Northwest Missouri State Athletics

The 2007 Bearcat football team posted a 12-2 overall record and went 9-0 in MIAA play. Northwest took down three top-four ranked teams in the NCAA Div. II playoffs to reach its third straight national title game. Northwest throttled No. 4-ranked West Texas A&M in the first round, 56-28. Northwest then went on the road and knocked off No. 2-ranked Chadron State, 26-13. The Bearcats returned home for the national semifinal matchup with No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State and recorded a 34-16 win over the Lakers. The victory featured a raucous 98-yard touchdown run by Xavier Omon in the fourth quarter to cap the game's scoring. The win snapped GVSU's 40-game winning streak and its shot at three consecutive national titles. Northwest had lost to GVSU in each of the previous two national title games. Head coach Mel Tjeerdsma was honored as the MIAA Coach of the Year. Omon was named the MIAA Offensive MVP, while Jared Erspamer garnered the league's Defensive MVP award.

2007 Northwest Mo. St. Football Schedule/Results
Sept. 8           at #11 Nebraska-Omaha     L, 25-21
Sept. 15         at Missouri Western             W, 44-20
Sept. 22         Truman State                        W, 53-6
Sept. 29         Southwest Baptist                W, 86-13
Oct. 6             vs. #16 Pittsburg State^      W, 37-34
Oct. 13           Central Missouri                   W, 28-26
Oct. 20           at Fort Hays State                W, 17-10
Oct. 27           Washburn                              W, 28-27
Nov. 3             at Emporia State                  W, 24-7
Nov. 10           Missouri Southern                W, 49-14
Nov. 24           #4 West Texas A&M*           W, 56-28
Dec. 1            at #2 Chadron State*           W, 26-13
Dec. 8            #1 Grand Valley State*        W, 34-16
Dec. 15          vs. #8 Valdosta State*         L, 25-20
^ - Fall Classic in Arrowhead Stadium
* - NCAA Div. II Playoffs