Missouri Western Athletics
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Griffon Football looks for a bounce back win as they travel to take on rival Northwest Missouri State this weekend. Missouri Western is fresh off its third loss of the season and travels to Maryville with memories of last year’s 30-point defeat at the hands of the Bearcats.

A loss last week could be the best thing for Missouri Western. Jerry Partridge is 9-2 since 2009 the week after a loss. A road trip might not be the worst thing for the Griffons either. Since 2011, Missouri Western is 18-3 away from Spratt Stadium, including a 14-game regular season road winning streak that was snapped earlier this year at Central Oklahoma. A loss would give MWSU four losses in a season for the first time since 2010 and four MIAA losses for the first time since 2008. A win would guarantee Missouri Western of nothing short of a .500 season for the ninth straight year.

Despite the loss last week, the Griffon offense continues to show improvement, setting seven season high offensive marks and six individual marks last week against Emporia State. The defense also continues to impress, holding opponents to just over 14 points per game and picking off an MIAA-high 13 passes. The Griffons have also put pressure on oppsoing quarterbacks, racking up 25 sacks on the year.

Northwest enters after a bounce back win of their own. The Bearcats took down Fort Hays, 29-10 last week after falling to Pittsburg State, 35-17 the week before. The Bearcats lead the MIAA in total defense (224) and are third in total offense (441.1). Northwest leads the all-time series 23-12 but the Griffons have taken two of the last four from Northwest, including the last matchup in Maryville in 2012 that handed Missouri Western their first ever, outright MIAA Championship.