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By David Boyce  |  Northwest vs. Central Oklahoma  |  Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m.  |  Bearcat Stadium  |  Maryville, Mo.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - Junior wide receiver George Sehl never met former Northwest Missouri State defensive coordinator and head coach Scott Bostwick, but this week all the younger Bearcats are learning about the fun-loving, family man who passed away far too soon.
 
For the football program, Family Weekend at Northwest, has added meaning.
 
"It is the one time of the year we really honor coach Bostwick," Northwest coach Adam Dorrel said. "We wear the red paws and the black jerseys. It is important our coaching staff, to our kids and myself.
 
"We spend the week talking a little about him for the new guys who don't know him. We hang some stuff up so they can read about him. I think this is right there with Homecoming."
 
Obviously, the third-ranked Bearcats want to honor the memory of Bostwick with a stellar performance when they take on Central Oklahoma at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bearcat Stadium. It is also the MIAA TV Game of the Week, and will be shown on KSMO, channel 62 in Kansas City.
 
"This game is about family," Sehl said. "I never got a chance to meet coach Bostwick, but I heard a lot about him. He emphasized family a lot in the program."
 
Senior defensive lineman Brandon Yost knew Bostwick. Bostwick recruited him to Northwest. Yost is one of the last few players at Northwest who had contact with Bostwick before he suddenly died of a heart attack while mowing his lawn on June 5, 2011.
 
Bostwick spent more than a decade as defensive coordinator for Northwest under head coach Mel Tjeerdsma, who is now the athletic director. When Tjeerdsma retired as head coach in December, 2010, Bostwick moved into his dream job.
 
The enthusiasm that was part of Bostwick's persona went to another level that spring as he put together his first recruiting class and led the Bearcats through spring drills. Like Tjeerdsma, Bostwick made family the foundation of what the program was going to stand for.
 
"That is what coach harped on every single week," Yost said. "I can't imagine this week being any different. This game has always been Scott Bostwick day. Every Scott Bostwick day we play really good defense. Knowing him and how he was always fired up, makes me want to play for him that much more."
 
It took a bond as strong as a family for the Bearcats to pull out a dramatic 34-30 victory at Central Missouri last week. Northwest trailed 23-6 midway through the third quarter and 30-27 with a 1:18 left in the game. They had to go 73 yards in 70 seconds and only needed 36 seconds to accomplish the mission.
 
"That was a special one, the way our team pulled together," Yost said. "We all looked at each other and we never had a doubt in our mind that we could come back from the deficit we put ourselves in. That win was a huge step for our team and our program. I was really excited about it."
 
A game like that, Sehl pointed out, brings more momentum to the team.
 
"We are a team that never gives up," Sehl said. "Last week we were down. We could have thrown in the towel, but we didn't. We kept fighting. It brings a lot of energy. That is good every day."
 
Sehl is having a lot of good days for the Bearcats. Last year was his first season playing for Northwest. He learned a lot going through the season and then spring ball.
 
Veteran wide receivers like Bryce Young and Jason Jozaites helped him along.
 
"Since George has been here, he has always done everything we asked him to do," Dorrel said. "The difference between George now and last year is George does everything you ask him to and then he makes sure the backups are doing everything they are supposed and the third string kids are doing what they are supposed to.
 
"He is doing things I didn't know he could do. As a head football coach when you see your kids grow like that, it makes you feel good. Obviously, his production is way up already."
 
Sehl is second on the team in receptions with eight, second in reception yards with 135 and tied for first in receiving touchdowns with two.
 
The one thing Sehl is thinking about this week is getting ready for Central Oklahoma, which has started the season 0-3.
 
"They have a lot of guys back from last year," Sehl said. "We can't overlook this team. They have had some tough opponents in the first three weeks. Nothing will make them happier than coming here and beating us. We have to stay focus all week and have a good week of practice and come out ready on Saturday."