ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) is back on the road Saturday to face the (RV) Washburn Ichabods at Yager Stadium in Topeka. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and available to stream on the MIAA Network.
Voice of the Griffons Tommy Rezac will be on the call, with MoWest broadcast student Tucker Holden serving as analyst and Ryan Menley on the sideline. Radio pregame coverage starts at 1:30 p.m. with the East Ridge Car Wash Pregame Show.
Look Back at Last Week
The Griffons lost 38-14 to Missouri Southern at Spratt Stadium on Saturday in the annual Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame game. Southern outgained MoWest in total offensive yards 341-287, including 157-62 on the ground. The Lions also controlled time of possession 36:34-23:26.
Skyler Cassel completed 15-of-22 passes for 122 yards. Isaiah Tate was 7-of-19 for 103 and a score. Rickie Dunn toted the ball eight times for 29 yards. Malik Moore had five catches for 73 yards.
Ken Pierre-Charles had a career-best 13 tackles. Ashton Smith had a career-best 10 stops to go with a fumble recovery. Zaidun Edwards had a 70-yard pick six in the second quarter in his first career start at safety.
Big Numbers Offensively
MoWest continues to be among the MIAA and D2 nation's leaders in offensive production, ranking third in the MIAA in scoring offense (33.1 ppg), second in total offensive yards (3664 - No. 18 NCAA DII), second in total offense per game (458 - No. 16 NCAA DII), first in passing yards per game (336.3 - No. 5 NCAA DII), first in offensive efficiency (149.9) and second in first downs (192 - No. 10 NCAA DII).
MoWest has had nine scoring plays on offense this season of 30 yards or more, three of 40 yards or more and two of 50 yards or more.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Tate...
No. 1 in the MIAA in passing TD (19 - t-7th NCAA DII) - No. 9 in single season at MWSU
No. 1 in the MIAA passing efficiency (151.6) - No. 5 in single season at MWSU
No. 1 in the MIAA in passing yards per completion (15.38 - No. 12 NCAA DII).
No. 1 in the MIAA passing yards per attempt (8.83 - No. 22 NCAA DII).
No. 2 in the MIAA total passing yards (2323 - No. 7 NCAA DII) - No. 9 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA passing yards per game (290.4 - No. 7 NCAA DII) - No. 1 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA total offense (2439 - No. 11 NCAA DII).
No. 2 in the MIAA in total offense per game (304.9 - No. 11 NCAA DII) - No. 1 in single season at MWSU
Receiving Crew
Crew Myers has an MIAA-leading 814 receiving yards (No. 8 NCAA DII, No. 8 single season at MWSU), 52 catches (2nd MIAA, t-9th NCAA DII, t-No. 9 single season at MWSU) and four touchdown receptions (t-4th MIAA). Myers also leads the MIAA with 101.8 receiving yards per game (8th NCAA DII). Malik Moore sits No. 3 in the MIAA with 615 receiving yards and is tied for fourth in the MIAA with four TD catches.
Getting it Dunn
Running back Rickie Dunn ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in total rushing yards (643), No. 2 in attempts (132) and No. 4 in rushing scores (9). He had a career-best 25 carries for a career-best 124 yards rushing in the victory over Fort Hays State, and a career-best three rushing touchdowns in the game at Pittsburg State.
Heralding Hatfield
Freshman WR Peyton Hatfield has made quite the name for himself already. The Lee's Summit High School alum leads the MIAA and ranks No. 9 in NCAA Division II with 506 kick return yards. He leads the league with 1074 all-purpose yards (No. 16 NCAA DII) and sits No. 4 in the MIAA with 61 punt return yards.
Special Teams Stars
Special teams continue to be a bright spot for MoWest. Since 2019, Griffon Football has returned seven kickoffs for touchdowns - two in 2019 (Trey Vaval), one in 2020 (Sam Webb), one in 2021 (Cooper Burton), one in 2024 (Javerius McGuinn), one in 2025 (Jaelon Dixon) and again in 2026 with Peyton Hatfield doing so against Augustana on August 27.
MoWest currently ranks No. 1 in the MIAA with 676 kick return yards. MoWest is one of the four teams in the MIAA to have a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2026.
Elsewhere, Mason Grove continues to set the standard in kickoffs, leading the league with 29 touchbacks. In 153 career kickoff attempts, Grove has tallied 94 career touchbacks with only three attempts going out of bounds.
Ball Hawks
The defensive backfield is completely new for MoWest this season. The Griffons lost seven starting DBs from the 2025 roster. MoWest reloaded, adding 19 new DBs, including seven transfers. There are now 24 defensive backs on the Griffon roster, including true freshmen.
This group has intercepted 10 passes so far in 2026 - third most in the MIAA and tied for eighth most in NCAA Division II. The Griffs have intercepted at least one pass in five different games this season. Nine different Griffs have at least one INT to their name this season and two have taken one back for a TD - Broc Worcester and Zaidun Edwards.
A'Mon Walker has been strong at the corner position with eight passes defended (t-5th MIAA), while safety Ken Pierre-Charles sits No. 4 in the MIAA with 70 total tackles, including 43 solo stops (2nd MIAA, t-10th NCAA DII).
Strength in O-line numbers
MoWest dealt with numerous injuries on their offensive line last season, with four players suffering season-ending ailments, including starters Keegun Daniels and Joe Turner.
MoWest shored up some strength here as well with now 21 offensive linemen on the roster, including six returners with starting experience. Chief among them is third team all-MIAA right tackle Connor Holt, who's played in 31 games and made 27 starts over the last four seasons.
Left tackle Quentin Garrett and center Adam Sotelo also bring ample starting experience. Garrett has made 26 starts since 2024, while Sotelo now has 14 career starts.
Opponent Preview: Washburn
Under second year head coach Zach Watkins, Washburn has turned a corner and shown major improvement in 2026 after three straight seasons of three wins or less.
Washburn's conquests this year include wins at Truman State, Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State with home wins over Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State. Their second game of the season, home vs. Colorado Mines, was called at the end of the fourth quarter due to extensive heat. It ended in a 16-16 tie.
The Bods have been stout defensively, allowing just 20.6 points per game (2nd MIAA) and 343.8 yards per game (2nd MIAA), including just 116.8 rush yards per game (2nd MIAA, 30th NCAA DII). The Bods' superpower has been forcing and recovering fumbles. They've forced 12 (1st MIAA) and recovered 13 (1st MIAA, 1st NCAA DII).
J.C. Heim has been their ring leader. The junior and all-conference linebacker from Topeka leads the MIAA and NCAA Division II with 105 total tackles. His eight TFLs are No. 4 most in the MIAA. He's also forced two fumbles.
On offense, Washburn sits No. 3 in the MIAA in passing yards per game (269.8). Logan Madden, a second-year starting quarterback, has had a strong season with 2121 passing yards (No. 3 MIAA) and 14 passing TD (No. 2 MIAA). His top target is Tre Calhoun, who's tallied 48 catches (4th MIAA) for 704 yards (2nd MIAA) and six receiving TDs (2nd MIAA).
Series History
Saturday marks the 54th all-time meeting between MoWest and Washburn. The Griffons lead the all-time series 28-23-2. The last eight meetings have been split evenly since 2018. Four of the last five meetings have been decided by eight points or less.
Trends and Tidbits
Since the start of the 2023 season, MoWest has played in 42 games - 20 of them decided by a single possession. The Griffons are 8-12 in those games. Dating back to November 2022, 13 of the last 24 losses for Griffon Football have come by eight points or less.
The Griffons are 10-22 in their last 32 games overall, with 11 of those 22 losses coming by eight points or less. The Griffs are 6-10 in their last 16 at home and 4-13 in their last 17 on the road. While Griffon Football has scored 24 wins over ranked opponents since the year 2000, MoWest looks to break what's now a nine-game losing streak to ranked teams.
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 OT win at Central Oklahoma.
Griffon Football History
Griffon Football has won 329 games in what's now the 57th season, winning two conference titles and making the NCAA Division II playoffs four times. MoWest has competed in 12 bowl games throughout its history, going an impressive 9-3 in those contests. Since the year 2000, MoWest has had 18 winning seasons, six bowl victories, four playoff bids and two MIAA championships. In all, MoWest has had 29 winning seasons since the program's founding in 1970 and 93 All-Americans in that time as well.
Griffs in the NFL
There are four Griffon Football alumni who are active in the NFL in the 2026 season - defensive lineman C.J. Ravenell (Giants), tight end Cam Grandy (Vikings), fullback Grant Finley (Giants) and safety Jonathan Owens (Colts).
Four Griffons in history have been NFL draft picks - Vince Thomson (DE 1985), John Fisher (DB 1996), Greg Zuerlein (K 2012) and David Bass (DE 2013). Other former Griffs to have played in the NFL include Gijon Robinson (TE 2008-10), Roger Allen (OG 2009-2012), Michael Hill (RB 2013-14), Leonard Wester (OT 2016-18), Sam Webb (CB 2022-25), D.J. Stirgus (2023 CB) and Mike Jordan (CB 2016-18).
Tune Into the Griffons
The Griffon Sports Network will again provide live, free audio coverage all season for ALL home and away Griffon Football games.
Tommy Rezac is back as 'Voice of the Griffons' for a sixth 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.
Former Griffon Football players Jonas Bennett and Branden Berwald serve as the color analysts, with MoWest broadcasting student Tucker Holden as the sideline reporter. All games are available to watch with a subscription on the MIAA Network as well. Rezac's radio broadcast is synchronized with Griffon home games broadcast on the MIAA Network.
