ST. JOSEPH – With all spring sports seasons at Missouri Western now complete, preparations are underway for the fall sports seasons, including the 2015 Missouri Western football schedule.
The 46th year of Griffon Football will feature six home games and for the first time in a number of years, no night games at Spratt Memorial Stadium. Renovations at the home of Griffon Football since 1979 will leave the stadium without lights for the 2015 season.
For the fourth consecutive season, Missouri Western will open with Central Missouri. After a thrilling, 10-9 victory at home over the Mules in 2014, the Griffons have won 11 of the last 12 games between the two, including the last four. MWSU travels to Warrensburg on Sept. 4 for a Thursday night game at 7 p.m.
The home opener this year will be a Saturday afternoon rather than the traditional Thursday night home debut Griffon fans have grown accustomed to. MWSU will play its first home contest on Sept. 12 versus Central Oklahoma. The Griffons then travel to Oklahoma to take on Northeastern State on Sept. 19 in their last scheduled night game of the season at 6 p.m.
The fourth game of the season will be a celebration of Missouri Western’s Centennial along with Founder’s Day and Family Day at MWSU. That game will be on Sept. 26 versus Lindenwood as the Lions make their first ever trip to St. Joseph. In week five, MWSU travels to Pittsburg, Kansas, to take on Pittsburg State on the Gorillas’ homecoming. It will be the Griffons first trip to Pittsburg since 2012 when MWSU defeated the then defending national champions, 63-14.
Weeks six and seven will both be home games for the Griffons with Fort Hays visiting on Oct. 10 as part of Hall of Fame Day. The next week will be homecoming for Missouri Western as Washburn visits Spratt Stadium. The Ichabods have not claimed a victory in St. Joseph since the 2007 season.
After two-straight at home, MWSU hits the road in week eight for a matchup with Emporia State on Oct. 24. The Hornets have won the last two meetings, both in St. Joseph. In the Griffons’ last trip to Emporia State, they knocked off the 15th ranked Hornets, 57-28.
Halloween marks the annual rivalry matchup between Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats travel to St. Joseph in 2015 after two-straight wins over MWSU. The Griffons make the trip to Kearney, Nebraska in week 10, playing at Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 7. Senior Day comes for the Griffons in the last week of the regular season as Missouri Southern visits Spratt Stadium. The Lions have won their last two games in St. Joseph and have only played in Spratt Stadium three times since 2007.
The Griffons return a host of experienced players in 2015, including most of the starters on both sides of the ball. After a 7-4 record in 2014, Jerry Partridge is 139-71 in 18 seasons as the Griffons’ head coach. Coach Partridge is 107-56 against MIAA opponents.
— MWSU Sports Information —