ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (3-7, 2-6 MIAA) concludes its 2026 season with a trip to Edmond, Oklahoma to battle the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (4-6, 3-5 MIAA) at Chad Richison Stadium. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 1 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 former Griffon quarterback Branden Berwald serving as analyst and MoWest broadcasting student Tucker Holden on the sideline. Radio pregame coverage starts at 12:30 p.m. with the East Ridge Car Wash Pregame Show.
Look Back at Last Week
Griffon Football lost to No. 8 Northwest Missouri State, 45-13, on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph this past Saturday. The Griffons got down 14-0 in the first quarter, but got on the board with a 56-yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Tate to Victor Taylor Jr. with 10:31 to go in the second quarter, making it 14-7.
Northwest, however, scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to take control. MoWest quarterback Skyler Cassel engineered one last scoring drive before game's end, connecting with Mickhi Mitchell for an 18-yard score as time expired. The Griffons threw for 289 yards, but were outgained in rushing yards 418-52. Northwest outgained MoWest in total offense 549-341.
Cassel completed 11-of-23 passes for 121 yards. He had a touchdown and two INTs. Tate went 11-of-19 for 168 yards with a touchdown and a pick. He also lost a fumble. Northwest recorded eight total sacks on the day.
Taylor Jr. led the Griffs with 69 yards receiving. Malik Moore had a team-best six catches for 67 yards. Crew Myers caught two passes for 40 yards, putting him up to 1007 receiving yards this season. He becomes just the fourth Griffon receiver to have a 1000-yard season and the first since Cedric Houston in 2009.
John Pargo Jr. and Ken Pierre-Charles each had seven tackles. Mayes Doggan and Zaidun Edwards each had an interception.
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 (31.8 ppg), second in total offensive yards (4539 - No. 18 NCAA DII), second in total offense per game (453.9 - No. 18 NCAA DII), second in passing yards per game (339.7 - No. 4 NCAA DII), second in offensive efficiency (144.0) and second in first downs (250 - No. 6 NCAA DII).
MoWest has had 11 scoring plays on offense this season of 30 yards or more, four of 40 yards or more and three of 50 yards or more.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Tate...
No. 1 in the MIAA in passing efficiency (148.3) - No. 5 in single season at MWSU
No. 1 in the MIAA in yards per completion (14.98 - No. 15 NCAA DII) - No. 5 in single season at MWSU
No. 1 in the MIAA in passing yards per attempt (8.70 - No. 23 NCAA DII). - No. 3 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA in passing TD (21 - t-11th NCAA DII) - t-No. 8 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA in total passing yards (2801 - No. 11 NCAA DII) - No. 4 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA in passing yards per game (280.1 - No. 12 NCAA DII) - No. 1 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA in total offense (2946 - No. 11 NCAA DII) - No. 3 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA in total offense per game (294.6 - No. 11 NCAA DII) - No. 1 in single season at MWSU
No. 4 in the MIAA in completed passes (187 - No. 19 NCAA DII) - No. 7 in single season at MWSU
Receiving Crew
Crew Myers has an MIAA-leading 1,007 receiving yards (No. 7 NCAA DII, No. 4 single season at MWSU), 65 catches (2nd MIAA, t-8th NCAA DII, No. 4 single season at MWSU) and six TD receptions (t-3rd MIAA). Myers also leads the MIAA with 100.7 receiving yards per game (No. 8 NCAA DII). Malik Moore sits No. 3 in the MIAA with 744 receiving yards and is tied for third in the MIAA with six TD catches.
Getting it Dunn
Running back Rickie Dunn ranks No. 4 in the MIAA in total rushing yards (718), No. 3 in attempts (156) and No. 4 in rushing scores (10 - 9th most in single season at MWSU). Dunn 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. 11 in NCAA Division II with 613 kick return yards. He leads the league with 1315 all-purpose yards (No. 21 NCAA DII) and sits No. 3 in the MIAA with 77 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 and No. 12 in NCAA Division II with 901 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 35 touchbacks. In 162 career kickoff attempts, Grove has tallied 100 career touchbacks with only four 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 12 passes so far in 2026 - third most in the MIAA and tied for seventh most in NCAA Division II. The Griffs have intercepted at least one pass in six 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 (Missouri S&T) and Zaidun Edwards (Missouri Southern).
A'Mon Walker has been strong at the corner position with nine passes defended (t-5th MIAA), while safety Ken Pierre-Charles sits No. 4 in the MIAA with 85 total tackles, including 54 solo stops (2nd MIAA, t-9th NCAA DII, 9th most in single season at MWSU).
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 32 games and made 28 starts over the last four seasons. Left tackle Quentin Garrett and center Adam Sotelo also bring ample starting experience. Garrett has made 28 starts since 2024, while Sotelo now has 16 career starts.
Opponent Preview: Central Oklahoma
Perhaps the biggest shakeup in the MIAA this season happened in Edmond, Oklahoma. After UCO fell at Central Missouri 33-31 on October 3, now former UCO head coach Adam Dorrell tendered his resignation just two days later stemming from on-field conduct immediately following that loss.
Defensive coordinator Cody Swanson since took over as interim head coach, and the Bronchos have gone 2-3 over that stretch of games, most recently falling at Missouri Southern last Saturday, 23-14.
UCO has scored wins this season at Texas Wesleyan, at home vs. No. 7 Northwest, at home vs. Fort Hays State and at home vs. Nebraska-Kearney. Central Oklahoma is 3-0 at home this season, looking to finish a season unbeaten at home for the first time since 2003.
UCO boasts a strong defense, ranking No. 3 in the MIAA in scoring defense (24.1), No. 2 in total defense (326.8), No. 1 in passing defense (171), No. 1 in third down defense (34.8%), No. 3 in red zone defense (73.3%), No. 2 in sacks (26 - 11th NCAA DII), No. 2 in forced fumbled (10) and No. 2 in recovered fumbles (10 - t-4th NCAA DII).
Linebacker Reese Roller leads the Broncho defense with 96 total tackles (2nd MIAA), including 11 TFL (t-4th MIAA). The MIAA's sack leader is on the UCO sideline. Defensive lineman Cameron Done is first in the MIAA and tied for sixth in NCAA Division II with eight total sacks - seven of those solo. Meanwhile, linebacker Chris Fitzpatrick leads the MIAA with three forced fumbles, and corner Bryant Coley leads the league with three fumble recoveries.
UCO has had its struggles offensively, ranking last in the MIAA in rushing yards per game (104.3), No. 8 in the league in offensive efficiency (118.8) and No. 9 in time of possession (28:24).
Series History
Saturday marks the 16th all-time meeting with UCO and the 14th as MIAA rivals. MoWest leads the all-time series 9-6 with the last six meetings being split evenly since 2019. UCO has, however, topped MoWest each of the last two seasons, including a 54-10 drubbing to end the 2025 season at Spratt Stadium last November. The Griffs are 4-3 all-time while playing in Edmond, winning 34-31 the last time they played there in September 2023.
Trends and Tidbits
Since the start of the 2023 season, MoWest has played in 44 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 26 losses for Griffon Football have come by eight points or less.
The Griffons are 10-24 in their last 34 games overall, with 11 of those 24 losses coming by eight points or less. The Griffs are 6-11 in their last 16 at home and just 4-12 in their last 16 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 10-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.
