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By David Boyce  |  Northwest Football at Pittsburg State  |  Saturday, Oct. 28  |  2 p.m.  |  Carnie Smith Stadium  |  Pittsburg, Kan.
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MARYVILLE, Mo. - Senior wide receiver Jordan Bishop has been in the Northwest Missouri State program long enough to know Saturday's game at Pittsburg State will likely be the toughest so far this season for the Bearcats.
 
The fact that Northwest beat Pitt State 69-10 a year ago will only add fuel to the Gorillas' fire when the ball is kicked off at 2 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.
 
"We are preparing like it is a playoff game," Bishop said. "We are watching extra film this week to make sure we are focused. We know Pitt State is going to give us its all. It is one of our toughest battles every year. No matter what we see on film from them earlier in the year, we know their effort, and their intensity is going to be the best they have had this season."
 
At 4-4, Pittsburg State is not in a position to make the Division II playoffs or capture an MIAA title. For them, being the first team to beat Northwest since the 2014 season represents their Super Bowl.
 
Pittsburg State is the last MIAA team to beat Northwest. It occurred Oct. 18, 2014, in Maryville. The Gorillas ruined Northwest's Homecoming with a 35-17 victory. Since then, Northwest has won 34 straight MIAA regular-season games.
 
But the streak garnering national attention is the 38 straight wins, the longest in college football at any level. Northwest, 8-0 and ranked No. 1 in the AFCA top 25, are two victories shy of tying the all-time Division II record of 40 held by Grand Valley State.
 
"You can throw the records out when these two schools get together because there is a lot of pride and competitiveness that goes into this rivalry," Northwest coach Rich Wright said. "They are going to be ready. We are going to get their absolute best. Whatever we see on film, we can multiply it by ten because they are at home, and they have nothing to lose. They are going to throw everything they got at us. We better be ready to step up and have a great week."
 
Being ready is something that has been in Bishop's DNA even before he arrived at Northwest in the fall of 2013. As a senior at Kirkwood High School in Missouri, he helped his team to a 13-0 record and the Class 5 state championship.
 
Joining Bishop at Northwest from the state championship team were his twin brother Jarrod Bishop, who plays linebacker and senior safety Edward Richey.
 
The three players have been like brothers since the sixth grade, Bishop said. They have roomed together every season at Northwest. On the roster, they are numbered consecutively. Jordan wears No. 2, Richey No. 3 and Jarrod No. 4.
 
"It was by design," Bishop said. "I am not going to twist it. We thought it would be cool.
 
"We have a tight bond. That is the reason we chose the same school so we could be together and play together. That bond made it so much easier to come to Northwest and to stay here and love it here."
 
Each player had to put in hard work to earn playing time over the last three seasons. For Bishop, it has been steady progress at the wide receiver position. He appeared in only one game in 2014 and caught just seven passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in 2015.
 
"He has been a kid who has come from the ground up," Wright said. "He is a kid who didn't have success right away. He had to battle. He really didn't play his second year. He went from a role player to a bigger part of our offense the last two seasons."
 
Bishop has played in every game the last two seasons. He enters the Pittsburg State game with 17 receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
 
"Focusing on what the coaches wanted me to do and perfecting what they are after at that certain time," Bishop said of earning more playing time. "Anyway I could get on the field I took advantage of it, and I ran with it. They put me in the best position to be successful while I was playing. They made it a lot easier."
 
Bishop's value extends beyond mere numbers. Wright pointed out that Bishop is an excellent blocker. And those blocks help turn a 10-yard gain into 20 or more.
 
Also, Bishop's leadership and experience were vital at midseason when senior wide receiver Shane Williams and junior wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. went down with injuries. Bishop had to help make sure younger wide receivers were game-day ready.
 
Bishop watched more film with them, talked to them and instilled confidence in them. He wanted them to be relaxed and have fun in games.
 
"It makes it easier on them when you have confidence in them," Bishop said. "They play better. We try not to put too much pressure on them and let them play free. They do a good job of handling that pressure."
 
With the return of Williams and Bane last week, Northwest has added depth to the wide receiver position.
 
"Those two weapons there makes it so much easier on our coaches to call plays," Bishop said. "It makes it harder on the defenses to prepare for us. We have a lot of weapons at the receiver and running back positions. I think having them back is crucial for our offense."
 
Still, Bishop expects a close game against Pittsburg State. That is how the season has progressed. Unlike last year when Northwest won all 15 games by double digits, the Bearcats have already had three wins by less than 10 points. But Northwest has found ways to win those close games.
 
"It has been a lot of fun," Bishop said. "We felt a lot of people have doubted us this year. To come out with a victory means a lot to us. Every game we take very seriously as if we were preparing for a playoff game."