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By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Missouri Western  |  Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014  |  1 p.m.  |  Bearcat Stadium  |  Maryville, Mo.
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MARYVILLE, Mo.  - In the weekly Sunday evening meeting, Northwest Missouri State football coach Adam Dorrel talked to the Bearcats about the play of senior defensive back Kohlman Adema-Schulte.
 
Adema-Schulte, a sixth-year senior because of a medical redshirt his second season at Northwest, recovered a fumble on a kickoff at Fort Hays State a day earlier in the Bearcats' 29-10 victory.
 
Through his years at Northwest, Adema-Schulte always did what the coaches asked of him. He came to Northwest as a running back. They switched him to what the call C-back, a hybrid of running back and wide receiver.
 
Later, they asked him to play wide receiver and finally put him in the defensive secondary.
 
"He has been the ultimate team guy," Dorrel said. "He always does what is best for the team."
 
He never complains. On a couple of early-season road trips, Adema-Schulte traveled with the team, but he did not suit up.
 
"Our kids love him," Dorrel said. "When I presented him in our team meeting Sunday night, I specifically talked about him. Our players recognize how un-selfish he is."
 
Players like Adem-Schulte has made Northwest football program strong over the last two decades.
 
"My opinion that has what made our program different from other programs," Dorrel said. "Northwest has been able to consistently maintain a good, high level of winning and graduating because we always seem to have kids like that."
 
As important as Saturday's final regular-season home game is against rival Missouri Western, the celebration of another stellar senior class at Northwest tops it.
 
"I have played a lot of games at Bearcat Stadium and thinking this could be my last one, it gives me a chance to show all the other seniors how much I appreciate them and my family for coming down all these years to support me," Adema-Schulte said. "I know it is big for them. I am ready to go out on a good note.
 
Adema-Schulte is determined to prevent what occurred on Senior Day in 2012. Northwest led Western 17-0 at halftime and lost 21-20. The loss cost Northwest a MIAA title and put the Bearcats on the road for the playoffs.
 
Northwest redeemed itself last year with a resounding 51-21 victory at Missouri Western in the regular-season finale. The Bearcats earned home field for the playoffs and went on to capture the 2013 NCAA Division II national title.
 
The only thing that slightly marred last year's win against the Griffons was a few personal foul penalties.
 
Adema-Schulte said they have to make sure they don't allow those kind of penalties to happen again. But it sure did feel good to beat the Griffons.
 
"Last year was a lot better feeling," he said. "It was one of the most fun games I played here. I am sure they remember it, too. They will be just as prepared."
 
When Northwest and Western face each other in football, it is never just another game or the next game on the schedule. Of course, the coaches want their players to treat the game the same as if they were playing Northeastern Oklahoma. They don't want the players to get caught up in the rivalry hoopla.
 
"It is a big game for us," Adema-Schulte said. "At this point in the season, every game is a big game. With the loss to Pitt, we put ourselves in position where there is not a lot of room for mistakes."
 
The Bearcats want to wipe away the bitter taste still lingering from the 35-17 loss two weeks ago on Homecoming to Pittsburg State. The Gorillas stunned the record-setting crowd at Bearcat Stadium by jumping to 28-10 halftime lead. It was the first time this season that a team consistently moved the ball on Northwest's vaunted defense.
 
"They found some holes in the defense but the best thing to come out of that game was we came out in the second half and didn't allow any points," Adema-Schulte said. "We made the adjustments we needed to. We got back on the right track. The best thing I saw is no one on defense gave up at all. That was real nice to see."
 
The only points Pitt scored in the second half was off a fumble recovery.
 
The Bearcats know they will have to put forth that type of defensive effort all four quarters in their remaining three regular-season games.
 
At 7-1, Northwest is ranked seventh in the first regional rankings. Only the top six in each region advances to the Division II playoffs.
 
When the season ends, whether that is in late November or mid December, Adema-Schulte will be ready for the next chapter in his life. He graduated last May with a degree in political science and a minor in criminal justice. He is currently working on a degree in emergency and disaster management.
 
Adema-Schulte wants to return to his hometown of Omaha, Neb., and become a firefighter.
 
"It is exciting," he said. "Playing football to an office job wouldn't work for me. I need the adrenaline rush so firefighting seems like an exciting thing to do. Everybody I have talked to who has done it have good things to say about it.
 
"This is an exciting time for me. Obviously, my mind is still with football. Soon I will have to face the real world."