ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (1-5, 0-4 MIAA) is back home for a big test against No. 12 Pittsburg State (5-2, 4-1 MIAA). Kickoff from Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph is set for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and on the MIAA Network as well.
Pregame coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. Voice of the Griffons
Tommy Rezac will be on the call, with three-time all-MIAA receiver and former Griffon
Jonas Bennett as the analyst. Kyle Schmidt of News-Press Now will be on the sideline.
This game marks MoWest's annual Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame Game,
as six individuals and two teams will officially be enshrined into the MoWest Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend with a halftime ceremony planned.
Two of this year's Hall of Fame inductees include former Griffon Football standouts J.R. Graham (2005-07) and Nathan Martin (2006-09).
Graham was a first team all-MIAA selection in 2006 and 2007, and a third team all-region selection in 2006 as well. He was part of MoWest's first ever NCAA Division II playoff bid in '06. He recovered three fumbles in 2007, including a 36-yard scoop-n-score. His four career fumble recoveries are tied for third most in a Griffon career. He ended his career with 185 career tackles, five interceptions and 19 pass breakups. He's a member of the MWSU 2000s All-Decade Team.
Martin played every position on the offensive line in his career, and was a two-time all-MIAA selection, including a first-team choice in 2009. He was a first team all-region and honorable mention All-American pick in '09 as well. Martin was later named to the MWSU 2000s All-Decade Team, and was MWSU's Male Student Athlete of the Year in 2009-10.
About Last Week
MoWest battled hard for more than three quarters, trailing 13-7 with 12 minutes to go, but three second half turnovers, including two in the fourth quarter, cost the Griffons in a 27-7 decision at Nebraska-Kearney this past Saturday.
Kane Donovan completed 20-of-27 passes for 99 yards.
Branden Berwald accounted for 67 all-purpose yards and the passing TD. Both quarterbacks threw an interception as well.
Brandon Hall rushed seven times for 71 yards.
Crew Myers had a career-best seven catches for 71 yards and his first career touchdown grab as well.
Defensively,
Drew Scott had a team-high eight tackles.
Brecken Manus finished with a season-best seven tackles, including a career-best three solo sacks and career-best four total TFLs.
Stopping the Run
MoWest currently ranks No. 1 in the MIAA and No. 17 in the nation in rush defense, allowing opponents an average of 92.5 rush yards per game. The Griffons are allowing only 3.18 yards per carry (1st MIAA).
Red Zone Rewards
MoWest has found steady success in the red zone this season, scoring on 16-of-19 trips (84.2%). Their red zone success rate ranks No. 2 in the MIAA. The Griffs have scored nine red zone touchdowns this season and are 7-of-8 on field goal tries in the red zone as well.
The Kane Chronicles
Kane Donovan has taken command of the MoWest offense in 2025, ranking No. 2 in the MIAA in completions (137), No. 5 in passing yards (1325), No. 3 in passing touchdowns (8), No. 4 in passing yards per game (220.8), No. 4 in completion percentage (59.8%) and No. 6 in total offense (1334).
Since transferring in from Southeastern Oklahoma State in 2024, Donovan has made 10 starts for the Griffons, throwing for 1712 yards and 11 touchdowns, completing 60% of his passes in that time.
Long Drive Runnin'
MoWest leads the MIAA and is No. 29 in the country in time of possession, averaging 32:17 per game. The Griffons have had touchdown drives of 89 yards or more in four of the first six games.
Pitt State Points
After an 0-2 start, Pittsburg State has rattled off five straight wins and now the Gorillas sit just one game behind Northwest Missouri State for first place in the MIAA.
With a strength of schedule that ranks No. 3 in the nation per Massey Ratings, Pitt opened the season with a 34-17 loss at No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Ferris State before a 27-24 loss at then No. 19 Central Oklahoma the following week.
PSU bounced back, topping then No. 3 Grand Valley State at home, 17-14. The Gorillas have followed that up with four straight wins over MIAA opponents - all of those wins have come by a minimum of 13 points. Pitt State's most recent triumph was a 34-10 takedown of Washburn in Pittsburg, Kansas on Homecoming this past Saturday.
The Gorillas boast the top scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing just 19.4 points per game. PSU also boasts 15 quarterback sacks (3rd MIAA), nine interceptions (2nd MIAA) and the top third down defense in the MIAA, holding opponents to a 30.9% success rate (21st nation).
Offensively, PSU averages 201 rushing yards per game (3rd MIAA). The Gorillas have a pair of talented backs. Zahmari Palode-Gray has rushed for 531 yards (3rd MIAA) and four touchdowns, while veteran back Cleo Chandler Jr. has rushed for 355 yards (5th MIAA) and three scores.
New at quarterback this season for Pittsburg State is Southern Utah transfer Jackson Berry. A redshirt senior, Berry has had a strong 2025 season with 1516 passing yards (3rd MIAA) and seven touchdowns. He's also rushed for 143 yards and three additional scores, putting him second in the league with 1659 total yards of offense.
Series History
Saturday will be the 50th all-time meeting between Pitt State and MoWest. The Gorillas have had the upper hand since the series first started in 1970, as PSU holds a 35-14 record against the Griffons all-time, including 9-2 in the last 11 meetings since 2013.
Pitt State is also 17-8 in St. Joseph all-time, but their last trip to Spratt Stadium in November 2023 ended in a 31-30 Griffon win over then No. 2 PSU - the highest ranked win in Griffon Football history. The Gorillas got MoWest back in Pittsburg last October, winning that contest 31-20.
Special Teams Standouts
Kicker
Mason Grove has been impressive again in 2025 on kickoff with an MIAA-best 21 touchbacks on 28 attempts. Grove, as a freshman in 2024, was No. 2 in the MIAA with 31 touchbacks, putting him up to 52 in his career.
In the return game, MoWest ranks No. 3 in the MIAA with 332 kick return yards. The Griffons are still the only team in the MIAA with a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2025, thanks to
Jaelon Dixon's 98-yard run to the house vs. Central Missouri on September 20.
MoWest has now returned a kickoff for a touchdown in four of the last six seasons, including twice in 2019. The Griffons also did it in 2020 in an unofficial home game vs. Pittsburg State when Sam Webb, now with the Tennessee Titans, returned one 90 yards to the house to open the game.
Halling the Load
Two-time all-MIAA running back
Brandon Hall is back for a fifth and final season after a promising 2024 was cut short with an ankle injury in week four. Even though he missed seven games last year, Hall was the team's lead rusher in 2024 with 557 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 139.25 rush yards per game and 8.3 yards per carry, while also hauling in 11 passes for 66 yards and a score.
Hall currently ranks No. 6 in program history with 2570 career rushing yards, having surpassed Mike Connaker for 6th most all-time this season. Hall's career average of 5.9 yards per carry is currently No. 5 in the program record books, and his 437 career carries now ranks eighth all-time, having just surpassed Travis Partridge's total (412) this season.
This season, Hall ranks No. 6 in the MIAA in rushing yards (330) and No. 7 in attempts (72).
Personnel Pieces
Missouri Western welcomes back a plethora of talent in 2025 with 21 total starters back, including 11 players on the offensive side who started four games or more in 2024.
The Griffons also made some key additions in the offseason, signing 30 freshmen and 10 transfers. The position of choice in this class was defensive backs with 14 DBs joining the team.
MoWest also signed seven new receivers, as each of the top four pass catchers from 2024 graduated. The Griffs did, however, bring back each of their top five rushers from 2024, returning 97.4% of their 1800 net rushing yards from last season.
Game of Inches
Since the start of the 2023 season, MoWest has played in 29 games - 16 of them have been decided by a single possession. The Griffons are 6-10 in those contests. Dating back to November 2022, 11 of the last 17 losses for MWSU have come by eight points or less.
Workin' Overtime
MoWest has gone 0-5 in overtime games since 2022 and 0-6 since 2013. The last overtime victory was in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Division II playoffs - a 57-55 3OT win at home vs. Minnesota-Duluth. The last regular season game that went to overtime and ended with a Griffon victory was the 2006 season opener - a 32-29 double overtime win at Central Oklahoma.
Tune Into the Griffons
The Griffon Sports Network will once again provide live and free coverage all season long for all home and away games.
Tommy Rezac is back as 'Voice of the Griffons' for a fifth season. All games can be heard for free on the Varsity Network App and at GoGriffons.com/listen. To listen on the Varsity Network App, simply search "Missouri Western" once you have downloaded the app on your mobile device. Pregame coverage for each radio broadcast starts 30 minutes prior to kickoff.
Game of the Week
The MIAA has announced its partnership with Scripps Media and their independent television station, KMCI (38 The Spot), will broadcast an MIAA Football 'Game of the Week' again in 2025.
MoWest will play in the 'Game of the Week' twice in 2025 - first at Missouri Southern on Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. and then at home the following week vs. Washburn on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. The 'Game of the Week' can be viewed in St. Joseph on Optimum Channel 17. Every game, as usual, will be available to stream on the MIAA Network as well.
What's Next
MoWest goes on the road Saturday, October 25 for a game at Missouri Southern. Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Missouri is set for 2 p.m. That game will be the MIAA Game of the Week on 38 The Spot.
