When the MIAA lost a member institution last year, Missouri Southern lost an opponent in its 2011 football schedule. 

The Lions’ week two game with the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks has left an open date in their schedule, which Head Coach Bart Tatum said last week may be an advantage for his team.

At the end of those 16 days between games, Southern will host the Washburn University Ichabods on Sept. 17. That game has been designated Military Appreciation Night by the Athletics Department. All members of the U.S. military, active or retired, and their families, will receive free admission to the game.

Also, the 2010-11 Southern men’s basketball team will be presented with its MIAA Championship rings at halftime. 

Last Saturday, in their season opener, the Lions jumped out in front of national No. 15, Central Missouri, 7-0 before fifth-year senior Tommy Corwin picked apart Southern’s defense for 28 unanswered UCM points to go ahead 28-7.

Southern clawed back into contention , however, with a Dallas Herndon field goal to make it 28-10. On the Mules’ next drive, linebacker Alex Wong forced a fumble which defensive back Maurlon Bembry scooped up. Quarterback Collin Howard ensured the turnover would cost Central as he found Ne’Ronte Threatt in the end zone to narrow the gap at 28-17 at halftime. 

After a third-quarter missed field goal by Herndon, though, Central converted a third down and 21 play and would go on to extend its lead to 35-17 with under five minutes in the third quarter.

Howard brought the Lions within striking distance again, this time finding Anthony Westfield for a touchdown with under 12 minutes to play, but a Southern fumble set up the Mules for the knockout blow. Corwin threw his record-tying sixth touchdown pass and Central took the season and conference opener 42-24.