Game No. 3 - No. 15/13 Northwest Missouri State (1-1) at Fort Hays State (1-1)
Saturday, Sept. 16 | 7 p.m. (CT) | Hays, Kan. | Lewis Field Stadium (6,362)

MIAA NETWORK STREAM | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | TICKETS 

Radio Play-by-Play: John Coffey
Radio Analyst: Matt Tritten
Radio Sideline: Keaton Smith

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football team will travel to Fort Hays State University to match up against the Tigers Saturday at 7 p.m. Lewis Field Stadium.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Northwest owns a 22-14-1 lead in the all-time series with Fort Hays State.
    Northwest has won three straight in the series after Fort Hays State had won two in a row in 2017 and 2018.
    The Bearcats are 7-0 in Hays, Kan., since FHSU joined the MIAA in 2006. Overall, Northwest has won each of the last eight meetings in Hays. Northwest's last loss in Hays came on Sept. 24, 1977, when the Tigers posted a 42-28 victory.
    Northwest was victorious over FHSU last season in the opener at Bearcat Stadium, 33-19.

Northwest Results vs. FHSU
L, 21-14 vs. FHSU (9/22/50)
L, 20-7 at FHSU (9/22/51)
W, 7-6 vs. FHSU (9/19/52)
W, 21-7 vs. FHSU (10/16/53)
L, 20-7 at FHSU (10/2/54)
L, 21-7 vs. FHSU (10/1/55)
L, 19-13 at FHSU (9/29/56)
L, 40-27 vs. FHSU (9/28/57)
L, 13-0 at FHSU (9/26/58)
W, 13-8 vs. FHSU (9/26/59)
W, 14-9 at FHSU (9/24/60)
W, 17-16 vs. FHSU (9/23/61)
L, 21-0 at FHSU (9/22/62)
T, 7-7 vs. FHSU (9/21/63)
L, 29-7 vs. FHSU (10/8/66)
L, 14-3 at FHSU (10/5/68)
W, 35-14 vs. FHSU (10/4/69)
L, 42-28 at FHSU (9/24/77)
L, 36-22 vs. FHSU (9/23/78)
W, 17-7 at FHSU (9/22/79)
W, 19-14 vs. FHSU (9/20/80)
W, 59-0 vs. FHSU (10/21/06)
W, 17-0 at FHSU (10/20/07)
W, 56-7 vs. FHSU (10/18/08)
W, 66-40 at FHSU (10/31/09)
W, 45-27 vs. FHSU (10/16/10)
W, 70-17 vs. FHSU (9/24/11)
W, 48-10 vs. FHSU (9/15/12)
W, 49-14 at FHSU (9/21/13)
W, 29-10 at FHSU (10/25/14)
W, 45-24 vs. FHSU (10/24/15)
W, 28-7 at FHSU (11/5/16)
L, 13-12 vs. FHSU (11/5/17)
L, 17-16 vs. FHSU (11/3/18)
W, 36-33 (2OT) at FHSU (11/9/19)
W, 15-7 at FHSU (9/2/21)
W, 33-19 vs. FHSU (9/1/22)

AVOIDING BACK-2-BACK Ls
Northwest will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses this week at Fort Hays State.
    Northwest has not lost two straight games since the 2017 season. Northwest has played 57 games since it last lost back-to-back games in the same year. The last time it happened came on Oct. 28, 2017 in a 20-10 loss at Pittsburg State, followed up by a 13-12 home loss to Fort Hays State on Nov. 5, 2017.

HIGH PERCENTAGE 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS
Northwest ranks No. 9 in the nation in third-down conversions at 66.7%. Northwest converted 12-of-18 third downs against Missouri Southern, including 9-of-11 in the second half.
    Northwest is tied for third in the nation with 18 total third-down conversions this season. Minnesota State (20) and Central Missouri (19) are the only schools in the nation to convert more third downs.

NCAA Div. II 3rd Down Conversion %
1. East Stroudsburg    14-20    .700
2. Minnesota Duluth    15-22    .682
3. Johnson C. Smith    16-24    .667
4. Minnesota State    20-31    .645
5. Harding        12-20    .600
6. Delta St.        16-27    .593
7. Ouachita Baptist    15-26    .577
8. Central Missouri        19-33    .576
9. Northwest Mo. St.    18-32    .562
10. Slippery Rock        10-18    .556

BALL CONTROL
Northwest ranks No. 3 in the nation in time of possession with an average of 36:01 per game.
    Northwest enjoyed a 39:17-23:13 advantage against Missouri Southern. Northwest then won the time of possession battle with Emporia State by the count of 32:44-27:16.
    Northwest leads the MIAA in time of possession through the first two weeks of the 2023 season.

NCAA Div. II Time of Possession Leaders
1. Southern Conn. St.    41:19
2. Glenville St.        39:25
3. Northwest Mo. St.    36:01
4. Minnesota St.        35:47
5. Johnson C. Smith    35:32
6. Mercyhurst        35:26
7. Ouachita Baptist    35:16
8. Indiana, Pa.        35:06
9. Missouri S&T        35:04
10. Carson_Newman    34:59

NO SACKS ALLOWED
The Bearcat offensive line has not allowed a sack through the first two games this season.
    Northwest is one of 13 NCAA Div. II teams to have not allowed a sack in 2023.
    Northwest and Missouri Western are the only two MIAA teams to have not given up a quarterback sack in 2023.

HARRIS NETS TWO STRAIGHT 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES
Sophomore running back Jay Harris has rushed for two consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
    Harris carried the ball 23 times for 120 yards and a touchdown against Emporia State.
    In week one, Harris rushed for a career-high 131 yards and picked up two touchdowns in leading Northwest to a seven-point win at Missouri Southern.

MIAA RUSHING LEADER
Jay Harris leads the MIAA in rushing yards (251) and in rushing yards per game (125.5).
    Harris ranks No. 7 in the nation in rushing yards.

NCAA Div. II 3rd Down Conversion %
1. Shen Butler Lawson Jr. (Minn. St.)    373
2. Jordan Terrell (Barton)        326
3. Gage Porter (Southern Nazarene)    318
4. Joel Felder (W. Virginia St.)    269
5. Devin Nelson (Tiffin)        268
6. Kyle Walljasper (Minn. Duluth)    259
7. Jay Harris (Northwest Mo. St.)    251
8. Leroy Bracey Jr. (Catawba)    246
9. Keaundre McCullough (Wm. Jew.)    229
10. Chavon Wright (Charleston)    216

    Harris ranks No. 8 in rushing yards per game.

NCAA Div. II 3rd Down Conversion %
1. Upton Bailey (Virginia St.)        208.0
2. Shen Butler Lawson Jr. (Minn. St.)    186.5
3. Jordan Terrell (Barton)        163.0
4. Gage Porter (Southern Nazarene)    159.0
5. Joel Felder (W. Virginia St.)    134.5
6. Devin Nelson (Tiffin)        134.0
7. Kyle Walljasper (Minn. Duluth)    129.5
8. Jay Harris (Northwest Mo. St.)    125.5
9. Leroy Bracey Jr. (Catawba)    123.0
10. Keaundre McCullough (Wm. Jew.)    114.5

2ND IN MIAA IN ALL-PURPOSE YARDAGE
Jay Harris ranks No. 2 in the MIAA in all-purpose yards through the first two weeks of the 2023 season.
    Harris has totaled 272 all-purpose yards (136.0 yards/game).
    Harris tallied 153 all-purpose yards against Missouri Southern. He added 119 all-purpose yards vs. Emporia State.

MARTIN SEES FIRST ACTION, GETS HIS FIRST TOUCHDOWN
Redshirt freshman quarterback Henry Martin saw his first collegiate action against Emporia State and scored his first rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
    Martin went 5-of-8 passing for 75 yards. He rushed 3 times for 16 yards, including a 12-yard rushing score with 4:08 to play in the game.


ANGULO PICK SEALS IT
Senior transfer Jianni Angulo made the defensive play of the game for the Bearcats as he intercepted a Luke Sampson pass with 1:48 remaining to clinch the Northwest win at Missouri Southern.
    Angulo and the Bearcats were looking to stop MSSU from a game-tying (potentially game-winning drive) when he made an impressive pick in front of the Bearcat sideline.
    He joined the Bearcats this season after being a graduate transfer from Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

HIGH PERCENTAGE PASSER
Senior captain and quarterback Mike Hohensee has completed 70.7% of his passes as a collegiate quarterback. Hohensee has completed 374-of-529 for the Bearcats.
    No quarterback in this history of Bearcat football has finished their career with a 70% completion percentage. Kyle Zimmerman holds the career mark at 69.7% (320-of-459) from 2013-2016.
    Hohensee possesses a career passing efficiency mark of 166.37.

HOHENSEE HOOKS UP WITH 9 DIFFERENCE RECEIVERS
Quarterback Mike Hohensee completed passes to nine different receivers in the 31-24 win at Missouri Southern. He completed passes to Kashan Griffin, Jake Weber, Trevon Alexander, Ra'Shoud Shelton, Jay Harris, Tyce Hoover, Zach Atkins, Dominic Myers and Jackson Miller.

THREE 300-YARD PASSING GAMES FOR HOHENSEE
Bearcat quarterback Mike Hohensee registered his third career 300-yard passing game in the 47-17 playoff win at Ouachita Baptist last season. It marked the 65th 300-yard passing game by a Bearcat in the program's history.
    Hohensee passed for a career-high 366 yards and four touchdowns in a 32-30 win over Washburn (Oct. 15, 2022).
    He had his first 300-yard passing game against Lincoln on Sept. 10, 2022, when he passed for 312 yards on 21-of-24 passing.
    Hohensee went 23-of-30 passing for 322 yards and two touchdowns against Ouachita Baptist in the playoffs.

42 TOUCHDOWN TOSSES FOR HOHENSEE
Hohensee has tossed 42 career touchdown passes and needs three more to break into the top-10 in Bearcat history.

Northwest Career Touchdown Passes
1. Blake Bolles (2007-10)        79
2. Trevor Adams (2010-13)        74
3. Chris Greisen (1995-98)        68
4. Josh Lamberson (2002-05)    65
5. Braden Wright (2018-22)        59
6. Brady Bolles (2012-15)        56
7. Travis Miles (1997-00)        54
8. Greg Teale (1993-96)        52
9. John McMenamin (1999-02)    48
10. Brian Quinn (1980-84)        45

COLE GETS HIS KICKS
Junior kicker Cole Lammel is 21-of-30 kicking field goals in his Bearcat career to rank No. 8 in school history.
    He knocked in 16-of-19 field goals last season, which tied for the fourth-most made field goals in a season in program history.
    Lammel's career long field goal is 46 yards.
    Lammel also ranks tied for No. 8 in program history with 80 converted extra points.

Northwest Career Field Goals Made
1. Simon Mathiesen (2013-2016)    61
2. David Purnell (1996-1999)    52
3. Tommy Frevert (2005-2008)    41
4. Todd Adolf (2009-2012)        33
5. Peter Rameh (1985-1988)        32
6. Parker Sampson (2017-2019)    31
7. Eddie Ibarra (1999-2002)        29
8. Cole Lammel (2021-pres.)    21
9. Steve Stokes (1973-1976)        19
10. Shawn Geraghty (1977-1979)    18

Northwest Career Extra Points Made
1. Todd Adolf (2009-12)        272
2. Tommy Frevert (2005-08)        263
3. David Purnell (1996-99)        241
4. Simon Mathiesen (2013-16)    237
5. Parker Sampson (2017-19)    140
6. Eddie Ibarra (1999-02)        94
7. Peter Rameh (1985-88)        83
8. Steve Stokes (1973-76)        80
    Cole Lammel (2021-pres.)    80
10. Luis Berlanga (2002)        74

LAMMEL EQUALS SCHOOL MARK FOR CONSECUTIVE FGS
Sophomore kicker Cole Lammel tied the Northwest school record for consecutive field goals made at 12.
    Lammel equalled the mark set by Simon Mathiesen in 2016. Mathiesen closed his career by making his final 12 field goal attempts.
    Lammel did set the school mark for consecutive field goals made to begin a season (12). Mathieson held that previous mark of 10 which he set in 2013.

GRIFFIN GAINS THIRD 100-PLUS RECEIVING EFFORT
Senior Kashan Griffin earned his third career 100-plus receiving yardage game of his career in Northwest's 31-24 win at Missouri Southern.
    He is one of three active Bearcat wide receivers to have at least one 100-yard receiving game.

100-Yard Receiving Games (Active)
Kashan Griffin - 163 yds vs. Washburn (2022)
Keegan Sturdy - 137 yds at Lincoln (2022)
Trevon Alexander - 126 yds at Lincoln (2022)
Kashan Griffin - 111 yds at MSSU (2023)
Kashan Griffin - 109 yds at Ouachita Baptist (2022)

ISAAC EYES TACKLES
Senior captain and linebacker Isaac Vollstedt is Northwest's top returning tackler and he led the squad with seven stops in the season-opening win at Missouri Southern.
    Vollstedt tallied a team-best 82 tackles in 2022. He posted 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 quarterback sacks. He also recovered two fumbles.
    He gained second-team all-MIAA honors in 2022.

TREVON FINDS THE ZONE
Senior wide receiver Trevon Alexander is the active career leader in touchdown receptions for the Bearcats with five.
    Alexander nabbed his fifth career touchdown reception on a 13-yard grab in the third quarter of Northwest's 31-24 win at Missouri Southern.

NORTHWEST'S MARK AS A RANKED TEAM
Northwest has played 347 games as a ranked team in the AFCA Top 25. Northwest has posted a record of 297-50 as a ranked team.

ONE-SCORE GAMES
Under head coach Rich Wright, Northwest has produced a mark of 11-8 in one-score games.

COMEBACK 'CATS
Northwest has produced 20 come-from-behind victories in head coach Rich Wright's era at Northwest.
    Northwest overcame a 14-point second-quarter deficit at Missouri Southern in the season opener to score a 31-24 win.
    The 14-point comeback was the third-largest margin overcome by the Bearcats in the Rich Wright era.

Comeback Wins Under Wright
-3 at Central Missouri (9/30/17)
-3 vs. Central Oklahoma (10/7/17)
-7 vs. Washburn (9/6/18)
-4 at Missouri Western (9/5/19)
-3 at Washburn (9/14/19)
-8 at Emporia State (10/5/19)
-7 vs. Pittsburg State (10/21/19)
-7 vs. Lincoln (10/26/19)
-17 at Fort Hays State (11/9/19)
-7 at Missouri Western (10/2/21)
-16 vs. Pittsburg State (10/9/21)
-1 vs. Nebraska-Kearney (11/30/21)
-2 at Harding (11/27/21)
-5 vs. Fort Hays State (9/1/22)
-6 at Lincoln (9/10/22)
-3 vs. Missouri Western (10/1/22)
-1 vs. Washburn (10/15/22)
-10 at Nebraska-Kearney (10/29/22)
-2 vs. Missouri Southern (11/5/22)
-14 at Missouri Southern (8/31/23)

30-PLUS POINTS = SUCCESS
Northwest is 36-0 when scoring 30 or more points under head coach Rich Wright.
    Northwest has won 83 straight games when scoring 30 or more points. The last loss Northwest suffered when scoring more than 30 points came in a 38-35 NCAA Playoff loss to Minnesota State on Nov. 24, 2012.

SHUTOUTS UNDER WRIGHT
Northwest has recorded nine shutouts under the direction of head coach Rich Wright, following a 38-0 blanking of Central Oklahoma in the 2021 season (Nov. 2).

HALFTIME LEADS ARE SECURE
Northwest is a perfect 46-0 under head coach Rich Wright when the Bearcats lead at the half.
    Overall, Northwest has won 74 straight games when leading the half.
    The last time Northwest lost a game it led at the half came Nov. 22, 2014, in an NCAA playoff game at Minnesota-Duluth. Northwest led 14-6 at the half before bowing to the Bulldogs, 25-21.

BEARCAT STADIUM DOMINANCE
Since the 2001 season, Northwest football has gone 120-11 in Bearcat Stadium.
    Seven of the 11 losses have come against MIAA opponents - Emporia State in 2023; Fort Hays State in 2017, 2018; Pittsburg State in 2014; Missouri Western in 2012; Washburn in 2005 and Central Missouri in 2003.
    The four non-conference losses came against Northern Colorado (2002 playoffs), Nebraska-Omaha (2007 season opener), Abilene Christian (2008 season opener) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (2010 season opener).

27 STRAIGHT WINNING YEARS
The Northwest football program has produced a winning season in each of the last 27 seasons.
    The 27 consecutive winning seasons ranks as the fourth-longest active streak among all NCAA schools.
    Northwest's run of 27 straight winning seasons is the longest active streak among NCAA Division II programs.
    UC Davis holds the Div. II mark with 37 straight winning seasons (33 at D-II before transitioning to FCS) from 1970-2006.

Active Consecutive Winning Years
    School    Streak    Losing Season
1. Linfield (Ore.)    66    1956
2. Mount Union    44    1979
3. Wartburg    29    1993
4. Northwest    27    1994
5. Hobart    25    1997
6. Wheaton (Ill.)    24    1998
7. Mary Hardin Baylor    23    2000

D-II PLAYOFF LEGENDS
Northwest owns the NCAA Div. II record for playoff appearances (26).
    The Bearcats extended their streak of consecutive playoff appearances to 18 in a row, which is the best ever mark among Div. II playoff teams.

Most Div. II Playoff Appearances
Northwest Missouri    26
North Alabama    21
Grand Valley State    21
Indiana (Pa.)    20
Pittsburg State    19
UC Davis    18
Valdosta State    18
North Dakota State    17
Carson-Newman    16
Albany State    14
North Dakota    14
Shepherd    14
West Chester    14

Consecutive Div. II Appearances
Northwest Mo. St.    18 (2004-pres.)
Grand Valley State    10 (2001-2010)
Pittsburg State    9    (1989-1997)
Albany State    8    (2004-2011)
Ferris State    8     (2014-pres.)
Tex. A&M-Kingsville    7    (1992-1998)
Carson-Newman    7    (1993-1999)
UC Davis    7    (1996-2002)
North Alabama    7 (2005-2011)
North Dakota State    6    (1981-1986)
Valdosta State    6 (2000-2005)
Abilene Christian    6 (2006-2011)

DIVISION II'S ELITE PROGRAM
Northwest has captured six NCAA Div. II national championships – the most national titles by any Division II program. Northwest won national championships in 1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
    The Bearcats have played in the NCAA Div. II national championship game 10 times in the last 22 years. Northwest played for the crown in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2016.

NCAA Division II National Titles
Northwest Mo. St.    6
North Dakota State    5
Grand Valley State    4
Valdosta State        4
North Alabama    3
Ferris State        2
Minnesota Duluth    2
Northern Colorado    2
Pittsburg State    2
Texas State        2
Troy                2
15 others have one national title

Championship Game Appearances
Northwest Mo. St.    10
North Dakota St.    7
Grand Valley St.    6
Valdosta St.        5
North Alabama    5
Pittsburg St.        5
Jacksonville St.    4
Ferris St.        3
Delaware        3

53 ALL-TIME PLAYOFF WINS
The Bearcats are 53-20 all-time in the playoffs, which marks the most victories in Division II playoff history.
    The Bearcats (.726) also rank No. 2 in highest winning percentage in the Division II playoffs (minimum of 10 games played).

Most Division II Playoff Victories
Northwest Mo. St.    53
Grand Valley St.    37
North Alabama    35
North Dakota St.    30
Valdosta St.    29
Ferris St.    26
Pittsburg St.    26
Indiana (Pa.)    22
Carson-Newman    20
Shepherd    20

Div. II Playoff Win Percentage
West Florida    12-3    .800
Northwest Mo. St.    53-20     .726
North Dakota State    30-12     .714
Ferris State    26-11    .703
Tex. A&M-Commerce    9-4    .692
Grand Valley State    37-17     .685
Valdosta State    29-14     .674
North Alabama     35-18     .660
Delta State     16-9     .640
minimum of 10 games played

50-WIN PLAYOFF CLUB
Northwest is one of four NCAA schools with 50 or more all-time playoff victories.
    Mount Union holds the all-time playoff record with 108 wins. North Dakota State ranks second with 71 playoff victories. Wisconsin-Whitewater has posted 56 playoff triumphs.
    NDSU won 30 NCAA Div. II playoff games before transitioning to FCS where the Bison have picked up 41 more playoff wins.

MEASURE UP WITH BEARCATS
Northwest owns an NCAA Division II playoff record 53 victories. The other current members of the MIAA have won a combined 42 playoff games.

MIAA Playoff Records
Northwest Missouri    53-20 (26 years)
Pittsburg State    26-17 (19 years)
Central Oklahoma    3-4 (4 years)
Emporia State    3-4 (4 years)
Central Missouri    3-4 (4 years)
Northeastern St.    2-2 (2 years)
Missouri Western    2-4 (4 years)
Nebraska-Kearney    2-5 (5 years)
Washburn    1-4 (4 years)
Fort Hays State    0-4 (4 years)
Missouri Southern    0-1 (1 year)

WRIGHT IN THE PLAYOFFS
Bearcat head coach Rich Wright has posted a mark of 6-5 in the playoffs after taking over the Northwest football program in 2017. He is 2-2 in second-round playoff games, which includes a 1-2 mark on the road.

FISHING FOR STOPS
Junior captain Jake Fisher had a breakout season last year with 13.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.0 quarterback sacks.
    Fisher earned third-team all-MIAA status in 2022.

ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
It's not easy to get on the Academic All-America list. The Bearcats do a pretty good job of filling it up though, placing 22 players on the list, including 21 since 2003. In 2016, Kyle Zimmerman (QB) took home the top honor – Academic All-American of the Year – something no Bearcat had ever done.
    Zach Howard became the second three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-America® selection in football (joining Trevor Adams) by earning second-team status in 2022.    

Northwest's Academic All-America Selections
Chip Gregory, LB - 1981 (First Team)
Josh Lamberson, QB - 2004 (First Team)
Troy Tysdahl, LB - 2004 (First Team)
Josh Lamberson, QB - 2005 (First Team)
Myles Burnsides, DB - 2008 (Second Team)
Myles Burnsides, DB - 2009 (First Team)
Sean Paddock, DL - 2009 (Second Team)
Jake Soy, WR - 2010 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2011 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2012 (Second Team)
Nate DeJong, DB - 2012 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2013 (First Team)
Eric Reimer, LB - 2013 (Second Team)
Eric Reimer, LB - 2014 (First Team)
Kyle Zimmerman, QB - 2016 (First Team)
Marqus Andrews, TE - 2018 (First Team)
Ryan Spelhaug, OL - 2018 (First Team)
Marqus Andrews, TE - 2019 (Second Team)
Ryan Spelhaug, OL - 2019 (First Team)
Jackson Barnes, LB - 2020-21 (Second Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2020-21 (Second Team)
Jackson Barnes, LB - 2021 (First Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2021 (Second Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2022 (Second Team)

FIVE CAPTAINS
Head coach Rich Wright has designated five captains for the 2023 football season.
    Wright has named running back Jadon Brady (Savannah, Mo.), defensive lineman Jake Fisher (Smithville, Mo.), quarterback Mike Hohensee (St. Charles, Ill.), linebacker Andrew Dumas (Olathe, Kan.) and linebacker Isaac Vollstedt (Iowa City, Iowa) as team captains.

HUGHES FAMILY FIELDHOUSE
Located just northwest of College Park and Bearcat Stadium on the Northwest campus, the Carl & Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse 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 114-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.

'CATS TABBED SECOND IN PRESEASON MIAA POLLS
The Northwest Missouri State University football team has been projected to finish second in the preseason MIAA coaches' and media polls.
    The Bearcats picked up three first-place votes in the Coaches' poll to record 93 points. Pittsburg State was chosen as the preseason favorite by the coaches with 98 points and eight first-place votes.
    Northwest added seven more first-place tallies in the Media poll and secured 302 points. PSU was also the top selection in the media poll with 22 first-place votes and 320 total points.

2023 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Pittsburg State (8) – 98 pts.
2. Northwest Mo. St. (3) – 93 pts.
3. Emporia State – 78 pts.
4. Washburn – 73 pts.
T5. Central Oklahoma – 57 pts.
T5. Nebraska Kearney – 57 pts.
7. Central Missouri – 44 pts.
8. Fort Hays State – 37 pts.
9. Missouri Western – 32 pts.
10. Missouri Southern – 26 pts.
11. Northeastern State – 10 pts.

2023 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Pittsburg State (22) – 320 pts.
2. Northwest Mo. St. (7) – 302 pts.
3. Emporia State (1) – 258 pts.
4. Washburn – 209 pts.
5. Central Oklahoma – 208 pts.
6. Nebraska Kearney – 199 pts.
7. Central Missouri – 124 pts.
8. Missouri Southern – 116 pts.
9. Missouri Western – 113 pts.
10. Fort Hays State – 98 pts.
11. Northeastern State – 33 pts.