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2010 Missouri Western Griffon Football Game 9 vs. Emporia State University
Quick Facts
Name of School Missouri Western State University
City/Zip St. Joseph, Mo. 64506
Founded 1915
Enrollment 6,134
Nickname Griffons
School Colors Black and Gold (PMS 123)
Stadium/Capacity Spratt Memorial Stadium / 8,000
Surface Field Turf
Affiliation NCAA Division II
Conference Association Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics
President Dr. Robert Vartabedian
Athletics Director David Williams
Ticket Office Phone 816-271-5904
First Year of Football ..................................................................1970
Overall all-time record ................................233-199-9 - 41st season
No. of years in national playoffs ...................................................... 1
Last Postseason Playoff Opponents ...... Midwestern State University
lost 28-26 in 2006 NCAA First Round of Playoffs (11/18/06)
Last Non-playoff Postseason Appearance ..............................12/5/09
vs Augustana College in 2009 Mineral Water Bowl - Won 34-21
Sports Information
Sports Information Director Trevor Berneking
SID Office Phone 816-271-4257
SID E-Mail tberneking@missouriwestern.edu
SID Fax 816-271-5901
Press Box phone 816-271-4257
MWSU Athletics Web Site www.gogriffons.com
Griffon head coach Gerald Partridge
On, September 30, 2006 Jerry Partridge became the winningest football
coach in Missouri Western history as the Griffons defeated Truman
State University, 38-13.
In addition to being the Griffons’ all-time wins leader, Partridge’s first
13 years at his alma mater have produced these impressive feats: first
all-time at Western in games coached with 157; coached the Griffons’
only MIAA Player-of-the-Year, Jerris Evans (2001); coached two MIAA
Freshman of the Year, Drew Newhart (2007) and Roger Allen (2005);
coached the school’s all-time leader in passing (Kasey Waterman),
tackles (Eric Walker), and sacks (Eric McDowell); has had almost 200
players named All-MIAA; 18 All-Americans and set the single season
school record for wins with nine, five out of the last seven years and led
the team to its first ever NCAA Playoff appearance in 2006.
Partridger reached his 100th victory on October 9, 2010 by a score of 29-7 against Truman State
on Homecoming. He holds a career record of 100-58 overall record leading the Griffons to six postseason
(2000, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009) bowl games. Under Partridge, the Griffons were
co-champions of the MIAA in 2003.
In 2009 the Griffons got off to the best start in school history, winning their first five games and
climbing all the way to 12th in the nation. Western finished the season going 9-3, which included
a 34-21 victory over the Auguastana College Vikings in the 44th Mineral Water Bowl. Western
also had two players named All-MIAA First team (Nathan Martin - OL and Cedric Houston - WR).
Western ended the season ranked 22nd in the D2football.com poll while Houston was named to
the D2Football.com Honorable Mention All-America Team. Martin played in the Valero Cactus Bowl
in Kingsville, Texas and was named to the Don Hansen’s Football Gazette Honorable Mention
All-America squad. The Griffon program and Coach Partridge saw their second NFL player make
an appearance in a regular season game, as former offensive guard Roger Allen started one game
and appeared in two for the St. Louis Rams. Western has won seven or more games in nine of
Partridge’s 13 seasons at the helm.
During the 2008 campaign the Griffons won their last four regular season games propelling them
to the Mineral Water Bowl for the second straight season. 2008 also brought the Griffon program
Emporia State Head Coach Garin Higgins has compiled a career record of 65-37 in his
seventh year as a head coach. He is 14-28 in his fourth season at his alma mater. He had
a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State, including two
trips to the national championship game. Higgins was a quarterback for the Hornets from
1987-90 and was a member of the 1989 national runners-up team.
Last time vs. Emporia State University...
GRIFFON FOOTBALL DOMINATES HORNETS IN 29-6 VICTORY
EMPORIA, Kan. – The Missouri Western defense had one of their best performances of the season holding
the Emporia State Hornets to just 207 yards (120 rushing, 87 passing) of total offense in a 29-6 victory. Brad
Beckwith had an outstanding day kicking the ball making a career high three field goals of 35, 41 and 18 yards.
Western has now won five straight over the Hornets improving to 8-2 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play.
Western’s offense only had the ball five times in the first half, but were able to capitalize on their final three
possessions of the half taking a 13-0 lead into the half. Cedric Houston caught an eight yard touchdown while
Beckwith hit field goals of 35 and 41 yards. The Griffon defense only gave up 96 total yards off offense with 75
coming on the ground for the Hornets. David Bass had two sacks while Sean Whiters had seven tackles.
Drew Newhart had a nice half connecting on 12-of-18 for 162 yards and one touchdown while Houston had five
catches for 68 yards and one touchdown. Thomas Hodges ran hard in the gaining 34 yards on seven carries in
the first frame.
The Hornets were led by Sheldon Smith as he rushed the ball 17 times for 44 yards while Kevin Smart had nine
carries for 40 yards. The Hornet quarterbacks completed just one pass on five attempts for 21 yards. Kameron
Gee and Blake Ringwall each had four tackles to lead the Hornets defensively. Each team had 10 first downs
and three penalties in the half.
The Griffons opened up the second half with a 60 yard kickoff return by Ferrell McGhee setting Western up at
the Hornet 32 yards line. Western would drive to the Hornet one yard line but had to settle for a Beckwith 18
yard field goal, going up 16-0 early in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter the Hornets Travon Brooks would intercept a Newhart pass and run it back to the
Western ten yard line. Smart would score on the next play cutting the Griffons lead to ten after the missed two
point conversion.
The rest of the game would be all Griffons as Michael Hill would score from five yards out to put the Griffons
up 22-6 after a Beckwith missed extra point. Three plays later Shane Simpson would intercept a Andre Sloan El
pass setting the Griffons up on the ESU one yard line. Two plays later Hodges would plunge into the end zone
putting the Griffons up 29-6 and dropping the Hornets to 2-8 overall and 1-7 in MIAA play in front of 3,895
fans on homecoming and Halloween Saturday in Emporia.
The Griffons finished with 374 yards of total offense with 142 coming on the ground. Western averaged 46.3
yards on three punts and converted on 5-of-5 red zone chances. The Griffon defense also had four sacks to
the Hornets one. The Hornets only converted on 4-of-12 third down opportunities and were 1-of-2 inside the
Griffon twenty.
Hodges finished the game with 96 yards on 17 carries while Hill had 52 yards on 14 carries. Both players had
a touchdown in the contest. Newhart finished connecting on 21-of-32 passes for 232 yards and one touchdown.
Houston had seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown while Matt Glades and Sean Whiters each had
eight tackles defensively.
For the Hornets, Smith had 68 yards on 20 carries while Smart had 62 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown.
Sloan El completed 7-of-14 passes for 87 yards and an interception. Gee led the defensive charge with nine
tackles.
Griffon Football 2010
and Coach Partridge their first NFL player that made an appearance in a regular season game, as
former tight end Gijon Robinson started 14 games for the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2007 the Griffons won nine games and went to the Mineral Water Bowl where they defeated
Wayne State College (Neb.), 20-13.
In 2006 the Griffons won nine games, going 9-3, and were ranked as high as #11 in the national
polls and made their first ever NCAA playoff appearance.
Partridge, the sixth head football coach in Missouri Western history, has built a program geared
toward seeing his players succeed on the field and in the classroom while preparing them for the
future with a steady diet of hard work and support. Partridge sports a reputation as a “players’
coach” and there is ample evidence to prove that description accurate. During the school year,
hardly a day goes by without one of his student-athletes stopping by his office. He regularly meets
with a committee of players and with seniors to discuss team issues – from academic requirements
to scheduling to disciplinary measures.
Partridge served as a graduate assistant coach at both the University of Notre Dame and the
University of Missouri and was a member of the Notre Dame coaching staff when the Fighting Irish
won the 1988 national title by winning the Fiesta Bowl under Head Coach Lou Holtz.
While at Missouri, Partridge earned a master’s degree in sports administration.
Partridge was the defensive coordinator at Missouri Western for five seasons under head coach Stan
McGarvey. Partridge’s Griffon defense set 13 school records including fewest points allowed (162 –
1993), and fewest total yards allowed in a game (29 vs. Friends – 1993) ,while helping the Griffons to
27 wins during that span.
Partridge spent the 1996 season as the defensive secondary coach at Murray State (Ky.) University.
While at Murray State, he was part of a team that won the Ohio Valley Conference title while
qualifying for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. Partridge was also the defensive coordinator at Austin
Peay University in Tennessee.
A native of Grandview, Mo., Partridge is the son of Linda and Gerald Partridge, who coached at
Ruskin (Mo.) High School for 29 years. Partridge and his wife, Pam, reside in St. Joseph and have
two children, Travis and Lindsey.