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 —

Another NCAA Championship is coming to St. Joseph.  Missouri Western State University has been selected as the host institution for the 2013 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Super Regional Three Championship to be held at St. Joseph Country Club May 5-7.

“We are thrilled that the NCAA has chosen our institution and our community to host another championship,” Director of Athletics Kurt McGuffin said.  “Our community has proven that they know what it takes to be a great host and for this championship, St. Joseph Country Club will be a remarkable venue and a great test of golf for the student-athletes.”

Nine teams and four individuals (49 players total), will compete in a 54 hole stroke play format with the low three teams and three individuals not on an advancing team qualifying for the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf National Championship at LPGA International Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Florida May 15-18.

Super Region Three is made up of 36 teams who compete in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Great American Conference and teams playing independent of conference affiliation.

This event adds to the number of the many prestigious events that have been held at St. Joseph Country Club over the past 100+ years.  This past year the club hosted the Missouri Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship and has been the site of the Missouri Amateur Championship most recently in 2009.  The course layout for the Super Regional will stretch right at 6,000 yards with par being played at 71.

“This is a great opportunity for St. Joseph C. C. to host the Women’s Regional,” said Mike Habermehl Head Golf Professional at the club.  “The course, which was built on this site in 1911 and designed by A.W. Tillinghast has stood the test of time.  We look forward to hosting these fine players.”

Other 2013 Super Regional sites include:

Super Regional One: Joliet Country Club, Romeoville, Illinois; Host: Lewis University
Super Regional Two: Lone Palm Golf Club, Lakeland, Florida; Host: Florida Southern College
Super Regional Four: Tiara Rado Golf Course, Grand Junction, Colorado; Colorado Mesa University

This will be the 15th NCAA Regional or National Championship hosted by MWSU and the third NCAA Golf Regional held at St. Joseph Country Club which also hosted the 1997 & 2005 Men’s Golf Super Regionals.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the championship may contact Griffon Athletics at 816-271-5904 or via e-mail at esely@missouriwestern.edu

— MWSU Sports Information —

FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — Shippensburg quarterback Zach Zulli won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II after a record-setting junior season.

Zulli received the award Friday night on the eve of the national championship game at the University of North Alabama. He set NCAA Division II records by accounting for 336 points and 56 touchdowns, and tied the national record with 54 touchdown passes.

”This is just ridiculous. I never would have expected this,” said Zulli, who had never flown before the plane trip to Alabama. ”Being here is incredible. Sharing this award with my teammates, it just feels incredible.”

Zulli had 202 points in balloting by Division II sports information directors for a 64-point margin over Missouri Western State running back Michael Hill. Bloomsburg running back Franklyn Quiteh was third with 101 points.

Zulli, from Schwenksville, Pa., passed for 4,747 yards and led Shippensburg to an 11-2 record and the second round of the playoffs. He was the offensive player of the year in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division. Quiteh plays in the same league.

Zulli became the seventh underclassman to win in the award’s 27-year history and the first since Danny Woodhead of Chadron State in 2006.

Woodhead claimed the Harlon Hill again as a senior, becoming the third multiple winner.

Zulli completed 62.8 percent of his attempts, was intercepted just 10 times and was responsible for an average of 26.5 points per game.

Zulli ranked fourth in Division II in passing yards per game (365.2), third in total offense (382.4) and fifth in passing efficiency with a rating of 165.3.

The toughest part about the trip was flying for the first time. ”It was a little scary at first,” Zulli said.

He opened by bringing Quiteh and Hill to the podium tell a story of a prank pulled on their host.

Zulli concluded by not just thanking his teammates but running down the roster on both offense and defense and even throwing in some nicknames.

”This team overall won this award,” he said, ”not just me.”

— Associated Press —

Three Missouri Western football players earned All-American Honors from Daktronics as announced today. Senior running back Michael Hill was selected to the first team while senior offensive lineman Macon Allan and senior defensive end were second team.

This past season Hill rushed for over 100 yards in 12 of the Griffons 14 games which includes rushing for over 150 yards eight times and 200 twice. He has helped the Griffons to an 12-2 record which most victories in a season and helped the Griffons to their first ever playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth 59-57 in triple overtime. He had a career high 259 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-28 victory over Washburn on Senior Day. He helped the Griffons win six straight games against top-25 opponents and helped the Griffons open up 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. He helped the Griffons win four road games against teams that were ranked in the top-25 for the first time ever…beat #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 secured a school record 12 victories  this season and nine or more for the seventh time in ten years. He rushed for a career long 92 yard touchdown against William Jewell College and had a rush for over 20 yards in 11 games. Finished the season with an MWSU single season record 2,168 yards rushing and is only the 7th player ever in the MIAA to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

Hill finished his career has MWSU’s all-time leader in rushing with 4,969 career yards and all-purpose yards with 5,851. He has the record for most carries in a career with 928 and most carries in a game with 41 and most carries in a season with 311. He helped the Griffons break the single game yards per rush average of 9.7 against William Jewell College. His 19 touchdowns this season is the record for most in a single season. He finished the season with 16 rushing touchdowns and his career record of 35 rushing touchdowns. He finished with 44 total touchdowns which was two away from tying the school record in a career. His 154.9 yards per game broke the single season record and his 114 points scored set a single season record.He has the second and third highest mark for rushing yards in a game with 259 against Washburn in 2012 and 246 against Southwest Baptist in 2011.

He helped the Griffons break the school record for highest average per rush in a game…MWSU averaged 9.7 against William Jewell which broke the old mark of 7.8. He helped the Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (582), Highest Scoring Average (41.6), Most Touchdown Scored (78), Most First Downs (318), Most Yards Gained (6,420), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (458.6), Most Yards Gained Rushing (4,009), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,702), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.2) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (65.2-percent). Helped the Griffons to three NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

Hill 2012 Award List

MIAA Offensive Player of the Year
First Team All-MIAA running back
Daktronics All-Region First Team
Daktronics Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year
Harlon Hill Finalist
AFCA All-American
BSN First Team All-American
First Team Dakronics All-American

Macon Allan will arguably be one of the best offensive linemen to wear a Griffon uniform. The senior started every game this year, adding to his streak of 50 consecutive starts for Missouri Western, Allan solidified the right tackle position for both Hill and Travis Partridge to become the best rushing attack in the MIAA, securing 3,702 yards and 44 TDs. Allan helped the Griffons rush for an average of 264.4 yards per game and 6.2 yards per carry this past season.

He helped the Griffons break the school record for highest average per rush in a game…MWSU averaged 9.7 against William Jewell which broke the old mark of 7.8. He helped the Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (582), Highest Scoring Average (41.6), Most Touchdown Scored (78), Most First Downs (318), Most Yards Gained (6,420), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (458.6), Most Yards Gained Rushing (4,009), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,702), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.2) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (65.2-percent). Helped the Griffons to three NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

Allan 2012 Award List

First Team All-MIAA Offensive Lineman
Daktronics All-Region First Team
BSN Third Team All-American
Second Team Dakronics All-American

Bass set the record for career sacks at Missouri Western, and finished with 11.5 sacks this year. He finished his career with 40.5 sacks. Bass set the record for most tackles for a loss in a career. He finished the season with 16.0 and  56 in his career. The senior recorded a career best 61 tackles, and has two interceptions – one for a touchdown – and a forced fumble as well as a fumble recovery. Bass had a solid day against Pittsburg State down in the Jungle on Oct. 20, 2012, as he recorded five tackles, 2 ½ sacks and scored a touchdown that helped set the tone in the Griffons dominating performance to end the regular season. In the Griffons opening round playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth Bass tied his career high with 11 tackles. He also had a sack and a quarterback hurry. In his final game as a Griffon he had eight tackles with 3.5 being for a loss with one sack.

Bass 2012 Award List

First Team All-MIAA Defensive Lineman
Daktronics All-Region First Team
Gene Upshaw Finalis
BSN Third Team All-American
Second Team Dakronics All-American

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western senior running back Michael Hill has been named to the AFCA All-American team which was announced Monday, December 10. This marks the second consecutive season that a Griffon has earned this honor as former Griffon kicker Greg Zuerlein was named to the team a season ago. Hill is also one of the three finalists for the Harlon Hill Award which is awarded to the top player in Division II. The winner of that award will be announced on Friday, December 14 in Florance, Ala.

This past season Hill was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA as well as Daktronics Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year and First Team Daktronics Super Region 3. He was named to the BSN First Team All-American team as well. This past season Hill rushed for over 100 yards in 12 of the Griffons 14 games which includes rushing for over 150 yards eight times and 200 twice. He has helped the Griffons to an 12-2 record which most victories in a season and helped the Griffons to their first ever playoff victory over Minnesota-Duluth 59-57 in triple overtime. He had a career high 259 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-28 victory over Washburn on Senior Day. He helped the Griffons win six straight games against top-25 opponents and helped the Griffons open up 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. He helped the Griffons win four road games against teams that were ranked in the top-25 for the first time ever…beat #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 secured a school record 12 victories  this season and nine or more for the seventh time in ten years. He rushed for a career long 92 yard touchdown against William Jewell College and had a rush for over 20 yards in 11 games. Finished the season with an MWSU single season record 2,168 yards rushing and is only the 7th player ever in the MIAA to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

Hill finished his career has MWSU’s all-time leader in rushing with 4,969 career yards and all-purpose yards with 5,851. He has the record for most carries in a career with 928 and most carries in a game with 41 and most carries in a season with 311. He helped the Griffons break the single game yards per rush average of 9.7 against William Jewell College. His 19 touchdowns this season is the record for most in a single season. He finished the season with 16 rushing touchdowns and his career record of 35 rushing touchdowns. He finished with 44 total touchdowns which was two away from tying the school record in a career. His 154.9 yards per game broke the single season record and his 114 points scored set a single season record.He has the second and third highest mark for rushing yards in a game with 259 against Washburn in 2012 and 246 against Southwest Baptist in 2011

2012: MIAA Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-MIAA running back; Daktronics All-Region First Team and Daktronics Super Region 3 Offensive Player of the Year; Harlon Hill Finalsit; AFCA All-American; BSN First Team All-American
2011 Award List • MIAA Offensive Player of the Week on October 31, 2011 • First Team All-MIAA • Second Team Daktronics Super Region Four • Second Team Don Hansen Super Region Four • Honorable Mention Don Hansen all-American • Honorable Mention Beyond Sports Network all-American 2010 Awards honorable mention All-MIAA.

He helped the Griffons break the school record for highest average per rush in a game…MWSU averaged 9.7 against William Jewell which broke the old mark of 7.8. He helped the Griffon offense set records for Most Points Scored (582), Highest Scoring Average (41.6), Most Touchdown Scored (78), Most First Downs (318), Most Yards Gained (6,420), Most Yards Total Offense Per Game (458.6), Most Yards Gained Rushing (4,009), Most Rushing Yards Net (3,702), Highest Rushing Average Per Carry (6.2) and Highest Completion Percentage in a Season (65.2-percent). Helped the Griffons to three NCAA Division II Playoff Appearances and a Mineral Water Bowl appearance.

Hill is also the fifth Griffon to Earn AFCA All-American honors since 2003. Individuals that earned the honor before Hill were safety Pierre Thomas (2003), running back Jeremiah White (2005), offensive lineman Roger Allen (2008) and kicker Greg Zuerlein (2011).

The Griffons finished its best season in school history with a 12-2 overall record and won the MIAA Championship outright for the first time in school history. They also won its first two playoff games in school history advancing to the quarterfinals.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western trailed for most of Saturday night’s game against Fort Hays State before coming from behind to push the game into overtime, but the Tigers came out with the victory 84-74.

Cedric Clinkscales kept the Griffons in the game early. The starting forward went 4-for-6 from the field and had nine points at halftime. Besides Clinkscales, Alfreeman Flowers came off the bench and had a great half, going 4-for-4 for 10 points.

The teams were tied at 18 with 8:45 to play before the Tigers went on a big run to go ahead 35-25. The Tigers were 5-for-12 from the 3-point line and Missouri Western was just 3-for-15.

Missouri Western pulled within five at the half, 41-36, and the game stayed that way throughout the second half.

The Tigers took two different 9-point leads in the second stanza. With just more than 5 minutes to play, Hays led 68-59. Reed Mells grabbed a steal to lay in a fast-break basket. Adarius Fulton stole the ball on Hays’ next possession, and Flowers was eventually fouled and nailed two free throws to mark the game 68-63 with 4:46 to play.

Clinkscales added another steal for the Griffons before Kalvin Balque nailed two free throws. The momentum ended after Dwayne Brunson, who finished with 16 points, slammed a dunk home to give the Tigers a 70-66 lead with 2:14 to play.

After the game settled at 70-67, Fulton secured a fourth steal in as many minutes for the Griffons, and Mells nailed 3 assisted by Fulton to tie the game up at 70 apiece to send it into overtime. It was the first overtime game since the Griffons lost to Truman State on Jan.  11, 2012, 87-86.

Hays pulled ahead 77-74 with less than 1 minute to play in overtime. Tigers guard Craig Nicholson knocked a 3 down to give Hays a lead 80-74 and Missouri Western failed to pull closer on its next possession. The Tigers pulled out the overtime victory 84-74.

The Griffons were led by Clinkscales, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds. Flowers came off the bench to have a game-high 19 points. Fulton stole the ball five times to help the Griffons on defense.

Up next for the Griffons is a trip to Boca Raton, Fla. to play Barry University on Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m. and then play against Lynn University at 6:30 p.m. the following night.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women struggled offensively in the second half scoring just 17 points falling 57-42 against the 17th ranked Fort Hays State Tigers. The Griffons had three players in double figures with Heather Howard dumping in 15. Alicia Bell had 13 rebounds in the effort as the Griffons fall to 8-2 overall and 1-1 in MIAA play.

Despite being down three starters the Griffons we able to outscore the 17th ranked Lady Tigers 12-4 in the final 5:34 of the first half claiming the 25-21 halftime lead. The Griffons played nine players in the first half and used 11 offensive rebounds to outscore Fort Hays State 10-0 on second chance points.

The Griffons shot just 31.3-percent (10-32) from the field but Howard made 4-of-5 shots and 2-of-3 from long range dumping in 10 points and snaring four rebounds. Alicia Bell had six points and two assists while Tiffanie Abrams dumped in eight points.

The Tigers shot 38.5-percent (10-26) from the field with Kate Lehman leading the charge with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting.

The Tigers came out in the second half scoring the first five points claiming the 26-25 lead. The Griffons regained the lead with 15:19 to play on a Howard jumper making the score 31-29. Unfortunately, that would be the last bucket for the Griffons for over ten minutes as the Tigers built a 15 point lead after a good free throw shot by Katelyn Edwards with 4:09 to play.

The Griffons continued to play hard but it would be too late as the Tigers stay undefeated improving to 8-0 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play.

Abrams and Alex Saxen each pitched in 10 points for the Griffons as MWSU shot just 25-percent (13-52) in the game which included just three field goals in the second half. The Griffons did manage to outrebound the Lady Tigers 42-40 and 16-to-11 on the offensive end of the floor.

The Lady Tigers finished shooting 39.6-percent (21-53) from the floor with Lehman leading the way with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Edwards dumped in 12 points and had two assists.

The Griffons will be off for almost a month for the holiday break returning to action on January 3, 2013 against the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos. Game time is set for 5:30 pm in Edmond, Okla.

— MWSU Sports Information —

14th Annual Missouri Western Baseball Hitting Camps are being offered during the months of December and January.  The 3 day camps are for ages 9-13.  To maintain a high quality of instruction, there will be only 4 campers per session.  There are many hitting sessions offered.

You may download a Hitting Camp registration form at GoGriffons.com and Click Baseball under men’s sports or simply print the attached PDF Western Baseball Camps registration form and mail in.

Sessions are arranged by age, so call for details, session times, age availability, and general information.  Cost is $69.00 per camper, per session.  Camps are held at the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex Batting Cages.

For information and reservations, call Coach Verduzco at   816-271-4484.  Please leave your name and best return phone number.

Hitting Camp #1
December  23, 26, 27  2012
Available sessions offered from 5 pm-8 pm

Hitting Camp #2
January  2, 3, 4  2013
Available sessions offered from 1 pm-4 pm

Hitting Camp #3
January  7, 8, 9, 2013
Available sessions offered from 5 pm-8 pm

— MWSU Sports Information —

The game remained close throughout the first half with neither team taking a big lead. The Griffons jumped ahead midway through the first half as James Harris hit Alfreeman Flowers in mid-air, and Flowers slammed the alley-oop home to give Missouri Western a 25-21 lead. The dunk came just seconds after the Griffons took the lead for the first ime in the game as Reed Mells nailed a mid-range jumper with 8:38 to play in the first half.

Truman took a 36-34 halftime lead behind Isaac Garnder’s performance off the bench. Gardner scored nine points, three from downtown, and grabbed three rebounds to put the Bulldogs ahead.

The Griffons were led by Alex Tuluka-Mfumupembe, who scored eight points — including back-to-back 3-pointers. The big difference in the first half was the 3s, as Truman went 8-from-19 from the 3-point line, and the Griffons were 3-of-12.

Truman cooled off in the second half, and the Griffons were able to use that to take a 54-48 lead with just more than 10 minutes to play. But after a 12-3 run, the Bulldogs pulled ahead to take a 60-57 lead with 7:56 to play.

The score remained tight from there as the Griffons trailed 61-60 and then 65-64. Truman’s Cole Myers knocked down a rare 3 in the second half, as Truman was just 4-for-18 in the frame, but the 3-pointer gave the Bulldogs a 68-64 lead with 26 seconds to play.

TSU finished the win off 71-69 to win the conference opener. Cedric Clinkscales finished the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds, his third double-double this season. Dzenan Mrkaljevic ended the night with nine points and eight rebounds.

Next up for the Griffons play Fort Hays State Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s team defeated Truman State Wednesday night at MWSU Fieldhouse 71-64. The Griffons improved to 8-1 and 1-0 in conference play. It was Truman’s first loss of the season to drop the Bulldogs to 5-1.
Heather Howard led the way with 13 points and seven rebounds. After a slow start, the Griffons regrouped to close the first half strong.

The Griffons outscored the Bulldogs 16-10 in the paint and had eight second chance points claiming a 35-28 halftime lead over undefeated Truman State. The Griffons used a 16-8 run in the final 8:29 of the first frame which was led by eight points from Howard to claim the lead. Howard finished with 10 points in the first half.
The Bulldogs controlled the first 12 minutes of the game behind 10 points from Jennifer Conway. TSU led by as many as four points four different times which included the last time at 18-14 with 9:53 to play in the frame.
MWSU gained control the rest of the half shooting 51.6-percent (16-31) from the field and making 3-of-6 three point shots. The Griffons forced 10 Bulldog turnovers and had six offensive rebounds. Truman shot 63.2-percent (12-19) from the field and made 3-of-4 long range shots. They struggled from the foul line make just 1-of-7 free throws.

The Griffons built momentum in the second half, and took a commanding 42-33 lead with 16:51 to play off of Brittany Griswold’s layup. Their lead hit double-digits nearly 10 minutes later when JaQuitta Dever knocked down two free throws to give Missouri Western a 56-45 lead with 6:57 to play.

The Bulldogs closed within six with less than a minute to go after Becka McHenry nailed a 3-pointer. Truman then missed a 3 with 27 seconds to play down 70-64, giving the ball back to the Griffons who finished off the victory.

Missouri Western finished 11-of-13 from the free-throw line, all in the second half.

Dever added 12 points, and Alicia Bell helped the Griffons out on defense with three steals.

The win was just the Griffons second home opening victory in the past six years. The Griffons continue MIAA play this Saturday when they host Fort Hays State at 1:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —