Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Game No. 7 - Nebraska-Kearney (4-2) at Northwest Missouri State (5-1)
Sat., Oct. 13 | 2 p.m. | Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Stadium (6,500)
HOMECOMING

Live Stream ($ - Subscription) - 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 Homecoming for the 2018 Northwest Missouri State football squad. Northwest will play host to the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at 2 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. UNK
Northwest holds an 11-3 lead in the all-time series vs. Nebraska-Kearney. The Bearcats have won all six meetings between the two schools since the Lopers joined the MIAA. UNK's last win in the series came Nov. 10, 1990. Northwest is 6-0 all-time at home against Nebraska-Kearney.

LAST TIME AROUND VS. UNK
The Northwest defense was on full display last year in a 13-0 shutout at UNK. The Lopers were held to 58 yards and six first downs. UNK rushed for 38 yards and passed for 20 yards. UNK quarterback Steve Worthing was 2-for-22 passing with an interception. The Lopers were 0-for-14 on third-down conversions.

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.
    Josh Lynn was named the 18th head football coach in Nebraska-Kearney history on Jan. 4, 2017. The Lynn era started with a bang as the Lopers upset Missouri Western State, 14-3, in the 2017 season-opener. It marked UNK's first August or September win since joining the MIAA in 2012. Kearney went on to beat Northeastern State, 42-27, and Missouri Southern State, 16-6. A native of Eunice, N.M., and an Eastern New Mexico graduate, Lynn helped turn his alma mater around, leading the Greyhounds to 27 wins between 2012-16.

20-YEAR REUNION OF 1998 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Northwest will celebrate the 20-year reunion this weekend of the 1998 football team that won the first national championship in school history. The 1998 squad became the first NCAA Div. II school to finish a season at 15-0. Northwest defeated Carson-Newman 24-6 in the title game in Florence, Alabama, on Dec. 12, 1998. Members of the 1998 squad will be honored at halftime of Saturday's Homecoming game.

M-CLUB HALL OF FAME
The M-Club Hall of Fame Class of 2018's individual inductees include early age inductee Scott Kurtz (baseball) and modern age inductees Gabby Curtis (women's basketball), Andy Erpelding (football) and Mel Tjeerdsma (football coach/athletic director). The two teams going into the M-Club will be the 2009-10 men's tennis team and the 2010-11 women's basketball squad.
    The Class of 2018 will be inducted into the M-Club Hall of Fame during the annual festivities on Fri., Oct. 12 in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom and will be recognized at halftime of the football game.


DON BLACK AWARD
The Don Black Award is presented to the most valuable player in the annual Homecoming contest. The award has been given out since 1972 and 41 student-athletes have received the honor. Don Black was a running back for the Bearcats from 1951-1953 and helped lead Northwest to an MIAA title in 1952.

Don Black Award Winners
1972 - Jim Albin, TB
1973 - Mike Williams, G
1974 - Claude Arnick, HB
1975 - Steve Miller, FB
1976 - Kirk Mathews, QB
1977 - Shawn Geraghty, K
1978 - Dave Toti, S
1979 - Mark Smith, QB
1980 - Greg Lees, DB
1981 - Gary Hogue, TE
1982 - Dale DeBourge, RB
1983 - Dale DeBourge, RB
1984 - Steve Hansley, WR
1985 - Dan Anderson, WR
1986 - Junior Mao, DL
1987 - Paul Watkins, DB
1988 - Wes Camp, WR
1989 - Shannon Rooney, DB
1990 - Dave Svehla, LB
1991 - Ed Tillison, FB
1992 - Joseph Johnson, QB
1993 - Chris Brooks, HB
1994 - Ryan Scheib - K/P
1995 - Greg Teale, QB
1996 - Jesse Haynes, RB
1997 - Chris Griesen, QB
1998 - Chris Griesen, QB
1999 - Tony Miles, WR
2000 - Tony Miles, WR
2001 - Ryan Hackett, RB
2002 - Damien Chumley, S
2003 - Chad Bostwick, LB
2004 - Jamaica Rector, WR
2005 - Josh Lamberson, QB
2006 - Myles Burnsides, SS
2007 - Jared Erspamer, LB
2008 - Joel Osborn, QB
2009 - Blake Bolles, QB
2010 - Blake Bolles, QB
2011 - Blake Christopher, QB
2012 - Jordan Simmons, RB
2013 - Billy Creason, RB
2014 - Jared Fox, SS
2015 - Brady Bolles, QB
2016 - Kyle Zimmerman, QB
2017 - Shane Williams, WR
2018 - TBD

IT HAS BEEN AWHILE
Northwest is the only NCAA Div. II school 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 19 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 17 rushing touchdowns this season after having rushed for 16 touchdowns on the ground in the 2017 season. Northwest has scored 37 rushing touchdowns of its own during its defensive streak of allowing no rushing scores.

SOME DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Northwest defense has not allowed an individual runner to surpass 100 yards in the last 47 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 61 games.

DEFENSIVE SHOWDOWN
Northwest ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense (10.2 points per game), while Nebraska-Kearney ranks No. 14 (16.3 ppg).

IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Northwest ranks No. 5 in the nation in red zone defense (54.5 percent). Opponents have had 11 opportunities in the red zone and have scored six times (three pass TDs, three FGs).
    Northwest ranks No. 7 in rushing defense (76.7 yards/game).

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 102-14 since the start of the 2010 season.
    Minnesota-Duluth ranks second in Div. II with 94 wins since the start of 2010.
HOMETOWN LOCKDOWN
In its last eight home games, Northwest has allowed 29 total points (3.625 points per game). Northwest has pitched five shutouts in that eight-game stretch.
    Northwest has allowed two touchdowns to be scored over the last 32 quarters at Bearcat Stadium.
    Northwest has yet to yield a touchdown at home this year.

Last 8 Home Games
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

4TH QUARTER EDGE
If it comes down to a fourth-quarter game, Northwest has the scoring edge. The Bearcats are out-scoring the opposition in the fourth, 56-13.

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.

CHASE CAN SCORE
Senior Chase White has caught three passes this season and all three have gone for touchdowns. White's three catches have gone for 37 yards.
    White caught a 14-yard touchdown reception at Washburn. He also caught a 19-yard touchdown pass against Missouri Southern. White added his third catch and score on a 4-yard strike from Braden Wright at Pittsburg State.

TATUM FINDS ENDZONE AGAIN
Sophomore Alec Tatum has found the endzone in two straight games. Tatum, who also serves as the team's holder, scored his second collegiate touchdown on a 23-yard run on a fake field goal against Pittsburg State.
    Tatum had scored the week before on a 72-yard flea-flicker reception against Emporia State.
    Tatum leads the Bearcats in receptions (22) and ranks second on the squad in receiving yards (375).

HARPER TO THE HOUSE
Freshman LaTroy Harper scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 13-yard scoring strike from Braden Wright in Northwest's 31-7 win at Pittsburg State.
    Harper has caught five passes for 55 yards this season.

STRAYHORN NAMED MIAA
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF WEEK
Junior running back Isaiah Strayhorn was named the MIAA's co-offensive player of the week.
    Strayhorn recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of his Bearcat career when he ran for 147 yards in a 31-7 win at Pittsburg State.
    He carried the ball 11 times and averaged 13.4 yards per carry against the Gorillas. Five of his 11 carries resulted in Bearcat first downs.
    Strayhorn put the Bearcats on the board in the first quarter on a 1-yard score. Five of his 11 carries went for first downs against the Gorillas. Strayhorn ripped off a 67-yard burst with the Bearcats backed up at their own 3-yard line in the first quarter. Strayhorn had a 31-yard scamper on a 2nd-and-5 from the Bearcat 10-yard line in the second quarter.
    He is the first Northwest running back to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark this season.
    Prior to Strayhorn's 100-yard game, the previous Northwest running back to rush for 100 yards in a game was Chase White against Missouri Western last season (11/11/2017). White carried 12 times for 100 yards against the Griffons.
    Strayhorn leads the Bearcats in rushing yards (415) and yards per carry (7.0).

SPREADING IT AROUND
Redshirt freshman quarterback Braden Wright has connected with six different Bearcats for passing touchdowns in 2018.
    Shawn Bane Jr. (4), Chase White (3), Jaime Taylor (2), Alec Tatum (1), Josh Caldwell (1) and LaTroy Harper (1) have all caught touchdowns passes this season.

PIERCE-ING BLOCK
Junior Zach Pierce blocked a punt in Saturday's 31-7 win at Pittsburg State. It was Northwest's first blocked kick of the season.
    Prior to Pierce's block, the last Northwest player to block a punt was Bobby Gruenloh against Missouri Western (11/11/2017).

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 1,423 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first six games of the 2018 season. Wright has also rushed for 305 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 10 touchdowns, and Preston Paden (Harding), who has seven scores.

NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADER
Senior running back Josh Caldwell has rushed for 3,190 career rushing yards and ranks No. 6 among all active NCAA Division II players. Caldwell has rushed for 28 career touchdowns.

BANE AMONG LEADERS
Shawn Bane Jr. ranks No. 5 among active NCAA Div. II players in receiving yards. Bane has posted 3,023 yards in 41 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 4,811.

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 185 receptions.
    He became only the eighth Northwest receiver to surpass 3,000 career yards. Bane has tallied 3,023 receiving yards, which ranks No. 7 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.)    185
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.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.)    3,023
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.)    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

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.    Jordan Simmons (2009-2012)    66
7.    Heath Parker (1988-1990)    65
8.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)    62
9.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    60
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.)    708
8.    Jeff Linden (1981-1984)    634
9.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)    561
10.    Heath Parker (1988-1990)    406

LIMITED TURNOVERS
The Northwest defense has been stingy with yards and points in 2018, yet has only produced five turnovers through the first six games. Northwest ranks tied for No. 4 (with 11 others teams) in fewest turnovers gained.
    The Bearcat defense has forced two interceptions and has recovered three fumbles.
    Despite the lack of forced turnovers on defense, Northwest's offense has had only seven turnovers (minus-2 differential).

Fewest Turnovers Gained
1.    Elizabeth City State    3
2.    UNC-Pembroke        4
       Newberry            4
T-4. Northwest Missouri    5