MWSU Athletic Media Relations
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Football hits the road this weekend with a trip to Hays, Kansas looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since the 2010 season. Missouri Western has won the last nine against the Tigers and will see a Fort Hays team with a winning record for the first time since 2009. Both teams are coming off losses last week. MWSU fell at home to Pittsburg State 23-13, while Fort Hays lost, 27-24, in overtime at Washburn. The Griffons find themselves outside the top-25 in both the d2football.com poll and the American Football Coaches Association poll for the first time since October 2011.
The Series
The Griffons have won nine straight in the series and hold a 13-10-1 advantage all-time over the Tigers. Fort Hays last win in the series came in 2000 when Jerry Partridge faced the Tigers for the first time as the Griffons head coach. Prior to MWSU’s current win-streak, Fort Hays held a 10-4-1 lead in the all-time series. The Tigers still hold the advantage in games played in Hays, 7-5.
The Griffons
Missouri Western boasts one of the MIAA’s top defenses. The Griffons are second in the MIAA in sacks (15) and interceptions (8). The defense is also third in the leage in scoring defense (13.4), red zone defense (62.5) and total defense (347.8). It’s a defense that has the capability of finding the end zone themselves, while holding opponents out of it. Three diferent defenders have found the end zone for the Griffon D and Kirk Resseguie has accounted for two defensive scores with a fumble recovery and a sack for a safety.
Raphael Spencer came up short of another 100-yard performance last week, but the junior running back still sits second in the MIAA with 549 rushing yards this season. Spencer is also climbing the record books at MWSU. He has jumped two spots already this season on the career rushing chart and now sits seventh with 2.469 career rushing yards. The Kansas City native is on pace to move into third by season’s end.
The Tigers
A sack happy defense and a dyanamic quarterback have led the Tigers to a 3-2 record, which included a 7-6 upset win over Pittsburg State two weeks ago. Treveon Albert is among the MIAA leaders in total offense, averaging 108 yards through the air and 42 on the ground per game. Albert has thrown for 541 yards with five touchdown passes and three interceptions. Edward Smith is the only Tiger with more rushing yards than Albert (313). Smith has three rushing touchdowns and Albert has two. Joita Te’i leads the MIAA with four solo sacks. Not far behind is teammate Justin McPhail, who has 3.5 total. Brock Long leads the Tiger defense with 41 total tackles.