Missouri Southern Embraces Challenge of MIAA

By David Boyce

A year ago Toderick Hunt led Missouri Southern in rushing with 621 yards. It's a number that could increase significantly because of the return of bruising fullback Anthon Aiono.

Aiono, a graduate of Park Hill High School, missed last season because of an ACL injury.

Hunt enters his senior year knowing the type of blocking Aiono provides with his 5-foot-11, 280-pound frame.

"It's crazy," Hunt said. "He's such a big, athletic guy. It's good to have those types of players blocking for you."

Aiono returns the compliment.

"I like the way he runs when I'm able to block for him," he said. "It's a privilege to block for him."

Hunt and Aiono were part of coach Bart Tatum's first recruiting class.

"I like both of those guys," said Tatum, who is in his fourth year at Missouri Southern.

Hunt and Aiono are the kind of players Tatum wants to bring in as freshmen each year to build a consistent winner.

Missouri Southern went 4-7 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA last season. The Lions want to reverse that and be consistently near the top.

"That's why we were hired here," Tatum said. "We have to keep recruiting good players. We have 60 incoming freshmen. We had 129 come out for our first camp and not one has left.

"I'm extremely proud of them. We feel like we are doing some things right."

But Tatum fully understands the climb up the MIAA is much more difficult than it was in 1994 when he was on Mel Tjeerdsma's staff at Northwest Missouri. The Bearcats went 0-11 in 1994 and by 1996 they were co-MIAA champions and have been at or near the top every year afterwards.

The MIAA landscape is much different now than it was back in the early to mid 1990s when Pittsburg State dominated the conference.

"Back then Truman was good, but not consistently good," Tatum said. "Central Missouri was good here and there and so was Missouri Western. Washburn was on a long losing streak that was getting national attention and now they are a legitimate top 25 team.

"There are at least six legitimate top 25 programs in our league."

For Missouri Southern to get to that level it is important Hunt and Aiono play and practice the right way to show the younger Lions what it takes to succeed in the MIAA.

Hunt and Aiono are ready to meet that challenge. It is easy to hear their love of football when they talk about the upcoming season.

"We just have to work hard, perform to our ability and execute," Aiono said.

Needless to say, the Lions aren't going through practice with the expectation of finishing seventh like the preseason coaches' poll puts them.

"We have good talent," Hunt said. "It's a matter of playing up to our best."

Offensive player to watch: Junior running back Anthon Aiono is coming off an ACL injury. If he's at or near 100 percent, the Lions could really have a potent running attack because Aiono is a good blocker and a very tough runner up the middle. When Aiono gets going he is hard to bring down.

Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Jared Brawner leads a defense that returns nine starters. Brawner made All-MIAA First Team last season. He had 120 tackles, forced three fumbles, recovered three fumbles and intercepted a pass.

Key game: Missouri Southern could really open some eyes if it can win at Washburn on Sept. 12 in the opening week of conference play. The Lions are off Sept. 5, so they will have two weeks to prepare.

On Wednesday: Truman State women's soccer preview and Emporia State football preview.