The Missouri Western football finished 5th in the final American Football Coaches Association Poll which was released Monday afternoon. The Griffons finished the 2012 season with a 12-2 overall record and won the MIAA Title with a 9-1 record. The Griffons won its first two playoff games in school history making it to the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.

The Griffons win six straight games against top-25 opponents and opened up the season 6-0 for the first time ever under head coach Jerry Partridge and the first time since 1981. The six straight victories by the Griffons to start the season helped them garner a #4 ranking in the AFCA poll and #3 by D2Football.com which are the highest in school history. The Griffons won four road games against teams that were ranked in the top-25 for the first time ever beating #7 Pittsburg State 63-14, #15 Emporia State 57-28, #4 NW Missouri State 21-20 and #6 Henderson State 45-21 in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs. The Griffons won a school record 12 victories and nine or more for the seventh time in ten years.

The Griffons have been ranked in the top 25 in the last 20 polls and have received votes in 38 of the last 42 coaches polls. This is the 48th time under Partridge that a Griffon team is ranked in the top-25.

— MWSU Sports Information —