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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Missouri vs. Ferris State  |  Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016  |  2:30 p.m.  |  Bearcat Stadium - Maryville, Mo.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - Northwest Missouri State enters Saturday's semifinals against Ferris State on the cusp of reaching its third NCAA Division II football national championship game in four years.
 
Those thoughts will roar through the heads of thousands of Northwest fans who will bundle up at Bearcat Stadium to watch their team take on Ferris State, 12-2, at 2:30 p.m.
 
Fond memories of Dec. 19, 2015 are still nestled in their minds. On that date, a Division II championship game record crowd of 16,181 fans watched the Bearcats win a record-tying fifth national championship at Children's Mercy Park. This is the great aspect of being a fan of a highly successful football program. You can look ahead and dream.
 
The reason the Bearcats are back in the semifinals for the third time in four years is because the players don't go into the game thinking about another game.
 
"Something the senior group has taught me is taking it one game at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves," said Northwest junior wide receiver Shane Williams. "It would be easy to look to the national championship all season. We worry about one game at a time whether we played a real strong opponent or maybe an opponent that wasn't as good."
 
The seniors have prepared for so many playoff opponents through the years that they know each week during postseason presents different challenges. This season is no different.
 
In the second round, Northwest faced a familiar opponent in Emporia State that likes to pass the ball. The Bearcats won that battle. Last week, in the Super Region Three championship game, Northwest faced Harding, which averaged over 40 points per game running the triple option. The Bearcats shut them out.
 
And now, Ferris State comes to town with an attack using two quarterbacks, something it started only four weeks ago. The story goes that junior quarterback Reggie Bell went to the coach and thought that senior Trevor Bermingham, an all-region punter and also backup quarterback, should start the regular-season finale for senior day.
 
Bermingham did so well that Ferris State now plays both quarterbacks, giving opposing defense more to think about.
 
Ferris State is hot. The Bulldogs went to undefeated Grand Valley and beat the Lakers 47-32 for the Super Region Four championship. They are averaging 50.3 points in the last four games, three of which were in postseason.
 
"They have athletes all over the field," Northwest senior safety Jack Young said. "They like to spread the field. They have two very good athletes at quarterback. Last game we saw both of them play. They can both run and throw. They like to get out of the pocket and run it. They like to get their athletes out in space and let them do what they do best.
 
"It will be a good challenge for us to go from a passing team, to a running team to a team that is balanced and does a lot of everything."
 
A big reason Northwest has performed so well this season is each unit has complete confidence that the other unit will do its job. It allows each player to play up to his ability and not try to do too much.
 
The offensive players aren't going into Saturday's game thinking they will have to make spectacular plays to score over 50 points to win the game. The most points Northwest has given up this season was 29 at home to Northeastern State. Bearcats, though, scored a season-high 74 points in that game.
 
In two playoff games, Northwest has allowed a total of 13 points.
 
"We expect that from our defense," Williams said. "They show up for every game. We know what they are capable of.
 
"AD (coach Adam Dorrel) is always saying do your job. The defensive guys are always doing their job. Coach (Rich) Wright always have them prepared and ready. They prepare like no one else. It is nice knowing they can get a shutout every game."
 
Young has the same faith in the offense. He likes the unselfish nature of the wide receivers. When leading receiver Shawn Bane Jr., went down with a season-ending injury in the 10^th game, the Bearcats continued to function at a high level on offense.
 
The main reason for that is receivers like Williams, Sha'Corey Foster, George Sehl, Dre Washington and Jordan Bishop went about their business the same way as when Bane was playing. They just want to do whatever is necessary to help the Bearcats win.
 
"Ever since fall camp, I think our wide receivers have been overlooked," Young said. "They are a great group of guys who are unselfish. They take pride in blocking. They take pride in the opportunities they do get. We don't have one wide receiver who is selfish. We don't have problems with attitude, going in saying, 'I want the ball.' I have been on previous teams where that can become an issue.
 
"Jordan Bishop, DeAndre Washington, George Sehl, the list goes on and on. Any guys number that is called, we know they will step up. Those guys all stepped. It shows you the type of character this team has. Nobody is selfish. Everybody knows the end goal is to get the W."
 
Williams and Foster, a sophomore, are perfect examples of it. Both are soft-spoken wide receivers who are following the lead of the seniors.
 
"They mean a lot," Foster said of the seniors. "They set a good example for us. They paved the way for us. We have to continue that legacy when they leave."
 
And that legacy is to prepare the best they can and give their best effort on game day and not think about the next game until the next game arrives.
 
"We know what is on the line but at the same time, it is like any other game for us," Young said. "We have to go in and execute our job. We are very excited to play a team we have never played in the program's history. We are very fortunate to be in the position we are in. We have to be prepared for anything they throw at us."