Wayne State plays in Mineral Water Bowl
By Steven Allspach Journal sports writer | Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2007
A griffon is a fabulous beast with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of lion.
Fortunately, Wayne State won't be facing such a fictional menace in the 42nd Mineral Water Bowl Saturday in Excelsior Springs, Mo., but the fact is Missouri Western State's Griffons will soar and claw with the best of them in NCAA Division II football.
The Mineral Water Bowl was first played on Thanksgiving Day in 1948 when it was a high school showcase and over the years the small college post-season contest also hosted junior college teams for nine contests from 1992-99.
In 1957, the Mineral Water Bowl was one of just 11 bowl games sanctioned by the NCAA, in company with the Rose, Cotton, Orange and Sugar.
In 1963, All-America quarterback George Bork sparked Northern Illinois to a win over Southwest Missouri State in what was considered the small college national championship game.
Wayne State takes a 7-4 record into the 2007 game after finishing Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a 7-2 record.
Missouri Western State is 8-3 and finished 6-3 in the Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Coach Dan McLaughlin has guided Wayne State to its first winning season since 1995.
Missouri Western is making its fifth appearance in the game and Wayne State is making just its second post-season appearance in 91 seasons of intercollegiate football with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference school revisting Excelsior Springs.
In 1970, Wayne lost to Franklin (Ind.) 40-12 when the two programs were NAIA-affiliated.
Missouri Western and Wayne State are former members of the old Central States Intercollegiate Conference with the St. Joseph, Mo., collegians holding a narrow 7-6-1 advantage in 14 previous meetings.
The two last played in 1991 when the Wildcats dropped a 46-27 decision in a season opener.
Missouri Western State was 9-3 last season and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs,
Wayne will tangle with a Missouri Western club led by quarterback Drew Newhart, running back La'Darrian Page and placekicker Dustin Strickler, the lone Nebraskan on the Griffon roster.
Strickler, a graduate of Papillion-LaVista High School, has booted six field goals and has made 52 of 53 extra point kicks.
Newhart has passed for 1,943 yards and 30 touchdowns and Page has rushed for 1,114 yards and 13 TDs. The two are redshirt freshman.
BOWL NOTES: Legendary Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne quarterbacked his Hastings College teams in Mineral Bowl appearances 1955 and 1957....All-pro placekicker/punter Don Cockroft of Adams State signed an NFL contract with the Cleveland Browns on Roosevelt Field, site of the game, immediately after the 1966 contest....In 1996, quarterback Michael Bishop sparked his Blinn (Texas) team to victory in the national junior college championship game in the Mineral Water Bowl, Later at Kansas State, Bishop was the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl....Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday.....Wayne State is sponsoring a fan bus to the game. Cost is $20 and the bus will leave from the WSC Recreation Center at 6 o'clock Saturday morning. To make reservations telephone 402-375-7520 or 402-375-7308.
Fortunately, Wayne State won't be facing such a fictional menace in the 42nd Mineral Water Bowl Saturday in Excelsior Springs, Mo., but the fact is Missouri Western State's Griffons will soar and claw with the best of them in NCAA Division II football.
The Mineral Water Bowl was first played on Thanksgiving Day in 1948 when it was a high school showcase and over the years the small college post-season contest also hosted junior college teams for nine contests from 1992-99.
In 1957, the Mineral Water Bowl was one of just 11 bowl games sanctioned by the NCAA, in company with the Rose, Cotton, Orange and Sugar.
In 1963, All-America quarterback George Bork sparked Northern Illinois to a win over Southwest Missouri State in what was considered the small college national championship game.
Wayne State takes a 7-4 record into the 2007 game after finishing Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a 7-2 record.
Missouri Western State is 8-3 and finished 6-3 in the Mid America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Coach Dan McLaughlin has guided Wayne State to its first winning season since 1995.
Missouri Western is making its fifth appearance in the game and Wayne State is making just its second post-season appearance in 91 seasons of intercollegiate football with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference school revisting Excelsior Springs.
In 1970, Wayne lost to Franklin (Ind.) 40-12 when the two programs were NAIA-affiliated.
Missouri Western and Wayne State are former members of the old Central States Intercollegiate Conference with the St. Joseph, Mo., collegians holding a narrow 7-6-1 advantage in 14 previous meetings.
The two last played in 1991 when the Wildcats dropped a 46-27 decision in a season opener.
Missouri Western State was 9-3 last season and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs,
Wayne will tangle with a Missouri Western club led by quarterback Drew Newhart, running back La'Darrian Page and placekicker Dustin Strickler, the lone Nebraskan on the Griffon roster.
Strickler, a graduate of Papillion-LaVista High School, has booted six field goals and has made 52 of 53 extra point kicks.
Newhart has passed for 1,943 yards and 30 touchdowns and Page has rushed for 1,114 yards and 13 TDs. The two are redshirt freshman.
BOWL NOTES: Legendary Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne quarterbacked his Hastings College teams in Mineral Bowl appearances 1955 and 1957....All-pro placekicker/punter Don Cockroft of Adams State signed an NFL contract with the Cleveland Browns on Roosevelt Field, site of the game, immediately after the 1966 contest....In 1996, quarterback Michael Bishop sparked his Blinn (Texas) team to victory in the national junior college championship game in the Mineral Water Bowl, Later at Kansas State, Bishop was the MVP of the Fiesta Bowl....Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday.....Wayne State is sponsoring a fan bus to the game. Cost is $20 and the bus will leave from the WSC Recreation Center at 6 o'clock Saturday morning. To make reservations telephone 402-375-7520 or 402-375-7308.
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