ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football (3-6, 2-5 MIAA) is home one last time in the 2026 season to face No. 8 Northwest Missouri State (7-1, 6-1 MIAA) on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium Saturday. 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, Sports Illustrated TV (SI-TV) and the RYZ Sports Network.

Voice of the Griffons Tommy Rezac will be on the call, with former Griffon receiver and three-time allMIAA selection Jonas Bennett serving as analyst and MoWest broadcasting student Tucker Holden 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
Griffon Football attempted a comeback in the second half, but a 31-point deficit was too much to overcome in a 55-40 loss at (RV) Washburn last Saturday at Yager Stadium in Topeka. MoWest put up 534 yards of offense on 87 snaps – the fifth time this season they've put up 500+ yards of offense. Four of those five games, however, ended in defeat.

The Ichabods had 407 yards of total offense on 21 snaps in the first half alone, and ended up with 519 total yards on the day. Skyler Cassel threw for 108 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on seven completions. Isaiah Tate was 25-of-40 for 310 yards with a touchdown and an INT. He was sacked four times.

Crew Myers set a career-high with 10 catches (fourth most in a single game at MWSU) for 153 yards and a touchdown. The 153 yards is his fourth 100+ receiving yard effort this season. Myers now sits with 954 receiving yards this season – fifth most in a single season in program history. Forty-six more yards would make Myers just the fourth different WR to have a 1000-plus yard season in program history.

Cencere Thompson had 18 yards on five carries, scoring his first career TD in the second quarter. Rickie Dunn had 12 carries for 48 yards and a score. Peyton Hatfield caught six passes for 71 yards. Emmanuel Ellison hauled in three passes for 31 yards and a TD. Ken Pierre-Charles had a team-best eight tackles. Ashton Smith recovered a fumble in the first half. Deontae Young was credited with a sack, and Latrell Armstrong connected on field goals of 30 and 27 yards.

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 (33.9 ppg), second in total offensive yards (4198 - No. 15 NCAA DII), second in total offense per game (466.4 - No. 16 NCAA DII), second in passing yards per game (345.3 - No. 4 NCAA DII), first in offensive efficiency (147.8) and second in first downs (227 - No. 6 NCAA DII).

MoWest has had 10 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 (20 - t-8th NCAA DII) - No. 9 in single season at MWSU
No. 1 in the MIAA passing efficiency (148.9) - No. 5 in single season at MWSU
No. 1 in the MIAA in passing yards per completion (14.96 - No. 17 NCAA DII)
No. 1 in the MIAA passing yards per attempt (8.69 - No. 23 NCAA DII)
No. 2 in the MIAA total passing yards (2633 - No. 8 NCAA DII) - No. 7 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA passing yards per game (292.6 - No. 8 NCAA DII)
No. 1 in single season at MWSU No. 2 in the MIAA total offense (2767 - No. 8 NCAA DII) - No. 5 in single season at MWSU
No. 2 in the MIAA in total offense per game (307.4 - No. 8 NCAA DII) - No. 1 in single season at MWSU

Receiving Crew
Crew Myers has an MIAA-leading 954 receiving yards (No. 6 NCAA DII, No. 5 single season at MWSU), 62 catches (2nd MIAA, t-7th NCAA DII, t-No. 4 single season at MWSU) and six TD receptions (t-3rd MIAA). Myers also leads the MIAA with 107.4 receiving yards per game (5th NCAA DII).

Malik Moore sits No. 3 in the MIAA with 677 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 (691), No. 2 in attempts (144) and No. 4 in rushing scores (10 - 9th 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. 12 in NCAA Division II with 539 kick return yards. He leads the league with 1194 all-purpose yards (No. 19 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 with 757 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 33 touchbacks. In 160 career kickoff attempts, Grove has tallied 98 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 10 passes so far in 2026 - third most in the MIAA and tied for ninth 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 (Missouri S&T) and Zaidun Edwards (Missouri Southern). A'Mon Walker has been strong at the corner position with eight passes defended (t-6th MIAA), while safety Ken Pierre-Charles sits No. 4 in the MIAA with 78 total tackles, including 49 solo stops (2nd MIAA, t-9th 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 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 27 starts since 2024, while Sotelo now has 15 career starts.

Opponent Preview: Northwest Missouri State
Northwest Missouri State comes in, once again, to this annual rivalry matchup as the heavy favorite. The Bearcats, who split the MIAA championship with Pittsburg State last season, can clinch at least a share of that title this season with a victory in St. Joseph on Saturday. A Bearcat win and an Emporia State loss would give it to Northwest outright.

After a 3-0 start, Northwest stumbled at Central Oklahoma 19-14 on September 26 in what ended up being the next-to-last game for Adam Dorrel as the UCO head coach before his midseason resignation following the loss to Central Missouri on October 3.

Since the loss to the 'Chos, Northwest has reeled off four wins in a row with their most recent victory being the most significant - a 59-14 shellacking of then No. 8 Emporia State in Maryville last Saturday.

The Bearcats are a two-headed monster, leading the league in scoring offense (38.8) and scoring defense (14.5 - No. 9 NCAA DII). They lead the MIAA in total defense (301.8), rushing offense (235.9 - No. 13 NCAA DII), red zone offense (94.1 - No. 4 NCAA DII), red zone defense (61.9 - No. 5 NCAA DII), sacks allowed (7 - No. 6 NCAA DII) and first downs allowed (130 - No. 11 NCAA DII).

The Cats also rank No. 3 in the MIAA in QB sacks (21), No. 2 in interceptions (11) and No. 2 in third down defense (36.4%). Northwest also has the fewest amount of penalty yards in the MIAA with 374 (MoWest has 589 penalty yards). Individually, the Northwest rushing attack is led by all-MIAA running back Quincy Torry, who ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in rushing yards (721) and rushing TD (12). Defensive lineman and Atchison, KS native Eric Smith III is a leader on defense with 4.5 sacks (3rd MIAA) and two forced fumbles (t-2nd MIAA).

Series History
Saturday marks the 47th all-time meeting with Northwest in a series that dates back to 1981. The Cats have dominated this series, leading 33-13 all-time, including the last 12 in a row since 2013 and 21 of 23 since 2004. In these last 12 wins over MoWest, the Bearcats have won by double digits 11 times. MoWest hasn't topped Northwest at all since 2012 and not in St. Joseph since 2011.

Trends and Tidbits
Since the start of the 2023 season, MoWest has played in 43 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 25 losses for Griffon Football have come by eight points or less. The Griffons are 10-23 in their last 33 games overall, with 11 of those 23 losses coming by eight points or less. The Griffs are 6-10 in their last 16 at home and 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 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.