Griffons look to end season on high note

ST. JOSEPH, Mo.-When Matt Williamson took over as head football coach at Missouri Western State University two years ago, he had goals in mind. Big goals.

It two seasons with Williamson at the helm, the Griffons have earned their first winning season since 2015, are making their first postseason appearance since 2012 and had a chance for the first 7-win season since 2014.

"Talking with the team and our staff, this team has really jumped on board with everything we're trying to do, our fundamentals and just the pillars of our program," Williamson said. "When you have a team, it's for that one year. When it's over, you'll never have that same team again, even if you have a lot of them back.

"For this team, and everything they've gone through, to be able to suit up and take the field, go out and compete one more time is exciting."

Standing in Missouri Western's path is Southern Arkansas University, which is the host team for the second time in the annual Agent Barry Live United Bowl. The Griffons (6-5) and Muleriders (8-3) clash at noon Saturday at Arkansas High School's Razorback Stadium.

"Obviously, losing the season finale left a bad taste in our mouths, the same with Southern Arkansas," Williamson said. "When you end the season with a loss, you always want a chance to redeem yourself.

"I have a lot of respect for their quarterback; he's very talented. He's very precise, makes good decisions and takes what defenses give him. Every defense has a little weakness, and the coaching staff does a good job of presenting that and then he executes. We're going to have to make him feel uncomfortable; when he gets in a rhythm, their offense is really tough to stop."

The Griffons have scored 300 points and allowed 248 in 2018. That's an average of 27.3 per game and giving up 22.5 per game. MWSU also averages 40 more yards per game (394.5 to 354.5) than its opponents.

Of the Griffons' 4,340 yards of total offense, 2,518 has come via the ground attack. Redshirt freshman James Bailey Jr. has 121 carries for 661 yards, senior quarterback Dom Marino had 108 totes for 644 yards and sophomore speedster Shamar Griffith adds 95 rushes for 631 with the trio combining for 18 rushing TDs.

Marino has also connected on 138 of 258 passes for 1,606 yards, eight TDs and eight interceptions.

"If you watch the great teams that are still playing in Division II playoffs and the bowl games, they have the ability to run the ball," Williamson said. "You want to throw the ball, control the clock, the turnover battle is huge, but if can control the ball and play keep away with the football you give yourself a greater chance to win. It's the same if you go to the casino, the more times you allow your opponent to pull on the level the better chances they've got to hit the jackpot.

"So if we can run the ball and be very effective with that, that's who we are. We can throw the ball, when we have to, when we want to, but we want to establish the run game."

Missouri Western has intercepted 14 balls on defense this season and has eight more fumble recoveries for a Plus-6 in turnover ratio. Defensive backs Jabbar Miles and Brandon Dandridge each have four picks for the defense.

Junior linebacker Anthony Williams leads the defense with 89 tackles and two fumble recoveries, and linebacker James Huskey adds 82 tackles. Freshman safety Kobe Cummings has 74 stops, and Miles 67.

"If you force three turnovers in a game, you're going to win the game, is what we teach" Williamson said. "Defensively, we set goals, and we all take a glance when we line up, look at the football and say, 'that's our football.' We want to play very aggressive, we try to get our hands on the football, we try to strip the ball, we want to break on routes and do a lot of little things to make sure we have a chance to come up with turnovers."

Reaching the postseason and having another month with the senior class, as well as the underclassmen, has made a big impact for the program.

"It was tough when we held our last practice, what we thought was our last one, with our seniors, that Thursday before we ended the regular season," Williamson said. "It gets emotional. So to have another month with them and see them play again, and we took advantage of our 2s and 3s, as well as our red-shirts, with getting in a lot of reps. It was almost like having a half a spring practice.

"The growth of our program with who is going to be playing for us next year took a huge step up. We also went back to our fundamentals and technique for everyone, from our freshmen to our outgoing seniors."