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By David Boyce  |  Northwest at Central Oklahoma  |  Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014  |  1 p.m  |  Edmond, Okla.  |  Wantland Stadium
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State went into its football game last week missing a head from what senior wide receiver Jason Jozaites calls the three-headed monster.

Jozaites is referring to the three senior wide receivers that include Korey Jackson and Bryce Young. An injury kept Young out, but the Northwest receiving unit weren't worried that production would slip.

Make no mistake, the Bearcats want Young in the lineup. He makes plays and brings plenty of energy. But if Young or Jackson or Jozaites goes down with an injury, there are younger players ready to step in.

It happened a week ago when sophomores George Sehl and Quanzee Johnson combined for six catches and 107 yards.

"During fall camp you could really see George and Quanzee were really going to step up," Jozaites said. "They are great guys and really hard workers. You could tell they were determined to make plays and they were going to step up in this offense and make their name to be big time receivers for this year and the upcoming years."

More than likely, they will be needed again this Saturday when the No. 1 ranked Bearcats, 3-0, hit the road and take on undefeated Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

"It is just as big as last week, if not bigger," Jozaites said. "They are 3-0 and we are 3-0. The stage is set high. We know they are going to have a great fan section. We are getting ready for a hostile environment. We have to play Bearcat football."

One aspect of Bearcat football is sticking together through tough times. An injury to a starter is adversity. One reason Northwest is able to overcome injuries more successfully than some other teams is the way they bring along younger players.

The three senior wide receivers are prime examples of it.

"I think the biggest thing we have going for us is that we have three different personalities as the leaders," Jozaites said. "Bryce Young is always having an awesome time. He is having fun on the field. Korey is a little bit more serious. He makes every play that comes his way. He has some of the best hands I have seen, and quite frankly, could be a NFL-type receiver.

"And me, I'm going to bring my perspective to it. I'm a tough guy sometimes, but I like to have fun. I felt I have really bought into the program the last few years. I want to bring that mentality to the room and what you need to do to buy into the program."

Northwest coach Adam Dorrel likes the leadership Jozaites brings.

"He has really done a good job with our young kids," Dorrel said. "Sometimes older guys have a tendency to neglect those guys emotionally. He never does that. He has a lot of fun with them. He gets them to understand that you can have fun at practice, but still get your work done and do well on Saturday.

"I was pleased with him on Saturday because I thought what he and Korey did set the tempo for the whole unit. They both had good weeks of practice."

It all comes down to an unselfish mentality. The emergence of other receivers could mean fewer throws coming the seniors way. Jozaites, Jackson and Young don't think like that.

"I think that is the No. 1 aspect as far as unselfishness goes is we have receivers who don't mind not getting the glory for one game, knowing that our tight ends are going to make plays and our running backs are going to make plays," Jozaites said.

"We know any other receiver the ball is thrown to is going to make the plays. We have a lot of guys who have confidence in themselves that when the ball comes their way, they are going to make the play if that is one time a game or two times a game, they are going to be there. They have confidence in themselves. Confidence is a huge thing for a receiver."

It showed last week in the 37-15 victory over Central Missouri. The Bearcats want to show it again this week when they play Central Oklahoma.

"We need real solid, workmanlike practices this week," Dorrel said. "We got to be focused. It is a little bit more challenging when you go on the road. Guys got to be ready to go.

"Central Oklahoma is not giving up big plays on defense right now. They are generating turnovers and they are not turning the ball over. In the last two years, that has been the opposite of them."