ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Football starts its 57th season on Thursday night at home, as MoWest will host No. 20 Augustana at Spratt Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and available to watch on the MIAA Network with a subscription.
Voice of the Griffons Tommy Rezac will be on the call, with former Griffon receiver and three-time all-MIAA pick Jonas Bennett serving as analyst, and MoWest broadcast student Tucker Holden on the sideline. Radio pregame coverage starts at 6:30 p.m.
Fan Information (Parking, Ticketing, Tailgating, Gates, Concessions)
Tailgating and parking lots are open three hours prior to kickoff. Read more on MWSU's Tailgate Policy here.
Lot I requires a prepaid parking pass. Lot H is $10, or a prepaid parking pass. MoWest students, staff and faculty can park in Lot H for free by showing their MoWest ID.
Handicap accessible parking is available in both Lot I and H. Courtesy golf carts start running an hour prior to kickoff.
Gates open an hour prior to kickoff. A clear bag policy will be activated. Click here to see a list of permitted and prohibited items.
Update your Hometown Fan App and access your tickets before arriving to the gate.
Concessions and game day book store are both cashless. More game day information for fans can be found here.
Overview
After a disappointing 3-8 finish in 2025, MoWest reloaded in the offseason, adding 25 transfers and 30 freshmen to the roster. The Griffs also have many years of experience on this team, boasting 28 juniors and 18 seniors, including six fifth-year players.
The Griffons will have plenty of new faces this season, losing 10 starters on defense and all three quarterbacks from the previous year.
In all, the Griffons return 14 starters - eight on offense, three on defense and three on special teams. Conversely, MoWest lost 19 starters - 11 on defense, six on offense and two on special teams.
Start It Off Right
MoWest looks to turn the tide in season-opening games. The Griffons are just 3-6 in their last nine season-openers dating back to 2016. However, MoWest is 7-2 in their last nine home opening games.
Secondary Shuffle
The defensive backfield will look 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 25 defensive backs on the Griffon roster, including true freshmen.
MoWest looks for a bounce back this season in pass defense as the Griffons ranked last in the MIAA in 2025, allowing 254.9 yards per game through the air.
Gunslingers
MoWest does not return a single player who completed a pass in 2025. The Griffons have six quarterbacks on roster, adding transfers Isaiah Tate (Lincoln U) and Skyler Cassel (Utah Tech) in the offseason. Redshirt freshmen Holden Hansen and DeAngelo Perales are set to compete for the job as well, with true freshmen Clayton O'Bryan and Cole Slepecki also joining the fold.
Tate played in 16 games over two seasons at Lincoln, passing for a combined 12 touchdowns and 1924 yards in that time while also rushing for 260 yards and five scores.
Cassel spent three years at Division I Utah Tech, appearing in two total games. Perales and Hansen look to compete for the role after redshirting in 2025.
O'Bryan joined MoWest after the spring after a terrific prep career at Fort Zumwalt West in O'Fallon, Missouri. He broke school records in career passing yards (6615) and passing TD (56). Slepecki, out of Bentonville, Arkansas, passed for 2421 yards and 31 touchdowns with only one interception his senior year.
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 23 games and made 19 starts over the last three seasons.
Left tackle Quentin Garrett and center Adam Sotelo also bring ample starting experience. Garrett has made 18 starts since 2024, while Sotelo started six games in 2025.
Special Teams Stars
Special teams proved to be a bright spot for MoWest in 2025. The Griffons finished last season No. 1 in the MIAA and No. 10 in NCAA Division II in punt return yards per game (13.83). Crew Myers, a third team all-MIAA pick as a punt returner, led the league with 15 yards per punt return last season.
MoWest was also the only team in the MIAA to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the 2025 regular season - Jaelon Dixon took one to the house from 96 yards out against Central Missouri. Since 2019, Griffon Football has returned six kickoffs for scores - two in 2019, one in 2020, one in 2021, one in 2024 and again in 2025.
Elsewhere, Mason Grove set the standard again in the MIAA last season in kickoffs, leading the league with 34 touchbacks - the 14th most in NCAA Division II. In 105 career kickoff attempts, Grove has tallied 65 career touchbacks with only three attempts going out of bounds.
Field goals were also a strength for MoWest in 2025. The Griffs made 14 total field goals last season - third most in the MIAA. MoWest was one of just four MIAA teams last season to hit from 50+ yards - Latrell Armstrong drilled a career-best 51-yard attempt in the season finale vs. Central Oklahoma - the eighth longest make in program history. Conversely, MoWest ranked second in the MIAA and No. 6 in NCAA Division II with five blocked kicks last season - all field goals and point afters.
Rickie and the Backs
MoWest graduated three senior running backs from last year's team, but welcome back junior Rickie Dunn, who rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns in 2025.
Four other backs will compete for time this season. Jaelon Dixon impressed as a kick returner in 2025, and will compete for reps. Cencere Thompson saw the field in six games last season and will look to contribute. Sheldon King also contributed as a kick returner last year and will compete for time in the backfield. Xavier Arambula enters his third season with the program and looks to provide depth as well.
Linebacker Lore
The Griffon defense brings back some experience in their linebacking corps. Junior Broc Worcester and senior Khalid Sereal bring back ample playing time Worcester has played in 21 games over the last two seasons, tallying 57 total tackles, including a sack and a forced fumble. Sereal has played in 20 games over the last three seasons, combining for 30 total tackles, including 7.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks.
The Griffs added three transfer linebackers - Reid Slankard, Blake Branham and Noah Delgado. Parker Elliott, Ashton Smith and Nathan Alexopoulos are redshirt freshmen who will compete for time. Junior Jaxon Vikander is also back after seeing some playing time last season.
Pass Catchers
MoWest returns three of their top five receivers from 2025 - Malik Moore, Crew Myers and Isaac Khattab. Moore is the top returner, logging 24 catches for 272 yards and three touchdowns in his first season as a Griffon. Khattab and Myers each logged their first career collegiate touchdown catches in 2025. The two combined for 46 catches and 416 receiving yards.
The Griffs loaded up the receiver room in the offseason, adding nine players to the group - five freshmen and four transfers. One of the key additions is Victor Taylor Jr., who comes in after three productive seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma State. In 26 career games with the Savage Storm, Taylor accounted for 676 yards and five touchdowns, earning third team all-GAC Conference honors in 2024.
Hayden Hack comes in from Fort Hays State, where he played in two games over two seasons there. Hack also spent two seasons at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, where he had 15 catches for 226 yards and a touchdown in 2023, and 122 receiving yards and a score in 2022. Armani Sheriff transferred in from New Mexico Highlands, where had 64 yards receiving and a touchdown over the last two seasons. Three redshirt freshmen will also compete for time at receiver this season - Mickhi Mitchell, Austin Adair and Charis Jackson. Meanwhile, true freshmen Peyton Hatfield and Emmanuel Ellison showed out in fall camp and are expected to see time in 2026.
At tight end, the Griffons will be young there with junior Sam Goode and redshirt freshmen Bryce Page and Kooper Rich leading that room. Page is the lead returner with nine catches for 82 yards and a touchdown in 2025. MoWest also added freshmen Jackson Green and Bryant Hansbrough to the room.
D-line Dissection
The Griffons lost some experience on their defensive line, but return a smattering of players who have had playing time, led by junior Deontae Young, who was a third team all-MIAA pick in 2025. Young had 30 total tackles last season, including 6.5 tackles for loss. Young makes the move this season from nose tackle to defensive end.
Zone Wierenga and Andon Carpenter are back after seeing healthy snaps last season. Additionally, junior Evan Williams has switched positions, moving from tight end to defensive end. Williams started at MoWest as a linebacker, recording 11 tackles, 3 TFL and 1.5 sacks in 2024.
Antonio Pore and Reggie Parker are transfers added to the D-line this past offseason. Redshirt freshmen Jordan Watson, Cory Lord Arnett and Lance Peters will also compete for time, as will graduate student Zander Gray.
Augie Analysis
Augustana, who finished last season ranked No. 23 and went 9-2 overall, was somehow left out of the 2025 NCAA Division II playoff field. The Vikings, who have made the playoffs four of the last six seasons and have won Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championships in two of the last three seasons, are picked to finish 3rd in the NSIC preseason poll this year.
The Vikings have enjoyed a steady run of success with eight or more wins in six of the last seven years, and seven consecutive winning seasons - all under the guise of 14th-year head coach Jerry Olszewski.
Back under center for the Vikings is star quarterback Gunnar Hensley, who was named a NSIC Preseason Player to Watch. He got injured in the fifth game of last season, but still threw for 1,419 yards and 13 touchdowns with zero interceptions. In last year's season opener against MoWest, Hensley threw for a season-high 430 yards on 31 completions and three scores.
His top target could be junior Cody Oswald, who caught the go-ahead touchdown against MoWest last August with just 10 seconds to go. The Yankton, South Dakota native had a team-high tying six receiving TDs in 2025.
Running back Breylon Blount, a sophomore, will be one to watch. He had seven all-purpose TDs in 2025 (4 receiving, 3 rushing).
A player to watch on defense is corner Jermain Hampton, who was a second team all-NSIC pick last season. He had a sack, along with five pass breakups. Overall, the Vikings return three of their top five tacklers from last year's team.
Series History
Thursday marks the fifth all-time meeting with Augustana and the first ever meeting in St. Joseph. The Vikings lead the series 2-1-1 all-time. The Griffs and Vikings have met twice in the Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs. Augie won it in 2008, 37-16, but MoWest won it in 2009, 34-21.
Griffs on TV
The MIAA Football Game of the Week on Kansas City's 38 The Spot is back in 2026 and Griffon Football is set to be televised three times. MoWest's road game at Central Missouri on Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m. will be televised on The Spot. The Griffons are then back on The Spot in consecutive weeks in October.
MoWest will be televised on Saturday, October 3 at Emporia State (1 p.m.) and then at home on Saturday, October 10 vs. Nebraska-Kearney. That'll be a prime-time kickoff at 6 p.m. It'll also be MoWest's annual Homecoming game. Viewers in St. Joseph can watch 38 The Spot on Optimum Channel 17, and Channel 38 on United Fiber, DirecTV and Dish Network. It's also broadcast free over-the-air on Channel 38.1. All MIAA football games will continue to be streamed live on The MIAA Network as well.
Trends and Tidbits
Since the start of the 2023 season, MoWest has played 34 games - 18 of them decided by a single possession. The Griffons are 8-10 in those games. Dating back to November 2022, 11 of the last 20 losses for Griffon Football have come by eight points or less.
MoWest looks to overall right the ship in 2026. The Griffons are 7-17 in their last 24 games overall, with nine of those 17 losses coming by eight points or less. The Griffs are just 4-8 in their last 12 at home and 3-9 in their last 12 on the road. While Griffon Football has scored 24 wins over ranked opponents since the year 2000, MoWest looks to break what's currently a seven-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 326 games through its first 56 seasons, 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 entering the 2026 season - tight end Cam Grandy (Bengals), defensive lineman C.J. Ravenell (Giants), 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 once 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.
All games are available to watch with a subscription on the MIAA Network as well. Rezac's radio broadcast audio is synchronized with Griffon home games that are broadcast on the MIAA Network.
