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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Missouri vs. Washburn  |  Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016  |  7 p.m.  |  Bearcat Stadium - Maryville, Mo.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - When Northwest Missouri State senior defensive end Cass Weitl trots onto the field at Bearcat Stadium Thursday evening, he will be wearing #52 instead of #73.
 
No, the Bearcats aren't trying to trick Washburn. And if they fooled the Ichabods for a play or two, Washburn, 1-0, would figure it out fairly quickly. Washburn's head coach has an engineering degree.
 
Also, Weitl is good at disrupting opposing teams' offensive rhythm by stuffing the run and applying pressure to the quarterback. He recorded 5.5 sacks and seven quarterback hurries last season.
 
Washburn would notice him quickly, regardless of the number he is wearing.
 
"He is very solid, very consistent," Northwest coach Adam Dorrel said. "He gets a little bit overshadowed because he was around a lot of good players. The thing I proud of is his consistency and his approach every day. It has a very workmanlike approach."
 
A workmanlike player doesn't change a number on a whim. Weitl is wearing #52 to honor defensive lineman Nicholas Turner, who passed away last winter. To honor his memory, a different Bearcat will wear #52 for each game.
 
"I want to represent him the best I can," Weitl said. "He had a motor on him. He was going to give his all whenever he went in there. He was relentless on the field."
 
Northwest football players knew Turner was more than just a rising contributor on the defensive line. He was the type of person that everybody enjoyed being around.
 
Weitl remembers times when defensive coordinator Rich Wright would sometime bring his two daughters to morning meetings and Turner was there, talking to them and giving them candy.
 
"He could be friends with anybody. He was a great kid. Nobody disliked him," Weitl said.
 
Each week, Dorrel said, a different Bearcat will wear #52 and one week, junior offensive lineman Myles McIntyre will wear it because they grew up together in the St. Louis area.
 
"Nick was special," Dorrel said. "He was a good football player. He had a vibrant personality. It is important to his mom and dad. I had a chance to talk to his dad last week before our game and he sent back a text, 'Bearcat for Life.' It is important to their family that we keep remembering Nick."
 
Once the ball is in the air for the 7 p.m. kickoff, the focus for all the Bearcats will turn to Washburn.
 
Northwest, 1-0 and ranked No. 1 in the AFCA Top 25, is coming off 41-14 victory at Emporia State last Thursday.
 
"I thought overall we played all right," Weitl said. "It was nice to get some young guys some playing time who haven't played much college football. There are always things you can improve on, especially from week one to week two. Like AD says, you make your most improvement in those two weeks."
 
Dorrel added the Bearcats need to eliminate the penalties.
 
"We want to make a giant leap cleaning things up," Dorrel said. "You have to be physical against Washburn. If you are not physical in all three phases, you are going to struggle."
 
Expect the Bearcats to be ready for the challenge. Night games at home on a Thursday evening occurs once a season. The players savor it because they know they are going to get a festive student section.
 
"Under the lights make it special," Weitl said. "All the students are still in town. They are going to want to come out and be crazy."