, a native of Blue Springs, will redshirt this season.
 
MEET THE RUNNING BACKS
The Griffon ground attack will look to continue its past success, beginning with two-time All-MIAA recipient Brandon Hall, who will be the featured back. The senior has had a remarkable career, tallying over 1600 yards and 10 rushing scores. Last season, Hall accounted for 601 rushing yards and two rushing scores to go with 174 yards receiving.
 
Junior Jayden Williams will join Hall in the backfield. Williams appeared in three games last season, averaging 4.7 yards a carry and scoring a rushing touchdown against Washburn.
 
Junior Marrell Fountain, along with redshirt freshmen Xavier Arambula, Rickie Dunn and true freshman Cencere Thompson will provide depth.
 
MEET THE WIDE RECEIVERS  
The receiving corps will showcase a veteran lineup with four seniors and 18 total players competing for playing time.
 
Seniors Traveon James and Jake Berrey bring a wealth of experience. James, a second-team All-MIAA pick in 2022, has gained 1724 yards and has scored seven touchdowns in 34 career games. Meanwhile, Berrey had four touchdown grabs last season to go with 20 total catches and 249 receiving yards. Junior and West Hills CC transfer Brandon Tryon, along with sophomore Chris Floyd Jr., will provide depth to the rotation. Floyd made nine catches for 125 yards for the Griffs in 2023.
 
In the slot position, senior Jonas Bennett looks to continue his success following a standout season last year. Bennett, a two-time All-MIAA conference pick, had a team-leading 59 receptions for 803 yards and six touchdowns in his first season playing the WR position. Joining him in the slot is fellow senior Tyler Carey, who caught 21 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown last season.
 
MEET THE TIGHT ENDS
The tight end position features four underclassmen, including sophomore Michael Haggerty - the only returner from last season. Haggerty played in three games and had a nine-yard touchdown catch against Lincoln. Freshman Bryce Page will serve as his backup after an impressive high school career, where he gained 673 yards and scored nine touchdowns at Kearney High School in Missouri.
 
Freshmen Sam Goode, Kooper Rich and John Winkler complete the tight end room.
 
MEET THE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
There'll be no shortages of big men protecting the line of scrimmage with 21 players rostered on the offensive line this season.
 
Senior James Lucio will be crucial in anchoring the offensive line at center. Lucio, a returning All-MIAA performer, played in 10 games last season. Adam Sotelo will be next in line on the depth chart at center.
 
Braydon Wickliffe and Connor Holt are set to start at guard, with Austin Sohl and Keegan Daniels backing them up.
 
At tackle, St. Joseph native Quentin Garrett and Joe Turner will be the main protectors of the blindside, with Diego Becerra and Tyler Duerbeck serving as their backups.
 
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
The defensive line aims to build off of its impressive performance in 2023 with a roster of 17 players - nine of whom are upperclassmen.
 
Brandon Johnson, a three-time All-MIAA defensive lineman and the leading sack returner from last season, is returning for his senior season with high aspirations. He has collected 76 career tackles (31 solo), with 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles and fumble recoveries. Joining Johnson in the middle is fellow senior Ison Robinson, who has recorded 30 career tackles (16 solo), seven tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble and fumble recovery apiece.
 
The defensive end position will be led by senior Garrett Watson, who has accumulated 59 career tackles and 4.5 sacks. Juniors Grant Finley, Trey Nesbitt and Marvin Gant will provide extra depth on the edge.
 
LINEBACKERS
Kienen Gaskin is a key returner at the inside linebacker spot, with eight players batting for playing time. Gaskin, an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection in 2023, played in all 12 games last season, recording 62 tackles (38 solo) and a fumble recovery. Another key player from last season, senior Jaden Brown, finished with 39 tackles and two interceptions. They'll be joined by junior Elijah Larson and freshman Broc Worcester.
 
Cameron Powell and transfer Brayden Evertsen will be the first to take reps at outside linebacker. Powell is entering his senior season after a 16-tackle season in 2023, while Evertson is joining the Griffons after previously playing for the University of Mary. Sophomore Khalid Sereal and junior Sam Taylor will also be competing at OLB after seeing playing time last year.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Griffons will have 23 players in the defense backfield this season.
 
Seniors TreVon Holmes and Antonio Taylor will be the team's primary safeties. Holmes, who was named to the All-MIAA Second Team last season, led the team in tackles with 80. Taylor secured a spot in the starting lineup in the preseason following a three-year career at Division I Southeast Missouri State. Sophomores Anthony Benford and Jake Leader will also be competing for playing time at safety.
 
MWSU will also have great depth at cornerback. Junior Desmond Green and senior Javerius McGuinn will be the featured duo to open the season. In 2023, Green appeared in all 11 games and collected 29 tackles (18 solo). McGuinn will add a veteran presence with over 22 career appearances. Sophomore Nicc Oliver and transfer Logan Clark will also compete for minutes in the stacked position group.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior Cody Watson will handle the place kicking duties once again in 2024. Watson, a first-team all-MIAA pick in 2023, has had an impressive career with 26 made field goals and a career-long 47-yard field goal last season against Northwest. Watson also hit game-winners last year against No. 11 Emporia State and at Nebraska-Kearney. The next kicker in line is freshman Mason Grove.
 
Junior Tyson Lucas will serve as the punter and holder for the Griffons this season. Next on the depth chart is sophomore Spencer Sprenger, who appeared in 10 games last season - primarily as the kickoff man.
 
Senior Canaan Jackson will be responsible for long snapping yet again. He has appeared in 31 games for Missouri Western.
 
Freshman James Noel and senior Javerius McGuinn will return kicks for the Griffons. McGuinn gained 187 yards on 13 attempts.in the 2022 season. Noel had 103 kick return yards on four attempts last season, including a long of 47.
 
Noel and junior Brandon Tryon are the one-two-punch combo in returning punts this season for Western.