Northwest Missouri State Athletics

2008 Football Team
Northwest reached its fourth consecutive NCAA Div. II national championship game and went 13-2. The Bearcat went a perfect 9-0 in MIAA action to extend a conference winning streak that eventually reached 49 games in 2011. Northwest dropped its season opener at home to Abilene Christian before running off 13 consecutive victories. The '08 squad featured MIAA offensive MVP Joel Osborn and MIAA defensive MVP Myles Burnsides. Burnsides was also selected as the Daktronics National Defensive Player of the Year and the Football Gazette's National Defensive Back of the Year. Head coach Mel Tjeerdsma was named the AFCA National Coach of the Year. In the first-round NCAA playoff game at home against Pittsburg State, Osborn completed a 27-yard pass to Nick Rhodes on a 4th-and-10 before hitting Kendall Wright for a 15-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing play with 55 seconds left to lift the Bearcats to a 38-35 victory. Northwest got some revenge in the second-round game at No. 2 Abilene Christian. ACU had defeated Northwest to begin the season in Maryville, 44-27. Northwest was able to record a 45-36 win over No. 2-ranked ACU in the playoffs. Northwest advanced to Florence, Ala., with a 41-7 drubbing of North Alabama in the semifinal matchup at Bearcat Stadium. Minnesota-Duluth was able to score a 21-14 victory in the title game matchup on Dec. 13.

2008 Northwest Mo. St. Football Schedule/Results
Aug. 30          #8 Abilene Christian             L, 44-27
Sept. 6           Southwest Baptist                W, 63-28
Sept. 13         Missouri Western                 W, 42-35
Sept. 20         at Truman State                    W, 49-0
Sept. 27         at Nebraska-Omaha            W, 42-0
Oct. 4             vs. #6 Pittsburg State^        W, 35-10
Oct. 11           at #17 Central Missouri       W, 20-13
Oct. 18           Fort Hays State                    W, 56-7
Oct. 25           at Washburn                         W, 24-21
Nov. 1             Emporia State                       W, 56-7
Nov. 8             at Missouri Southern           W, 48-24
Nov. 22           #10 Pittsburg State*            W, 38-35
Nov. 29           at #2 Abilene Christian*       W, 45-36
Dec. 6            #5 North Alabama*              W, 41-7
Dec. 13          vs. #6 Minnesota-Duluth*   L, 21-14
^ - Fall Classic in Arrowhead Stadium
* - NCAA Div. II Playoffs