FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2006

Ronnell Newman and Moses Manga pick up MIAA offensive and defensive Players of the Week

Overland Park, KS -- After leading the attack that helped the Missouri Southern football team defeat Southwest Baptist 42-21, Ronnell Newman (Kansas City, MO/Hogan Prep) and Moses Manga (Winfield, KS/Winfield HS) have been named the MIAA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week as announced by the league office today.

Newman, a 5-foot-10, 205-pound sophomore, accounted for nearly half of the Lions' yardage and scored three touchdowns in a 42-21 home win over Southwest Baptist Saturday night (Sept. 16). He rushed for 155 yards on 26 carries, getting all of his TDs on the ground in his first start at Southern. Newman also had three receptions for 36 yards, and had a hand in 191 of the Lions' 430 yards of offense.His last two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, after the Bearcats had closed to within seven points of the Lions.

Manga, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound senior from Winfield, Kan., logged eight tackles (six solos), an interception, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up in Southern's 42-21 win over SBU. His interception came in the second quarter with the score tied at 7-7, and set up the scoring drive which gave MSSU a 14-7 halftime lead.

Manga also thwarted a scoring drive by SBU, when he recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchback after the Bearcats had driven the ball to the MSSU 1 with 6:04 left in the game. It preserved a seven-point Lions lead.

The Lions will be back in action this Saturday, September 23 as they will take part in the US Cellular Miners Bowl against Pittsburg State. Kick off is slated for 2 p.m. in Pittsburg.