Game No. 5 -Northwest Missouri State (2-2/1-2 MIAA) at No. 21/No. 22 Central Missouri (3-1/3-1 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 30 | 1 p.m. (CT) | Warrensburg, Mo. | Walton Stadium (12,000)

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 Warrensburg, Mo., to tangle with the University of Central Missouri Mules on Saturday. Kick is set for 1 p.m. at Walton Stadium.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Northwest owns a 63-35-2 record against Central Missouri on the gridiron. The Bearcats have won nine in a row and 18 of the last 19 matchups.
    UCM's last win in the series came in a 31-21 game on Sept. 8, 2012, in Warrensburg, Mo.

NW, UCM CONNECTIONS
Central Missouri head coach Josh Lamberson played quarterback at Northwest from 2002-2005.
    Lamberson passed for 7,365 career passing yards on 575 of 873 attempts. Lamberson tossed 65 touchdown passes to rank No. 4 in Bearcat history. He accounted for 8,064 yards of total offense, which ranks No. 5 in program history.
    UCM defensive coordinator Greg Jones received a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Northwest  in 1991 before earning his master's degree in education from Northwest in 1993. Jones served as a graduate assistant for the Bearcat football program from 1991-93, coaching the linebackers and defensive line.
    Northwest Deputy Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Lori Hopkins has served that role for 21 years in the Bearcat athletic department. Hopkins will take over as UCM's Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Oct. 1.

BEST MEETS BEST
The Northwest defense ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense by giving up 286.8 yards per game. Northwest has yielded only nine touchdowns. The Bearcat defense has yielded a league-fewest 217 plays for opposing offenses.
    The UCM offense leads the MIAA in total offense at 547.5 yards per game. UCM has scored a league-best 25 touchdowns. UCM's offense has run a league-high 321 plays.

NOT MUCH AVAILABLE ON THE GROUND VS. THE 'CATS
Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in rushing defense this year by allowing only 47.2 yards per game.
    Over the last two weeks, the opponents' rushing attack has been silenced with the opposition gaining nine rushing yards on 49 attempts (0.18 yards per rush allowed).
    Fort Hays State rushed the ball 24 times for seven yards, while Lincoln rushed 25 times for two yards.

NCAA Div. II Rush Yards/Game Leaders
1. Benedict        29.2
2. Virginia Union        36.5
3. Lenior-Rhyne        37.2
4. Northwest Mo. St.    47.2
5. Texas A&M-Kingsville    48.3
6. Quincy            49.8
7. Johnson C. Smith    50.8
8. Mars Hill        57.0
9. Harding        60.5
10. Ferris St.        64.7

SIMPLY STINGY VS. THE RUN
Since 2017, Northwest has held 16 opponents to 20 rushing yards or less in a game.

20 Rushing Yds Allowed (or less) Since 2017
2 yds vs. Lincoln (9/23/23)
7 yds at Fort Hays State (9/16/23)
18 at Ouachita Baptist (11/19/22)
-16 yds vs. Northeastern State (10/22/22)
-3 yds vs. Central Missouri (9/17/22)
13 yds vs. Fort Hays State (9/1/22)
16 yds vs. Emporia State (11/13/21)
-10 yds. vs. Missouri Southern (11/6/21)
8 yds. at Missouri Western (10/2/21)
-28 yds. vs. Central Oklahoma (9/25/21)
16 yds. at Missouri Southern (9/21/19)
12 yds. vs. Fort Hays State (11/3/18)
5 yds. vs. Lindenwood (10/21/17)
-22 yds. at Northeastern State (10/14/17)
17 vs. Central Oklahoma (10/7/17)
-43 yds. vs. Missouri Southern (9/23/17)

NOT A LOT OF MUSTARD ON THE LETTUCE
Northwest has committed the second-fewest amount of penalties in the MIAA with 20 flags through four games. Northeastern State is No. 1 in the league with 19 penalties.
    Northwest also ranks second in the league in fewest penalty yards per game (43.75). Nebraska-Kearney has been penalized a league-least 162 yards (40.50/game).
    The Bearcats have been flagged for 20 penalties for 175 yards this season.

CHAIN LOCKDOWN
The Bearcats are the best in the MIAA when it comes to fewest first downs allowed per game.
    Northwest is giving up only 13.0 first downs per game.
    Northwest allowed 12 first downs to Missouri Southern, 19 first downs to Emporia State, 14 first downs to Fort Hays State and seven first downs against Lincoln.
    The Bearcats have given up a paltry nine first downs via rushing through the first four games. Northwest is tied for the second-fewest rushing first downs allowed in the nation this season.

NCAA Div. II Fewest Rush 1st Downs Allowed
1. Virginia Union        8
2. Northwest Mo. St.    9
    Ferris St.        9
4. Benedict        10
    Mars Hill        10
6. Johnson C. Smith    11
    Texas A&M-Kingsville    11
    Davenport        11
9. Lenoir-Rhyne        12
    Frostburg St.        12
    Fort Valley St.        12

BEARCATS ARE REALLY GOOD AT PLAYING KEEP AWAY
Northwest ranks No. 5 in the nation in time of possession per game. The Bearcats are averaging having the ball 34:41 through four games.

NCAA Div. II Time of Possession (Average)
1. Johnson C. Smith    35:50
2. Truman St.        35:20
3. Pittsburg St.        35:17
4. Harding        34:52
5. Northwest Mo. St.    34:41
6. Kutztown        34:21
7. Bentley        34:19
8. Central Washington    33:50
9. Southern Conn. St.    33:47
10. St. Anselm        33:42

30-PLUS POINTS = SUCCESS
Northwest is 37-0 when scoring 30 or more points under head coach Rich Wright.
    Northwest has won 84 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.

57TH TIME OF 50 OR MORE
Northwest has scored 50 or more points in a game 57 times in the history of the program. Northwest put up 59 points in its Family Weekend victory over Lincoln.

SHUTOUTS UNDER WRIGHT
Northwest has recorded 10 shutouts under the direction of head coach Rich Wright, following its 59-0 blanking of Lincoln at Bearcat Stadium.
    Eight of the 10 shutouts under coach Wright have come at home.

Shutouts Under Coach Wright
59-0 vs. Lincoln (9/23/23)
38-0 vs. Central Oklahoma (9/25/21)
79-0 vs. Northeastern St. (11/2/19)
41-0 vs. Emporia State (9/29/18)
63-0 vs. Missouri Southern (9/15/18)
30-0 at Missouri Western (11/12/17)
19-0 vs. Lindenwood (10/21/17)
63-0 vs. Missouri Southern (9/23/17)
13-0 at Nebraska-Kearney (9/16/17)
34-0 vs. #4 Emporia State (8/31/17)

HALFTIME LEADS ARE SECURE
Northwest is a perfect 47-0 under head coach Rich Wright when the Bearcats lead at the half.
    Overall, Northwest has won 75 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.

HARRIS RAKES IN FOURTH STRAIGHT 100-YARD GAME
Sophomore running back Jay Harris has reached the 100-yard rushing mark in all four games this season.
    Harris went for 131 yards in week one at Missouri Southern. He came back with 120 yards rushing against Emporia State. Harris added 104 rushing yards at Fort Hays State. Harris totaled 105 yards vs. Lincoln.
    Harris has carried the ball 93 times for 460 rushing yards. He also leads the Bearcats with four rushing touchdowns.
    Harris has totaled 846 career rushing yards with 13 career rushing touchdowns as a Bearcat.

MIAA RUSHING LEADER
Jay Harris leads the MIAA in rushing yards (460) and in rushing yards per game (115.0).
    Harris ranks No. 6 in the nation in rushing yards.

NCAA Div. II Rushing Yards Leaders
1. Shen Butler Lawson Jr. (Minn. St.)    667
2. Jordan Terrell (Barton)        629
3. Gage Porter (Southern Nazarene)    586
4. Joel Felder (W. Virginia St.)    548
5. Vinnie Holmes (Bentley)        540
6. Jay Harris (Northwest Mo. St.)    460
7. Chavon Wright (Charleston)    435
8. Trevon Woolfolk (C. Oklahoma)    429
9. Kyle Walljasper (Minn. Duluth)    426
10. Jon Gullette (Mars Hill)        401

    Harris ranks T-No. 7 in rushing yards per game.

NCAA Div. II Rush Yards/Game Leaders
1. Shen Butler Lawson Jr. (Minn. St.)    166.8
2. Jordan Terrell (Barton)        157.2
3. Gage Porter (Southern Nazarene)    146.5
4. Joel Felder (W. Virginia St.)    137.0
5. Vinnie Holmes (Bentley)        135.0
6. Jon Gullette (Mars Hill)        133.7
7. Jay Harris (Northwest Mo. St.)    115.0
    Myran Harris (Davenport)        115.0
9. Bry Webb (West Alabama)    111.0
10. Chavon Wright (Charleston)    108.8

HARRIS TOPS MIAA IN ALL-PURPOSE YARDAGE
Jay Harris ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in all-purpose yards through the first four weeks of the 2023 season.
    Harris has totaled 481 all-purpose yards (120.3 yards/game).
    Harris has gained 460 rushing yards to go along with 21 receiving yards.

RUHNKE'S FIRST START ENDS WITH 59-0 WIN
Sophomore Chris Ruhnke made his first career start at quarterback and accounted for four first-half touchdowns as he led Northwest to a 59-0 drubbing of Lincoln.
    Ruhnke went 12-of-16 passing for 170 yards and three scores through the air. All three of his touchdown passes came in the second quarter (two to Kashan Griffin and one to Jamar Simpson).
    He added a one-yard rushing score in the first quarter off a broken play. He handed the ball off to running back Jay Harris, who appeared stopped in the backfield, but Harris pitched the ball back to Ruhnke who found the end zone for an unlikely rushing score.

KASHAN COMES UP BIG
Senior wide receiver Kashan Griffin nabbed a pair of touchdown receptions in a 59-0 win over Lincoln.
    Griffin collected second-quarter touchdown receptions of 26 and 20 yards from quarterback Chris Ruhnke.
    Griffin has caught 48 career passes for 929 yards. He has tallied six career touchdown receptions.

SIMPSON SNARES 1ST TD
Junior wideout Jamar Simpson hauled in a 19-yard touchdown reception against Lincoln for his first collegiate touchdown catch.

WILLIAMS, RICHARDSON GET INTO SCORING MIX
A pair of redshirt freshman running backs in Wentric Williams III and Eric Richardson each scored their first collegiate touchdowns against Lincoln.
    Williams III, a transfer from Western Illinois, had 15 carries for 42 yards and a four-yard touchdown run against the Blue Tigers.
    Richardson had nine carries for 71 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter vs. the Blue Tigers.

NOAH KEEPS KICKING SHEET CLEAN
Junior Noah Guastella is 3-for-3 on field goals and 7-for-7 on extra points this season. Guastella ranks second on the team in scoring with 16 points.
    Guastella has made field goals from 29, 27 and 22 yards this year.

FISHER ADDS TO SACK, TFL TOTALS
Jake Fisher is Northwest's active career leader in sacks (9.5) and tackles-for-loss (19.0).
    Fisher leads the Bearcats this season with 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks.
    Fisher had a breakout campaign in 2022 with 13.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.0 quarterback sacks. Fisher earned third-team all-MIAA status in 2022.

VOLLSTEDT MAKING PLAYS
Senior captain/linebacker Isaac Vollstedt leads the Bearcats in total tackles (20). He is tied for the team lead in interceptions (1) and fumble recoveries (1).

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.
    Martin made his first collegiate  start at Fort Hays State. Martin went 21-of-35 passing for 182 yards without an interception.
    Through two weeks of action, Martin is 26-of-43 passilng for 237 yards. He is completing 60.5% of his passing attempts with one interception.

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 SPLITS THE UPRIGHTS
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

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)

BEARCAT STADIUM DOMINANCE
Since the 2001 season, Northwest football has gone 121-11 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).

NORTHWEST'S MARK AS A RANKED TEAM
Northwest has played 348 games as a ranked team in the AFCA Top 25. Northwest has posted a record of 297-51 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)

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.
 
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.

SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 1 VS. MO. SOUTHERN
Offense - Connor DeLong
Defense - Jordan Pigram
Special Teams - Phineas Allen

SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 2 VS. EMPORIA STATE
Offense: Te'Shaun Porter
Defense: Holden Zigmant
Special Teams: Carter Erickson

SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 3 VS. FORT HAYS STATE
Offense: Eric Richardson
Defense: John Pargo Jr.
Special Teams: Patrick Martin