Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Game No. 11 - Northwest Missouri State (8-2) at Central Missouri (5-5)
Sat., Nov. 10 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. | Bud Walton Stadium (12,000)

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

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

Live Stats - www.UCMathletics.com
Tickets - www.UCMathletics.com

THIS WEEK'S GAME
Northwest Missouri State will travel to Warrensburg, Missouri, to take on the University of Central Missouri Mules. Kick is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium.

ALL-TIME VS. MULES
Northwest holds a 59-35-2 lead in the all-time series vs. Central Missouri. The Bearcats have won five in a row and 14 of the last 15 matchups.

LAST TIME AROUND
Northwest rallied for a thrilling 24-20 win over UCM in Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 30, 2017.
    Northwest led 14-3 at halftime only to see UCM come back and take a 20-17 lead with :34 left in the game.
    The Bearcats marched 68 yards in four plays - two of which were passes to Shawn Bane Jr. for 14 yards and 47 yards. Northwest capped the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Zach Martin to Jordan Bishop with :07 remaining to claim the victory.

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 17-5 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.
    In his ninth season, Jim Svoboda has led the Central Missouri Mules to a 70-33 overall mark, including 62-29 in MIAA play. He has led the Mules to five postseason appearances. Svoboda came to UCM after three years as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach at Division I-FCS member Montana State, and helped the Bobcats to winning seasons each year there, as well as a top 25 final national ranking in 2009. Svoboda served as UCLA's quarterbacks coach from 2004-06, helping lead the Bruins to three bowl games and only their seventh 10-win season ever in that span. He served as the program's offensive coordinator in 2006. Prior to his time at UCLA, he was at Northwest Missouri State for 10 seasons as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (1994-2003). He helped the Bearcats to back-to-back Division II National Championships in 1998 and 1999 while winning five consecutive MIAA titles and winning 41 MIAA games in a row.

MIAA TITLE ON THE LINE
With a win Saturday at Central Missouri, Northwest would clinch a share of the MIAA regular season title.
    It would be Northwest's 29th MIAA football regular season crown. It would mark the Bearcats's fifth MIAA title in 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 36.5 points per game, while giving up only 12.5 points per contest.
    Central Missouri is the No. 2 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.1 points per game.

TOPS IN MIAA IN TFLS
Northwest leads the MIAA and ranks No. 11 in the nation in tackles-for-loss per game (8.9).

ESKEW DROPS 'EM
Senior Austen Eskew is the MIAA leader in tackles-for-loss (15) and quarterback sacks (7.5).
    Eskew added two tackles-for-loss and half a quarterback sack as the Bearcats held Fort Hays State to 12 yards rushing on 36 attempts.

ROBERTS IS ON HIS HEELS
Sophomore Sam Roberts is tied for second in the MIAA in tackles-for-loss (13). Roberts is tied for third in the MIAA in quarterback sacks (6.0).

BEST IN DIVISION II
Braden Wright has rushed for the most touchdowns by a freshman quarterback in all of Division II football.
    Wright's 11 rushing scores by a freshman quarterback is second in all NCAA Divisions trailing only Div. III's Cormac Madison of Ripon College who has 13 rushing scores.

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 18 touchdowns.

WRIGHT SCORES
Redshirt freshman quarterback Braden Wright ranks No. 3 in the nation among freshmen for points responsible for with 168 this year. Wright trails Shippensburg freshman Brycen Mussina, who has accounted for 186 points, and Shepherd's Tyson Bagen, who has accounted for 180 points.

THIRD AMONG FROSH RUSH TDS
Wright also ranks No. 3 among all NCAA Division II freshmen in rushing touchdowns with 11.
    Notre Dame (Ohio) freshman running back Jaleel McLaughlin has 14 rushing touchdowns, while Wingate's Nijere Peoples has 13 rushing scores to lead the nation among first-year players.

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 2,007 yards and 17 touchdowns through the first 10 games of the 2018 season. Wright has also rushed for 482 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 (2), Josh Caldwell (1), LaTroy Harper (1) and Cody Massey (1) have all caught touchdowns passes from Wright.

CONSIDER THE COMPANY
Braden Wright is one of eight Div. II quarterbacks to have thrown for 1,999-plus yards and have five interceptions or less. He is the only freshman among those eight. The other seven are either juniors or seniors.

Reece Metcalf, Sr. - McKendree
2,357 yards; 25 TDs; 2 INTs

Willie Candler, Jr. - West Georgia
2,295 yards; 20 TDs; 2 INTs

Jayru Campbell, Jr. - Ferris State
2,127 yares; 22 TDs; 4 INTs

Layton Rabb, Sr. - Midwestern State
2,847 yards; 28 TDs; 4 INTs

Reilly Hennessey, Sr. - Central Wash.
2,390 yards; 19 TDs, 5 INTs

Dalton Holst, Jr. - Chadron State
2,186 yards; 20 TDs; 5 INTs

Bart Williams, Sr. - Grand Valley St.
2,198 yards; 18 TDs; 5 INTs

Braden Wright, Fr. - Northwest Mo.
1,999 yards; 17 TDs; 5 INTs

BANE TURNS IT UP
Senior Shawn Bane Jr. totaled 198 all-purpose yards and he returned a punt for a touchdown in Northwest's 17-16 loss to Fort Hays State.
    Bane Jr. caught five passes for 23 yards and he rushed twice for six yards. He returned four kickoffs for 84 yards, including a long of 26 yards.
    He also returned two punts for 85 yards, including a 56-yard punt return with 1:52 left in the first half for Northwest's first touchdown of the day.

PUNT RETURN GAME
Northwest has three punt returns for touchdowns this season. Shawn Bane Jr. has returned two for scores (85 yards, 56 yards), while Alec Tatum has one punt return for a touchdown (53 yards).
    Only Notre Dame (Ohio) and Fairmont State have returned more punt returns for touchdowns this season with four each.

THIRD REGIONAL RANKINGS
The third set of NCAA regional rankings was released earlier this week and Northwest checked in at No. 6 in Super Region 3.
    The top seven teams in each region qualify for the Div. II playoffs, which begin Nov. 17.

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

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

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

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

NO. 5 IN SCORING DEFENSE
Northwest ranks No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense by giving up only 12.5 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.

LIMITED TOUCHDOWNS ALLOWED
Northwest is tied for No. 3 in fewest touchdowns allowed with Harding and LIU Post with 13 TDs allowed. Ouachita Baptist leads the country with 11 touchdowns allowed, while Minnesota-Duluth ranks No. 2 with 12 touchdowns allowed.

NO. 3 IN RUSH DEFENSE
Northwest ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense (68.0 yards/game). Fort Hays State was held to 12 rushing yards on 36 carries.
    The Bearcats have allowed three rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for No. 2 in fewest rushing scores allowed. Minnesota-Duluth has given up one rushing touchdown, while Harding has also allowed three rushing scores.

SOME DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
The Northwest defense has not allowed an individual runner to surpass 100 yards in the last 51 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 65 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 105-15 since the start of the 2010 season.
    Minnesota-Duluth ranks second in Div. II with 98 wins since the start of 2010.

HOMETOWN LOCKDOWN
In its last 10 home games, Northwest has allowed 59 total points (5.9) points per game). Northwest has pitched five shutouts in that eight-game stretch.
    Northwest has allowed six touchdowns to be scored over the last 40 quarters at Bearcat Stadium.

Last 10 Home Games
L, 17-16 vs. Fort Hays State
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 94-31 advantage in the first quarter and a 134-30 scoring lead in the second quarter.
    All told, Northwest has scored 228 first-half points while giving up 61 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.

3,000-PLUS FOR CALDWELL
Senior running back Josh Caldwell has rushed for 3,388 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. 10 among active NCAA Div. II players in receiving yards. Bane has posted 3,201 yards in 45 career games. Bane is tied for No. 12 on the NCAA active career leaders touchdown receptions list with 29.
    Bane ranks No. 6 among active players in all-purpose yards with 5,271. Bane has accumulated 40 rushing yards, 844 punt return yards, 1,186 kick return yards and 3,201 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 No. 6 in Bearcat history with 201 receptions.
    He became only the eighth Northwest receiver to surpass 3,000 career yards. Bane has tallied 3,201 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.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pr.)    201
7.    Dan Anderson (1982-1985)    198
8.    Steve Hansley (1983-1985)    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.)    3,201
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.)    71
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.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    844
6.    Jordan Simmons (2009-2012)    825
7.    Jason Melnick (1994-1996)    782
8.    Jeff Linden (1981-1984)        634
9.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)        561
10.    Heath Parker (1988-1990)        406

Career Kickoff Returns
1.    Joe Wingate (1970-1973)        99
2.    Jarvis Redmond (1985-1989)    78
3.    Jordan Simmons (2009-2012)    68
    Tyler Shaw (2009-2012)        68
5.    Tony Miles (1997-2000)        59
6.    Joseph Johnson (1989-1992)    56
7.    Joe Spinello (1965-1968)        54
8.    Charlie Pugh (1996-1999)        53
9.    Jamaica Rector (2001-2004)    52
    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    52

Career Kickoff 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.    Shawn Bane Jr. (2015-pres.)    1,186
9.    Jamaica Rector (2001-2004)    1,138
10.    Joe Spinello (1965-68)        1,082

PROGRAM OF THE DECADE
Northwest is the winningest NCAA Div. II program of this decade from 2010-2017. Northwest is 97-13 for an .882 winning percentage since 2010. The Bearcats have been ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Div. II Top 25 poll 38 times since the start of the 2010 season.

By Wins (Since 2010)
1.    Northwest Missouri State    97
2.    Minnesota-Duluth    88
3.    Shepherd    84
    Colorado State-Pueblo    84
    Minnesota State, Mankato    84

By Winning Percentage (Since 2010)
1.    Northwest Missouri State    .882 (97-13)
2.    Shepherd    .866 (84-13)
    Colorado State-Pueblo    .866 (84-13)
4.    Minnesota-Duluth    .846 (88-16)
5.    Minnesota State, Mankato    .832 (84-17)

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.

HOME COOKING IN PLAYOFFS
Northwest has compiled a 29-3 all-time record at home in the NCAA Div. II playoffs. In fact heading into the 2018 season, the Bearcats have won 22 consecutive home playoff games at Bearcat Stadium.

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.

BEARCATS IN THE NFL
Northwest is represented in the National Football League by tight end Clayton Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) and defensive lineman Matt Longacre (Los Angeles Rams).
    Wilson signed a free agent deal with the Seahawks after completing his collegiate career in 2017 for the Bearcats. Wilson caught 80 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns in 50 career games for the Bearcats.