HISTORY STAFF RECORDS REVIEW OPPONENTS COACHES PLAYERS INTRO Page 68 THIS IS GRIFFON FOOTBALL Jerry Partridge (Missouri Western ’85) Head Coach Linebackers 17th season at MWSU Overall Record: 124-64 (.660) MIAA Record: 93-45 (.674) Jerry Partidge begins his 17th season as Head Coach of the Griffon Football program. Partridge became Missouri Western’s All-time wins leader on September 30, 2006 as the Griffons defeated Truman State. His current total of 124 career victories ranks third on the MIAA All-time list. Coach Partridge was named the 2012 MIAA Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, with the other coming in 2000. In addition to being the Griffons’ all-time wins leader, Partridge’s first 16 years at his alma mater have produced these impressive feats: first all-time at Missouri Western in games coached with 188; coached the Griffons’ only MIAA Player-of-the-Year, Jerris Evans (2001); only MIAA Special Teams Player-of-the-Year, Greg Zuerlein (2011); only MIAA Offensive Player-of-the-Year, Michael Hill (2012); coached three MIAA Freshman of the Year, Mike Jordan (2012), Drew Newhart (2007) and Roger Allen (2005); coached the school’s all-time leader in passing (Drew Newhart), tackles (Eric Walker), sacks (David Bass), tackles for a loss (David Bass), rushing yards (Michael Hill) and rushing attempts (Michael Hill); has had 196 players named All-MIAA; 25 All-Americans, set the single season school record for wins with 12 and has won nine games or more in seven out of the last 10 years and led the team to its first four NCAA Playoff appearances (2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012), which included hosting their first ever playoff game on November 20, 2011 against rival Northwest Missouri State. He also led the Griffons to their first NCAA Playoff victory last November against Minnesota- Duluth by a score of 57-55 in triple overtime at Spratt Stadium and guided the Griffons into the quarterfinals with a victory over Henderson State the following week by a score of 45-21 in Arkadelphia, Ark. Partridge holds a 124-64 overall record and has led the Griffons to 10 post-season appearances (2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) . Under Partridge, the Griffons were the MIAA Champions in 2012 and were co-champions of the MIAA in 2003. In 2012, the Griffons recorded the best season in school history winning a school-record 12 games and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in history. They won two playoff games and opened the season 6-0, earning its highest ever ranking in the AFCA (4th) and D2football.com (3rd) polls. The team garnered many post-season accolades, including having five players being named First Team All-MIAA (Michael Hill, Macon Allan, Travis Partridge, David Bass and Ben Pister) while several Griffons were named to All-America Teams including; Michael Hill, 1st Team AFCA All-Amercan; Hill, Bass and Allan being named to the Daktronics list while Hill, Bass, Allan, Patridge and Pister were named All-American’s by Beyond Sports College Network. Hill’s outstanding season culminated with him being voted as one of three finalists for the Harlon Hill Award, which is given to the most outstanding player in Division II Football. Bass was named a finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is given to the top lineman in Division II football. He is the first Griffon to become a finalist for this award and was the only defensive player in the final eight. In 2011, the Griffons closed the regular season winning seven straight games, which propelled them into the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the second consecutive season and third time in school history. Missouri Western had one player selected as AFCA all-American (Greg Zuerlein). The Griffons had five players named first team All-MIAA (Zuerlein, Michael Hill, Macon Allan, David Bass and Jack Long). Bass and Zuerlein were named All-Americans by Daktronics, “Little” AP, Beyond Sports College Network, and D2Football.com. Michael Hill and Scott Groner were honorable mention All-America selections by Beyond Sports College Network. The Griffons also won nine games for the sixth time in the past nine years. Missouri Western ended the 2011 season ranked 18th in both the AFCA and D2Football.com final polls. Griffon kicker Zuerlein was the first pick in the sixth round of the NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. In 2010, the Griffons started the season 4-0, while climbing to #8 in both the American Football Coaches Association Poll D2Football.com polls. The Griffons earned their second NCAA Division II Playoff appearance and had two players named All- MIAA first Team (Sean Whiters - LB and Jack Long - FS). The Griffons ended the season ranked 21st in the D2Football.com poll while Whiters was named to the D2Football.com honorable mention All-America team. In 2009 the Griffons won their first five games, climbing all the way to 12th in the nation. Missouri Western finished the season going 4-3 which included a 34-21 victory over Augustana in the 44th Mineral Water Bowl. Two players were named All-MIAA First Team (Nathan Martin - OL and Cedric Houston - WR). The Griffons 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. Former OL Roger Allen became the second Griffon to compete in an NFL game, as he started the last regular season game for the St. Louis Rams. 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. The ’08 season also brought the Griffon program and Coach Partridge their first NFL player that made an appearance in a regular season game. 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. Missouri Western has won seven or more games in eight of Partridge’s 11 seasons at the helm. 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.
Missouri Western Football Media Guide 2013
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