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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Football vs. Lindenwood  |  Saturday, Oct. 21  |  2 p.m.  |  Bearcat Stadium  |  Homecoming
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - From time to time, Northwest Missouri State senior quarterback Zach Martin hears teammates talk about plays from the 2015 championship season. Martin can smile, nod and recall some of those games.
 
Unlike most of his teammates, Martin wasn't there. His recognition of those moments comes from watching hours and hours of film.
 
"I wasn't here in 2015, but I watched every single game they played in," Martin said. "When they brought up plays in 2015, I say yes, I remember it."
 
That is the obstacle for a transfer into a Northwest football program that prides itself on bringing in freshmen, redshirting them their first year to have a significant number of fifth-year seniors on the roster.
 
Martin spent his redshirt year at Iowa Western Community College. He arrived at Northwest in January 2016, after three seasons in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
 
"That was definitely the hardest thing," Martin said. "Last year I was friends with everybody, but I just didn't have the memories that they remembered from 2013, 2014.
 
"The seniors have done a great job. When I came here, I knew I had to meet new people. I knew everyone would have their friend groups when I transferred here. Everyone has been awesome. Every senior I have a relationship with, and down the road, I can always turn to them and talk to them if I ever need it. That is why chose to come here."
 
Like the fifth-year seniors, Martin has embraced the family culture at Northwest. Saturday's Homecoming against Lindenwood at Bearcat Stadium will be meaningful for him.
 
He expects his mom and dad to be at the game for the 2 p.m. kickoff. He also knows his younger brother Grant Martin will be present because he is a redshirt freshman wide receiver at Northwest.
 
"I have a little sister who is four," Martin said. "There is a little bit of a gap. The Lord graced us with her presence."
 
It only takes a few minutes talking to Martin to realize family means a lot to him. He played high school football for his dad, who is in his 17^th season as head football coach at Omaha North.
 
Some of Martin's earliest memories being around his dad at football games was when he was in third grade. He was a ball boy. He tossed footballs to the referees from the sideline.
 
"I have been around football a long time," Martin said. "It has helped me playing quarterback. I am glad my dad is a high school coach. I don't know how many more seasons he has left. He is getting to his point. He is a great coach and has done a great job."
 
Knowing Martin's football background makes it easier to understand how he was able to take over the starting quarterback position and handle the pressure of being the signal caller for the No. 1 ranked team in Division II and the two-time defending national champions.
 
Martin took over from Kyle Zimmerman, who guided the Bearcats to a 15-0 season and left with Northwest holding a 30-game winning streak.  
 
"Last year I learned a lot behind Kyle," Martin said. "It is awesome to get back out there, play every week, take hits in a game and come out with a W on Saturday."
 
The winning streak has grown to 37, the second longest in Division II history and just three wins shy of tying the all-time mark held by Grand Valley State. One reason Northwest is 7-0 is because Martin has played nearly mistake-free football. He has thrown just one interception in 241 pass attempts. He has completed 154 of those passes for 1,764 yards and 14 touchdowns.
 
"He has done a good job," said Northwest offensive coordinator Charlie Flohr. "In my mind, he has progressed well. He has a better understanding each week of what we are trying to do. He has done a great job of taking care of the football and making the plays when he needs to.
 
"When things are not there, he has been able to make the right decision and throw the ball away or take off and run like he did last week."
 
Oh, there was one other bit of pressure for Martin to handle. He beat out senior Jonathan Baker, who grew up in Maryville and led his high school team to a perfect 15-0, championship season in 2012.
 
Putting team before self, Martin and Baker have worked well together. Flohr even calls Baker his assistant quarterback coach.
 
"JB has been great. I couldn't ask for a better friend/teammate," Martin said. "If things would have gone the other way, I'd like to think I would have done the same exact thing that he has been doing for me."
 
Both players are competitive and want to do the best job possible in practice, making the right reads and putting the football in the hands of the receivers.
 
Off the field, the two spend time together in the film room, going over plays, scouting and getting the best understanding of the upcoming opponent.
 
"We both can see it is bigger than football," Martin said. "Whenever I come off the field, he is the first person I ask, 'what did you see on that play. Do you feel like I made the right read?' He will give me his input. He knows I trust him. If something happened to me, I know the team would be in great hands. He prepares like he is the starter every week just like I do."
 
It is that type of team chemistry that allows a team to go 68 yards in the final 34 seconds and score the game-winning touchdown against a rival at an NFL stadium like Northwest did in its 24-20 over Central Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium in week five of the season.
 
"That whole game was awesome and crazy," Martin said. "We would have liked to put that game away a little earlier. I know I got grief that we couldn't put that game away a long time ago. But sometimes it doesn't make the greatest story if you do."
 
Martin is quiet and soft-spoken after football games, but you can hear the sense of humor in him during an extended conversation
 
"He is one of those kids that kind of keeps to himself," Flohr said. "He doesn't say a whole lot. He is not afraid to step and say something when he needs to. He is a quiet leader. He is creating that leadership role that you need at that position."
 
The first impression usually puts a stamp on you. Martin made a great first impression to Bearcat Nation on Aug. 31 in an early-season showdown between No. 1 Northwest and then-No. 4 Emporia State. The Bearcats won 34-0 as Martin completed 18 of 26 passes for 314 yards and one touchdown.
 
"That was definitely a big game," Martin said. "We had a lot of guys who have played football, but we lost a lot of guys who played in significant roles from last year's team. We played with a lot of fire that night. It was a lot of fun. Night games in Bearcat Stadium don't get much better than that."
 
Martin also got his first taste of postgame festivities as a player when he was congratulated on the football field by family, friends, and people he has never met.
 
"I never been anywhere else where the crowd comes to the field after the game," Martin said. "I think that is so special. It shows our culture and the family atmosphere. We put in all that work in the offseason, the spring and summer so when can display that on Saturday and everybody comes down and congratulates you and little kids come up to you like you are their idol. It is very special. I will cherish it."
 
Homecoming games at Northwest are just a little more special. Players from past teams show up and watch the game from the sidelines. The number of alums in the stands increases. All are sharing in the good feeling of being a Bearcat.
 
"I was here last year," Martin said. "It was pretty crazy. We had a lot of fun. We beat up on Pitt State. The parade and everything was a fun time. It gives you the feel of high school again.
 
"We are looking forward to playing against a good football team and hopefully coming out with a W."