The Missouri Western Griffons have been selected to play in the 44th Annual Mineral Water Bowl, scheduled for Saturday, December 5, in Excelsior Springs, Mo., the Excelsior Springs Quarterback Club announced Monday afternoon.

The Griffons will face Augustana (S.D.) in a rematch of last year’s game, which Western lost 37-16. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Tiger Stadium, located at Excelsior Springs High School.

The Mineral Water Bowl pits the highest-ranked teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference that do not qualify for the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Missouri Western State finished the regular season with an 8-3 overall record and a 6-3 record in the MIAA. The Griffons tied Central Missouri, Nebraska-Omaha and Washburn for second place in the MIAA. UNO won a tiebreaker, but the Mavericks elected to play in the Kanza Bowl, another Bowl game that pits representatives from the MIAA and the Lone Star Conference in a game in Topeka, Kan. MWSU was the next highest-ranked team.

The Mineral Water Bowl began in 1948 as a high school bowl game. In 1954, the format switched to small college (NAIA) teams. From 1992 until 1999 the game featured junior college teams. The current format of NSIC and MIAA participants began in 2000. The MIAA holds a 7-2 edge.

For more information on the Mineral Water Bowl, go to the game’s official web site at: http://mineralwaterbowl.net.