Northwest Game Notes (PDF) | Fort Hays State Game Notes (PDF)

Game No. 10 - Fort Hays State (7-2) at Northwest Missouri State (8-1)
Sat., Nov. 3 | 1:30 p.m. | Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Stadium (6,500)
SENIOR DAY / AG DAY

NCAA Division II Showcase
Play-by-Play: Chuckie Kempf
Analyst: Marc Boerigter

Linear Clearances:
Spectrum Sports 2 in Kansas City on Channel 324
Cox KS on Channel 2122
Eagle Communications - Channel 14 (SD) and channel 614 (HD) for Eagle Customers in Hays, Ellis, Munjor, Russell, Victoria and WaKeeney – all Kansas.

Channel 2 (SD) in Abilene, Bennington, Chapman, Clay Center, Ellsworth, Enterprise, Florence, Hillsboro, Kanopolis, Marion, Minneapolis, Solomon and Wakefield – all Kansas.

Nex-Tech on Channel 609 for the Hays, Kansas area

Altitude 2  - Check your local listings (Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas and some parts of Idaho)

Cox Sports TV (tape delay only) - Check your local listings for times

Digital Clearances:
The MIAA Network – The game will be available at themiaanetwork.com and the MIAA Network OTT apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.

Division II Twitter
@NCAADII on Periscope app

Division II, Northwest Missouri and Fort Hays Facebook pages

Live Stream - MIAA Network
Live Audio - KXCV

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

Live Stats - www.bearcatsports.com
Tickets - www.bearcatsports.com/tickets


THIS WEEK'S GAME
Saturday will mark Senior Day and Ag Day for the 2018 Northwest Missouri State football squad. Northwest will play host to the Fort Hays State Tigers at 1:30 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.

ALL-TIME VS. TIGERS
Northwest owns a 19-13-1 lead in the all-time series with Fort Hays State. Prior to last year's victory by the Tigers, the Bearcats had won the previous 13 matchups. Northwest is 12-6-1 at home against Fort Hays State.

LAST TIME AROUND
Fort Hays State posted a 13-12 win over Northwest at Bearcat Stadium on Nov. 4, 2017, which allowed the Tigers to claim the MIAA regular season title.
    The Tigers led 13-3 following a 66-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Mezera to Harley Hazlett with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter. Northwest scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Baker to Quincy Woods with 3:19 left.
    Northwest added a safety with 13 seconds left.

THE COACHES
Northwest is led by second-year head coach Rich Wright. Wright was named head coach at Northwest Missouri on Dec. 19, 2016. Wright posted a 17-4 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.
    Chris Brown is in his eighth season at Fort Hays State. Brown has posted a record of 56-33. In 2017, Brown led the program to its first-ever Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Championship and first appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs since 1995. By leading the Tigers to their most successful season in program history, Brown earned 2017 MIAA Coach of the Year and Don Hansen Football Committee Super Region 3 Coach of the Year honors.

2018 SENIOR CLASS
Saturday marks the final home regular season game for 19 Bearcat seniors.
    Linebacker Ben Althoff (Palmyra, Mo.), wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr. (Sarasota, Fla.), linebacker Cole Bixler (Omaha, Neb.), running back Josh Caldwell (Lee's Summit, Mo.), linebacker Matt Connelly (Omaha, Neb.), linebacker Breyon Dennis (Kansas City, Mo.), defensive lineman Austen Eskew (Lawson, Mo.), offensive tackle Zach Flott (Ralston, Neb.), linebacker Nick Hess (Liberty, Mo.), offensive lineman Trey Kothe (Macon, Mo.), defensive back Anthony Lane (Riviera Beach, Fla.), wide receiver Cody Massey (St. Joseph, Mo.), defensive back Trent Nally (Maryville, Mo.), defensive back Jack Richards (Lee's Summit, Mo.), long snapper Michael Sorfonden (Harlan, Iowa), wide receiver Kennedy Sykes (Long Beach, Calif.), center Chase Thomas (Smithville, Mo.), punter Matt Thorman (Prairie Village, Kan.) and tight end Chase White (Maize, Kan.) will all be honored prior to Saturday's game.

MIAA TITLE ON THE LINE
With a win Saturday, Northwest would clinch its 29th MIAA football regular season crown.
    It would mark the Bearcats's fifth MIAA regular season title in the last six seasons.

BEST IN THE MIAA IN SCORING OFFENSE, SCORING DEFENSE
Northwest ranks as the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 1 scoring defense in the MIAA. The Bearcats are scoring 38.8 points per game, while giving up only 12.0 points per contest.

SECOND REGIONAL RANKINGS
The second set of NCAA regional rankings was released earlier this week and Northwest checked in at No. 4 in Super Region 3.
    Ferris State is No. 1, followed by No. 2 Ouachita Baptist and No. 3 Grand Valley State. Northwest held down No. 4 and was followed by Indianapolis, Southern Arkansas, Fort Hays State, Pittsburg State, Harding and Missouri S&T.
    The top seven teams in each region qualify for the Div. II playoffs, which begin Nov. 17.

SUPER REGION 1
1.     Notre Dame (Ohio)    9-0
2.    New Haven    7-0
3.    LIU Post    8-0
4.    West Chester    8-0
5.    Tiffin    9-0
6.    Kutztown    7-1
7.    Hillsdale    8-1
8.    Slippery Rock    8-1
9.    Ohio Dominican    7-2
10.    Fairmont State    7-2

SUPER REGION 2
1.    West Georgia    9-0
2.    Valdosta State    8-0
3.    Lenoir-Rhyne    8-1
4.    Bowie State    7-1
5.    West Alabama    6-3
6.    Florida Tech    6-3
7.    Albany State (Ga.)    6-3
8.    West Florida    5-3
9.    Wingate    6-3
10.    Fayetteville State    6-1

SUPER REGION 3
1.    Ferris State    9-0
2.    Ouachita Baptist    9-0
3.    Grand Valley State    8-1
4.    Northwest Missouri St.    8-1
5.    Indianapolis    7-1
6.    Southern Arkansas    8-1
7.    Fort Hays State    7-2
8.    Pittsburg State    7-2
9.    Harding    7-2
10.    Missouri S&T    7-1

SUPER REGION 4
1.    Minnesota St., Mankato    9-0
2.    Tarleton State    8-0
3.    Minnesota-Duluth    9-0
4.    Colo. School of Mines    9-0
5.    Colorado St.-Pueblo    8-1
6.    Texas A&M-Commerce    7-2
7.    Midwestern State (Texas)    6-2
8.    Central Washington    7-1
9.    Azusa Pacific    6-2
10.    Chadron State    6-2

NO. 2 IN SCORING DEFENSE
Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense by giving up only 12.0 points per game. Ouachita Baptist leads the nation in scoring defense (9.6 ppg).
    The Bearcats have led the nation in scoring defense in each of the previous three seasons. Northwest gave up 12.3 ppg in 2015, 12.0 ppg in 2016 and 9.3 ppg in 2017.
    Northwest is tied for No. 3 in fewest touchdowns allowed in 2018 with LIU Post with 13 touchdowns allowed. Ouachita Baptist leads the country with nine touchdowns allowed, while Minnesota-Duluth ranks No. 2 with 12 touchdowns allowed.

NO. 4 IN RUSH DEFENSE
Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in rushing defense (74.2 yards/game).
    The Bearcats have allowed three rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for No. 3 in fewest rushing scores allowed. Minnesota-Duluth has given up one rushing touchdown, while Harding has allowed two rushing scores in 2018.

SOME DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Northwest defense has not allowed an individual runner to surpass 100 yards in the last 50 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 64 games.

100 WINS THIS DECADE
Northwest is the only NCAA Div. II school to have captured 100 wins in this decade.
    The Bearcats have posted a record of 105-14 since the start of the 2010 season.
    Minnesota-Duluth ranks second in Div. II with 97 wins since the start of 2010.

HOMETOWN LOCKDOWN
In its last nine home games, Northwest has allowed 42 total points (4.67 points per game). Northwest has pitched five shutouts in that eight-game stretch.
    Northwest has allowed four touchdowns to be scored over the last 36 quarters at Bearcat Stadium.

Last 9 Home Games
W, 27-13 vs. Nebraska-Kearney
W, 41-0 vs. Emporia State
W, 63-0 vs. Missouri Southern
W, 28-6 vs. Missouri Western
L, 13-12 vs. Fort Hays State
W, 19-0 vs. Lindenwood
W, 17-10 vs. Central Oklahoma
W, 63-0 vs. Missouri Southern
W, 34-0 vs. Emporia State

FIRST HALF ATTACK
Northwest has jumped out early on the competition this season and owns a 94-17 advantage in the first quarter and a 124-30 scoring lead in the second quarter.
    All told, Northwest has scored 218 first-half points while giving up 47 points this season.

7 SHUTOUTS UNDER WRIGHT
Northwest has recorded seven shutouts under the direction of head coach Rich Wright.
    The Bearcats posted five shutouts in 2017 and have added two more in 2018.

WRIGHT SCORES
Redshirt freshman quarterback Braden Wright ranks T-No. 2 in the nation among freshmen for points responsible for with 160 this year. Wright trails Shippensburg freshman Brycen Mussina, who has accounted for 168 points.
    Wright also ranks No. 2 among all NCAA Division II freshmen in rushing touchdowns with eight.
    Notre Dame (Ohio) freshman running back Jaleel McLaughlin has 14 rushing touchdowns to lead the nation among first-year players.

QB RUSHING LEADERS
Braden Wright's 11 rushing scores rank T-No. 2 in the nation in rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks.
    Wright's 11 rushing touchdowns trails only Jayru Campbell (Ferris State), who has 14 touchdowns.

FRESHMAN QB TERRITORY
Braden Wright is in 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 1,890 yards and 16 touchdowns through the first nine games of the 2018 season. Wright has also rushed for 469 yards and 11 touchdowns.

SPREADING IT AROUND
Quarterback Braden Wright has connected with eight different Bearcats for passing scores in 2018.
    Shawn Bane Jr. (5), Chase White (3), Jaime Taylor (2), Marqus Andrews (2), Alec Tatum (1), Josh Caldwell (1), LaTroy Harper (1) and Cody Massey (1) have all caught touchdowns passes from Wright.

ESKEW DROPS 'EM
Senior Austen Eskew is the MIAA leader in tackles-for-loss (13). Eskew added a trio of tackle-for-loss with three sacks in Northwest's 62-17 win at Northeastern State.
    Northwest leads the MIAA and ranks No. 13 in the nation in tackles-for-loss per game (9.0).
SAMPSON NAMED MIAA SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF WEEK
Sophomore placekicker Parker Sampson has been honored as the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Northwest Missouri State's 62-17 win at Northeastern State.
    Sampson (Kansas City, Mo.) booted a career-long 50-yard field goal and accounted for 14 points with two field goals and eight extra points in the win over the RiverHawks. Sampson's 50-yard field goal gave Northwest a 31-3 lead in the second quarter. His 32-yard field goal capped the scoring for the Bearcats in the third quarter. Sampson kicked off 11 times and had four touchbacks.
    Sampson ranks second in the MIAA in scoring with 71 points on the season.

50-YARD FGS FROM BEARCATS
Parker Sampson's 50-yard field goal was the first 50-plus made field goal by a Bearcat kicker since Luis Berlanga drilled a 51-yarder vs. Pittsburg State on Nov. 27, 2004.

NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADER
Senior running back Josh Caldwell has rushed for 3,381 career rushing yards and ranks No. 7 among all active NCAA Division II players. Caldwell has rushed for 30 career touchdowns.

BANE AMONG LEADERS
Shawn Bane Jr. ranks No. 6 among active NCAA Div. II players in receiving yards. Bane has posted 3,178 yards in 43 career games. Bane is tied for No. 11 on the NCAA active career leaders touchdown receptions list with 29.
    Bane ranks No. 6 among active players in all-purpose yards with 5,073. Bane has accumulated 34 rushing yards, 759 punt return yards, 1,102 kick return yards and 3,178 receiving yards.

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 T-No. 7 in Bearcat history with 196 receptions.
    He became only the eighth Northwest receiver to surpass 3,000 career yards. Bane has tallied 3,178 receiving yards, which ranks No. 5 on the all-time Northwest receiving yards chart.
    His 29 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
    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.)    196
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.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.)    3,178
6.    Steve Hansley (1983-1985)    3,118
7.    Andre Rector (2002-2005)    3,049
8.    Tyler Shaw (2009-2012)        3,021
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.)    29
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

Career Punt Returns
1.    Kendall Wright (2005-2008)    115
2.    Jamaica Rector (2001-2004)    112
3.    Tony Miles (1997-2000)        104
4.    Jason Melnick (1994-1996)    90
5.    Joe Spinello (1965-1968)        73
6.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    69
7.    Jordan Simmons (2009-2012)    66
8.    Heath Parker (1988-1990)        65
9.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)        62
10.    Wayne Allen (1978)        58

Career Punt Return Yards
1.    Jamaica Rector (2001-2004)    1,494
2.    Tony Miles (1997-2000)        1,490
3.    Kendall Wright (2005-2008)    1,233
4.    Joe Spinello (1965-1968)        963
5.    Jordan Simmons (2009-2012)    825
6.    Jason Melnick (1994-1996)    782
7.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    759
8.    Jeff Linden (1981-1984)        634
9.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)        561
10.    Heath Parker (1988-1990)        406

Career Kick Return Yards
1.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)        2,291
2.    Jordan Simmons (2009-2012)    1,896
3.    Jarvis Redmond (1985-1989)    1,682
4.    Tyler Shaw (2009-2012)        1,596
5.    Tony Miles (1997-2000)        1,452
6.    Charlie Pugh (1996-1999)        1,235
7.    E.J. Falkner (2004-2007)        1,193
8.    Jamaica Rector (2001-2004)    1,138
9.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    1,102
10.    Joe Spinello (1965-68)        1,082

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.

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.

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.

GPA DECALS
Every Northwest football player with a 3.0 or higher grade point average will have a special decal on their helmet with their GPA, major and advisor. Student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA will have a gold decal on their helmet.

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 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.