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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Missouri at Central Oklahoma  |  Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016  |  2 p.m.  |  Wantland Stadium - Edmond, Okla.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - When senior safety Jack Young arrived at Northwest Missouri State in 2012 from Jefferson City, coach Adam Dorrel sensed there was something special about him.
 
It had nothing to do with Young growing up in a city that takes pride in its high school football. Young, who is 5-foot-10, 186 pounds, didn't wow coaches with his size. Take off the shoulder pads and helmet, and Young looks like any other student walking on campus.
 
From day one at Northwest, Young had to earn playing time and a scholarship. He was a walk on. But there was one quality Dorrel loved about Young.
 
"The thing about Jack," Dorrel said, "is he really wanted to be a Bearcat. He wanted to be here."
 
It shows every time he steps on the field. Most likely, Young will pump his fist in the air, run over to congratulate a teammate and show other emotions Saturday afternoon in Edmond, Okla., when No. 1 ranked Northwest, 5-0, takes on Central Oklahoma, 1-4.
 
Young is savoring every practice, every game and every road trip as his final season of football draws to an end.
 
This time next year, with his degree in sports media in his pocket, Young could be in Kansas City or Denver, working P.R. in the sports world.
 
"I spoke with a lady from Jefferson City," Young said. "She worked at ESPN for a couple of years. Now she owns her P.R. company in Denver. I have been in contact with her to do an internship and a job out there."
 
While Young is making plans for his future in the adult working world, his focus remains strong to help the Bearcats be the best team they can be.
 
"AD told us last week we are down to the teens in guaranteed practices," Young said. "We only have 18. Every time I am able to put that Bearcat helmet on and strap it up, I know this is something special. Before every game and practice, I make sure to say a pray and to really understand how fast life is moving."
 
The message from Dorrel this week was to make sure not to look at Central Oklahoma's record and take them lightly.
 
"I point blank told them it is going to be the best offensive and defensive line we have played," Dorrel said. "They are extremely physical. They don't try to trick you. They just line up and hit you in the mouth. You see it on film. They are a very dangerous team."
 
Even before Dorrel uttered those words, the players already had a good idea how Central Oklahoma plays based on last year's game.
 
A year ago Northwest pulled out a 23-16 victory in Maryville against Central Oklahoma. In that game Northwest trailed 13-10 at halftime, Young had an interception and returned it 56 yards.
 
"They came up here with not so good a record and they gave us a tough game," Young said. "They were able to hang with us through the whole game.
 
"Our coaches have been showing us that game from last year and how not to look at the record. Like coach Dorrel said earlier, they are a very dangerous team with a lot of weapons. They haven't been able to put it quite together."
 
Young has made steady improvement at Northwest because he listens to the coaches. He saw action in 11 of 15 games in the national championship season in 2013. He played in every game in 2014 and had an interception. Last year, in another championship season, he had four interceptions and he already has two this season.
 
Young's value, though, extends beyond what he accomplishes on the field.
 
"He is very energetic," Dorrel said. "He is very emotional. I love him because he is like that in practice, too. He brings a real positive energy in practice. He is really good with the young guys. He gets to know the young guys. He cares about them and helps to teach them about the Bearcat way. I think that is a big strength of his."
 
One of the neat aspect about this year's senior class is how well they mesh together, whether they were highly recruited or a highly-touted transfer or a walk-on.
 
"This is a class where we came in the 2012, and we saw what was happening," Young said. "We were lucky enough to be part of the 2013 national championship team. Last year a lot of us were able to step up and be more leaders and have bigger roles on last year's national championship team.
 
"We are all super close and able to work together. On the practice field, things can get a little heated. Kevin Berg and I, on the field, will give our quarterback as much trouble as we can, but as soon as we are off the field, that is the first person we go to and tell him good job. We are very close to everybody in our class."
 
And that makes the 6-hour bus ride for games almost bearable.
 
"I'd be lying if I said we enjoy the long bus ride," Young said. "But once we get to the hotel and are able to have a little free time and hang out by the pool and hot tub, we have fun. I think all the players here do enjoy road trips because it takes away any distractions we have in Maryville.
 
"Everybody I spoke to is very excited about going down to Oklahoma. It is a good trip for everyone. The whole team is on the bus. With all the away trips we have this year, they are all so lengthy that it helps us become stronger and a better team."
 
And that bond shows on the field. When the Bearcats fall behind, the players take a mature approach to change the momentum to their side.
 
"We have fallen behind a couple of times this year and nobody panics," Young said. "We get to the sidelines and we talk to our coaches. We find out what the team is doing. Every single week there is going to be something we haven't seen on film, a different wrinkle, a different formation. Something we haven't prepared for. It usually comes in the first couple possessions. We talk about it and are able to execute it from there."
 
Amazingly, this senior class has not experienced a long bus ride back to Maryville after a loss. The only road loss in the last four years was a playoff game at Minnesota Duluth in 2014. The Bearcats flew to that game.
 
"It definitely wasn't fun," Young said. "A lot of people stayed to themselves We just try to make sure we keep the losses at a minimum."