---

By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Fort Hays State  |  Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 p.m.  |  Bearcat Stadium  |  Maryville, Mo.
Live Stats  |  Live Audio  |  Live Video  |  Northwest Game Notes  |  Fort Hays Game Notes  |  Fort Hays Game Primer

MARYVILLE, Mo. - On Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, Northwest Missouri State football coach Adam Dorrel is peddling away. His bicycle rides take him from campus through parts of downtown and onto rural roads.
 
"This time of the year it is awesome," Dorrel said. "I think the town is beautiful with the leaves changing."
 
For good reason, Dorrel looks right at home on his bike. Maryville has always been home for him. He played high school football at Maryville High School and then at Northwest.
 
Dorrel was part of Mel Tjeerdsma's magical football turnaround that hit its stride in 1996 and 1997 when Northwest finished 11-2 and 12-1.
 
Later, Dorrel worked on Tjeerdsma's staff as an offensive line coach and as the offensive coordinator before becoming head coach at Northwest in 2011.
 
"The thing I knew about him was he was very focused and very organized on the things that he did," said Tjeerdsma, now the athletic director at Northwest. "He figured out the process and got it done. That's why he was a good player. He knew the process to be a good player and he did it.
 
"It is the same with his coaching. Whether he was the offensive line coach when he was first back or the offensive coordinator and now the head coach, that part of him hasn't change. That organization and his ability to stay focused are really impressive."
 
The organization, attention to detail and having the Maryville community ingrained in him makes Saturday's game against Fort Hays State at Bearcat Stadium the most important contest so far this season for Dorrel and the football team.
 
The Bearcats want to make sure they do everything possible to win their Homecoming game.
 
"It is exciting to me," Dorrel said. "I would be lying if I said our kids don't feel a sense obligation to win the game. Our kids feel that. They understand if everybody wants to be merry in Maryville, we have to find a way to get it done."
 
When Tjeerdsma took over a struggling program, he was told the importance of winning Homecoming at Northwest.
 
"Part of it is it is a small community, not a real large student population," Tjeerdsma said. "The Greeks have really made it a big event, all the fraternities and sororities. The whole campus has bought into it."
 
Dorrel has coached at three other universities and he said those Homecoming games don't compare to what takes place at Northwest.
 
"Without question, it is a lot different here," Dorrel said. "It makes it unique because the university and the town so involved together with it."
 
The competitive juices will be flowing for Dorrel on Saturday because he wants to do everything possible to put the players in position to be successful for Homecoming.
 
Northwest, 7-0 and ranked No. 3 in the AFCA top 25, is the only unbeaten team in the MIAA. But the Bearcats know they face a stiff challenge on Saturday, particularly since Northwest is coming off an emotional 31-14 win at Pittsburg State.
 
It was a bit of a payback victory for the Bearcats, who weren't pleased that the Gorillas dampened last year's Homecoming at Northwest. There is no need to mention the score because this is the 2015 season and the only things that matter now are the four remaining regular-season games and hopefully a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
Northwest is well aware that Fort Hays, 5-2, pose a significant problem. Last week the Tigers handed Emporia State its first loss of the season, winning 27-24 in Hays, Kan.
 
"That got our kids attention," Dorrel said. "The fact they have the No. 1 and No. 2 rushers in the MIAA grabs your attention. They have been playing at a high level all year.
 
"Another thing for us when you go back to last year's game is they have a lot of guys back. It was 7-3 at halftime. It grabs their attention right away. We have a huge challenge ahead of us and our guys are excited for it."
 
One thing that Tjeerdsma is certain about is Dorrel and his coaching staff will have the team prepared for Saturday's Homecoming game.
 
"I feel real pleased with what they are doing and how they continue to make it a better program," Tjeerdsma said. "That is what I am thrilled with more than anything else. This was a very good program. They are not satisfied with that. They want to make it better and they are doing a lot of things to make it better. That, to me, is the most gratifying thing."