Game No. 6 - Northwest Missouri State (4-1) at Pittsburg State (5-0)
Sat., Oct. 6 | 2 p.m. | Pittsburg, Kan. | Carnie Smith Stadium (8,343)

Live Stream ($ - Subscription) - MIAA Network
Live Audio - KXCV

Play-by-Play: John Coffey
Analyst: Matt Gaarder
Sideline: Jenny James

Live Stats - www.pittstategorillas.com
Tickets - www.PittStateGorillas.com

THIS WEEK'S GAME
The Northwest Missouri State football squad will travel to Pittsburg, Kansas, to take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas. Kick is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Carnie Smith Stadium.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. PSU
Northwest owns a 26-25 lead in the all-time series vs. Pittsburg State. Pitt State holds a 14-8 advantage in games played in Pittsburg. The squads have split the last eight meetings between the schools with each program earning four wins.

LAST TIME AROUND VS. PSU
Pittsburg State took advantage of six Northwest turnovers (4 INTs, 2 fumbles) in a 20-10 win over the Bearcats on Oct. 28, 2017. Northwest limited Pitt State to only 11 first downs in the contest, but the Bearcats could not overcome a 17-3 halftime deficit. All four of Pitt State's scoring drives began in Northwest territory.

THE COACHES
Northwest is led by second-year head coach Rich Wright. was named head coach at Northwest Missouri on Dec. 19, 2016. Wright posted a 13-4 mark for the Bearcats in 2017. Wright arrived at Northwest in 2004 as the defensive line coach and coordinator of special teams. In 2011, Wright was named defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. A native of Hamilton, N.Y., Wright earned his bachelor's degree at Dana College in 1995 and his master's at Northwest in 1996.
Tim Beck is in his ninth season as Pittsburg State University's head football coach and his 32nd year on the Gorillas' staff. He has compiled a 73-27 (.730) record during his tenure leading his alma mater. Beck served for 16 years as the Gorillas' offensive coordinator and 22 seasons as a member of the Pitt State coaching staff before becoming Pitt State's 14th head football coach on Dec. 9, 2009.

LIMITED TURNOVERS
The Northwest defense has been stingy with yards and points in 2018, yet has only produced three turnovers through the first five games. Northwest ranks tied for No. 4 in the nation in fewest turnovers gained.
The Bearcat defense has forced two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Northwest has not forced a turnover in each of its last two games at Central Oklahoma and at home against Emporia State.
Despite the lack of forced turnovers on defense, Northwest's offense has had only six turnovers (minus-3 differential).

Fewest Turnovers Gained
1. Mercyhurst 2
    Elizabeth City State 2
    Southwest Baptist 2
4. Northwest Missouri 3
    Northwood 3
    Kutztown 3
    Michigan Tech 3

THORMAN IS DOWNED WITH IT
Senior punter Matt Thorman had all four of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line in Saturday's 41-0 win over Emporia State. Thorman averaged 36.8 yards per punt with a long of 48.
Thorman had his punts downed at the 12, 12, 16 and 16-yard lines in the victory over ESU.

SACK 'EM SAM
Sophomore defensive lineman Sam Roberts tallied two quarterback sacks and tied for team-high honors with seven tackles in Northwest's 41-0 win over Emporia State.
Roberts and the Northwest defense limited Emporia State to 194 total yards (43 - rushing; 151 - passing) and 11 first downs in the shutout.
Roberts leads the Bearcats in quarterback sacks with four.

TATUM TO THE HOUSE
Sophomore wide receiver Alec Tatum registered his first 100-plus receiving game and his first collegiate touchdown in Saturday's 41-0 win over Emporia State.
Tatum caught three passes for 105 yards against the Hornets. Tatum scored on a 72-yard flea flicker with 8:00 left in the second quarter to give Northwest a 27-0 lead.
Tatum leads the Bearcats in catches (20) and receiving yards (341).

IT HAS BEEN AWHILE
Northwest is one of two schools in 2018 to have not allowed a rushing touchdown. Northwest and Harding are the only two NCAA Div. II schools to have not allowed a rushing touchdown. In fact, Northwest has not allowed a rushing touchdown since Dec. 10, 2016 in the NCAA semifinal playoff matchup against Ferris State. Since then, the Bearcats have gone 18 games since allowing a rushing score. Northwest was the only NCAA school (FBS, FCS, II, III) to not allow a rushing touchdown in 2017.

BACK TO THE GROUND GAME
Northwest has scored 15 rushing touchdowns this season after having rushed for 16 touchdowns on the ground in the 2017 season. Northwest has scored 35 rushing touchdowns of its own during its defensive streak of allowing no rushing scores.

FRESHMAN QB TERRITORY
Braden Wright is entering rare territory for Bearcat freshmen quarterbacks.
The last Northwest freshman signal caller to pass for more than 1,000 yards and 10-plus touchdowns in a season came in the 2004 campaign when Josh Mathews relieved an injured Josh Lamberson in the eighth game of the season. Mathews passed for 1,263 yards and 11 touchdowns while leading Northwest to the quarterfinals of the 2004 NCAA Div. II playoffs.
Wright has passed for 1,212 yards and 10 touchdowns through the first five games of the 2018 season. Wright has also rushed for 289 yards and six touchdowns in 2018.

QB RUSHING LEADERS
Redshirt freshman Braden Wright's six rushing scores rank T-No. 3 in the nation in rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks.
Wright's six rushing touchdowns trails only Jayru Campbell (Ferris State), who has nine touchdowns, and Preston Paden (Harding), who has seven scores.

NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADER
Senior running back Josh Caldwell has rushed for 3,139 career rushing yards and ranks No. 3 among all active NCAA Division II players. Caldwell has rushed for 28 touchdowns, which ranks No. 10 among active players.

BANE AMONG LEADERS
Shawn Bane Jr. ranks No. 5 among active NCAA Div. II players in receiving yards. Bane has posted 2,928 yards in 40 career games. Bane is tied for No. 6 on the NCAA active career leaders touchdown receptions list with 28.
Bane ranks No. 5 among active players in all-purpose yards with 4,710.

BANE LOOKS TO MOVE UP THE CHARTS
Senior wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. (Sarasota, Fla.) is looking to move up the career receiving charts in 2018.
Bane ranks No. 8 in Bearcat history with 181 receptions.
He is looking to become only the eighth Northwest receiver to surpass 3,000 career yards. Bane has tallied 2,928 receiving yards, which ranks No. 8 on the all-time Northwest receiving yards chart.
His 28 career touchdown receptions rank No. 5 in program history. Bane found the end zone 19 times in his first two seasons, but was limited to six scores in 2017 while still earning second-team All-MIAA honors.

Career Pass Receptions
1. Jamaica Rector (2001-2004) 289
2. Kendall Wright (2005-2008) 243
3. Tony Miles (1997-2000) 235
4. Jake Soy (2008-2011) 222
5. Andre Rector (2002-2005) 213
6. Dan Anderson (1982-1985) 198
7. Steve Hansley (1983-1985) 196
8. Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.) 181
9. Tyler Shaw (2009-2012) 166
10. Jordan Simmons (2009-2012) 162

Career Receiving Yards
1. Jamaica Rector (2001-2004) 4,497
2. Tony Miles (1997-2000) 3,890
3. Jake Soy (2008-2011) 3,687
4. Kendall Wright (2005-2008) 3,253
5. Steve Hansley (1983-1985) 3,118
6. Andre Rector (2002-2005) 3,049
7. Tyler Shaw (2009-2012) 3,021
8. Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.) 2,928
9. Dan Anderson (1982-1985) 2,651
10. Mike Peterson (2004-2007) 1,987

Career Touchdown Receptions
1. Jake Soy (2008-2011) 45
2. Jamaica Rector (2001-2004) 38
3. Tony Miles (1997-2000) 37
4. Tyler Shaw (2009-2012) 32
5. Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.) 28
6. Steve Hansley (1983-1985) 26
7. Kendall Wright (2005-2008) 21
8. Wade Hanson (1994-1997) 19
9. Andre Rector (2002-2005) 18
10. Mike Peterson (2004-2007) 17

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Northwest ranks No. 2 in the nation in tackles-for-loss per game (10.4 TFLs/game).
Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in red zone defense (55.6 percent). Opponents have had nine opportunities in the red zone and have scored five times (two pass TDs, three FGs).
The Bearcats rank No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense (10.8 points/game).
Northwest ranks No. 7 in rushing defense (68.4 yards/game).

MORE DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Northwest defense has not allowed an individual runner to surpass 100 yards in the last 46 games. That came in the 2014 NCAA playoff game against Minnesota Duluth (Drew Bauer -  131). In fact, the last MIAA runner to go for more than 100 yards on the Bearcats was Missouri Southern's Chris Barnwell (104) back on Oct. 26, 2013, a span of 60 games.

TWO GRADUATES ON THE FIELD
The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame released a list of 1,200 student-athletes who have already earned their undergraduate degrees and will be playing college football this fall while pursuing second diplomas. Northwest Missouri State has a pair of graduates playing this year in Michael Sorfonden (Harlan, Iowa) and Josh Caldwell (Lee's Summit, Mo.).
"The National Football Foundation takes great pride in its role as a leading voice in the promotion of the scholar-athlete," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "And highlighting the 1,200 student-athletes who have not only earned their undergraduate degrees but are now pursuing additional diplomas sends a powerful message about the doors that college football opens. This list allows us to showcase those individuals who have truly taken full advantage of the opportunities created by college football."
The NFF compiled the list with the help of athletics directors, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors from all divisions who identified the players on their 2018 fall rosters who have already earned their undergraduate degrees. A total of 235 schools responded, creating the list of 1,200 student-athletes who are slated to play this year while pursuing additional diplomas.

20 YEARS SINCE FIRST TITLE
It has been 20 years since the Bearcats won the program's first national title in 1998.
A 20-year reunion will be held at Homecoming this season to honor the 15-0 national champions of 1998.

PRESEASON FAVORITES
Northwest was picked as the preseason favorite by both the media and coaches to win the 2018 MIAA football championship. The Bearcats received 14 first-place votes and 382 points in the media poll. Northwest had four first-place votes and 103 points in the coaches poll.

DOMINANT DEFENSE
The Northwest defense continued to be dominating in 2017. The Bearcats ranked first in the nation in scoring defense (9.3 ppg), total defense (212.8 yards/game), blocked punts (7) and third down conversion defense (19.9 percent).

FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS OF NO. 1-RANKED DEFENSE
Northwest has been ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense in each of the past four seasons. The Bearcats have ranked No. 1 in scoring defense in each of last three seasons. Northwest has been ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in rushing defense since 2014.

FIVE CAPTAINS
Head coach Rich Wright as designated five captains for the 2018 football season. Wright has named defensive back Anthony Lane (Riviera Beach, Fla.), linebacker Nick Hess (Liberty, Mo.), defensive end Austen Askew (Lawson, Mo.), linebacker Ben Althoff (Palmyra, Mo.) and offensive lineman Zach Flott (Ralston, Neb.) as the captains for the upcoming year.
Eskew and Althoff were named to the first-team all-MIAA squad in 2017. Lane and Flott garnered second-team all-MIAA honors, while Hess notched third-team all-MIAA accolades.

14 STRAIGHT PLAYOFF APPEARANCES
Last season marked the 14th straight season that Northwest had qualified for the NCAA Div. II playoffs. Northwest has made 22 overall appearances in the playoffs. Since 1996, the Bearcats have made 20 playoff appearances – only missing postseason action in 2001 and 2003.

SIX-TIME NATIONAL CHAMPS
Northwest has captured six NCAA Div. II national championship – the most national titles by any Division II program. Northwest won national championships in 1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
The Bearcat have played in the NCAA Div. II national championship game 10 times in the last 21 years. Northwest has played for the crown in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

28 MIAA TITLES
Northwest has captured 28 MIAA football regular season titles.

HUGHES FAMILY FIELDHOUSE
Located just northwest of College Park and Bearcat Stadium on the Northwest campus, the Carl & Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse will serve as a host site for a wide range of University and community activities. The project represents the single largest public-private partnership in Northwest's 112-year history – and one of the largest public-private partnerships ever in the region.

The Hughes Fieldhouse features:
• 137,250 square-foot recreation and multipurpose facility featuring recreation and exhibition space,
• indoor flooring system,
• 90-yard practice turf,
• 300-meter indoor track,
• spectator seating and
• tiered meeting rooms

The Hughes Fieldhouse is an estimated $20 million project with multiple financing sources, including commitments from the University, private support and community support. The facility is to be named for the Carl and Cheryl Hughes family, who committed a significant gift to the project through the Hughes Family Foundation.

VICIS ZERO1 HELMET
Northwest Missouri State will outfit the football team with VICIS ZERO1 Helmets.
"The VICIS ZERO1 is a game-changer and is delivering a completely new approach to player safety," head coach Rich Wright said. "We've been extremely impressed with the research we've seen on the ZERO1, and we're excited to have our players wearing the helmet this year."
"Northwest Missouri State University is a powerhouse program, winning six NCAA Division II titles in the last two decades," VICIS CEO and co-founder Dave Marver said. "We're honored to protect them in their pursuit for number seven."
Ranked as the best helmet in the National Football League and surpassing all expectations of the NFL Players Association helmet performance tests, VICIS ZERO1 Helmets are currently equipping athletes on over 400 high school teams. Additionally, more than 110 professional and collegiate teams have committed to the ZERO1 Helmet coming into the 2018 season.
"Our team has worked hard to bring the ZERO1's breakthrough protective technology to players across the country," says Marver.
VICIS designs the ZERO1 with a unique structure compared to other helmets on the market. A deformable outer shell and columnar layer slows and reduces impact forces in a similar function to the bumper of a car. The helmet is also priced to be accessible to college and high school programs.

ALTHOFF NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR CAMPBELL TROPHY
Recognizing one of the most impressive groups of scholar-athletes in the history of college football, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) proudly announced today the 179 semifinalists, including Northwest Missouri State senior linebacker Ben Althoff, for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy®. The award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation. Fidelity Investments is a proud partner of the Campbell Trophy®.
  The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 31, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 60th NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class. The finalists will travel to New York City for the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 4, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 29th William V. Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
  Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates for the awards must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of playing eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player or significant contributor and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship. The class is selected each year by the NFF Awards Committee, which is comprised of a nationally recognized group of media, College Football Hall of Famers and athletics administrators.
Northwest Missouri State is represented by senior linebacker Ben Althoff (Palmyra, Missouri/Palmyra HS). Althoff carries a 3.87 grade point average with a double major in agronomy and agricultural business. Althoff led the Bearcats in tackles in 2017 for a defense that ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense, total defense and third-down conversion defense. In 2018, Althoff has helped Northwest to a 3-1 start and No. 17 national ranking in the AFCA Div. II Coaches Top 25. Althoff is a captain on this year's Bearcat football squad.
Althoff has participated in a a local Maryville community spring yard clean up. He has volunteered at the courthouse for landscape work. He has served lunch at St. Gregory's Catholic School to students. He helped paint the hallways at Eugene Field Elementary Schools. He has served as a guest speaker at the 2018 Wilderness Camping and Retreat Center Sports Camps.