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By David Boyce  |  Northwest at Missouri Western State  |  Saturday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m.  |  Spratt Stadium  |  St. Joseph, Mo.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - The first word that pops out of Northwest Missouri State senior offensive lineman Shane Smith when he hears the words Missouri Western is rivals.
 
"It is always a lot of fun," Smith said. "They always bring a lot of energy. You know no matter the records, everybody is ready to play this week. It is going to be a physical, tough game."
 
Senior defensive lineman Brandon Yost uttered nearly the same word as Smith by saying rivalry.
 
"Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western, those two names don't go together well," Yost said.
 
Of course, Northwest head coach Adam Dorrel is old enough to not get pulled into that kind of thinking. Every team Northwest faces, Dorrel said, is a rival.
 
When Northwest takes on Missouri Western at 1 p.m. Saturday at Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph, Dorrel knows his Bearcats better be ready for a strong defense.
 
Even though the Griffons have lost three of their last four games, only once in that span did they give up more than 21 points.
 
"Their defense is really good," Dorrel said. "Their front seven is good. They are playing 14 guys. They are rotating. They are staying fresh. They are running to the football.
 
"After that, you go to Michael Jordan at corner. He is one of the better ones in the league, if not the country. The defense really stands out."
 
Missouri Western defense, though, will be confronting a steadily improving offensive line by Northwest. In the last four weeks, the Bearcats have rushed for over 100 yards twice and two times over 200 yards.
 
The more balanced attack has led to four straight wins in which Northwest has won by double digits.
 
"Offensively, you are going to be better if you can control the line of scrimmage as an offensive line," Smith said. "That is something we always try to do. We are really stepping up and taking charge of the offense. The last several weeks it has been a lot of fun to be part of.
 
"I feel like we are practicing better and that is helping us in the games. We are hitting a little bit of a stride on the offensive line. We are communicating better. We are investing in the process. We are believers if we can practice well, we can play well."
 
After a couple of early season scares in which the Bearcats needed fourth-quarter heroics to pull out a win, Northwest, 8-0 and in first place in the MIAA, is playing every bit as good as its No. 2 ranking in the AFCA top 25.
 
Missouri Western, on the other hand, is 4-4, and is tied with Washburn for sixth place in the MIAA. But the Bearcats know the Griffons are always dangerous regardless of their record.
 
"I definitely anticipate them coming at us with everything they got," Smith said. "We have to be ready for them because they have a very talented defense. They will definitely be ready to play."
 
Yost feels the same way.
 
"It is always a good game between us," Yost said. "We have to stay on top of it. It is Missouri Western. It makes you want to play that much harder.
 
 "I expect them to play really physical. They are a proud football program. We are going to have to compete like we do every week."
 
The Bearcats have had their way with Missouri Western the last two seasons, winning 40-3 in Maryville a year ago and 51-21 in 2013 in St. Joseph.
 
As thrilling as it was for the Bearcats to avenge the 2012 loss to the Griffons, who then celebrated a long time at Bearcat Stadium, Dorrel doesn't want his players to repeat the personal foul penalties Northwest had in the 2013 game.
 
"I put out keys to victory each week," Dorrel said. "It is the second key to victory this week. It says composure and win with class."