Game No. 2 - Northwest Missouri State (0-1/0-0 MIAA) at Nebraska-Kearney (1-0/0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 3 | 7 p.m. (CT) | Kearney, Neb. | Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field (5,250)

MIAA NETWORK STREAM ($) | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS | TICKETS

Radio Play-by-Play: John Coffey
Radio Analyst: Matt Tritten
Radio Sideline: Jackson Phelps

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football squad will initiate MIAA play Saturday at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers and Bearcats will meet in Kearney, Neb., at 7 p.m.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Northwest owns a 15-4 lead in the all-time series against Nebraska-Kearney. Northwest has won 10 of the last 11 meetings with UNK. The Lopers lone victory over the Bearcats since UNK joined the MIAA came Oct. 19, 2019 in Kearney, Neb.

Northwest Results vs. UNK
W, 19-12 at UNK (11/9/28)
W, 32-14 vs. UNK (11/22/29)
L, 10-0 at UNK (9/27/69)
L, 37-13 at UNK (9/19/70)
W, 12-8 vs. UNK (9/7/74)
W, 21-7 at UNK (9/6/75)
W, 35-21 vs. UNK (11/11/89)
L, 45-42 at UNK (11/10/90)
W, 37-13 at UNK (9/22/12)
W, 53-7 vs. UNK (9/28/13)
W, 31-7 vs. UNK (9/4/14)
W, 31-0 at UNK (9/3/15)
W, 52-14 vs. UNK (9/17/16)
W, 13-0 at UNK (9/16/17)
W, 27-13 vs. UNK (10/13/18)
L, 24-17 at UNK (10/19/19)
W, 66-13 vs. UNK (10/30/21)
W, 28-24 at UNK (10/29/22)
W, 56-7 vs. UNK (11/11/23)

IT HAS BEEN AWHILE
Northwest has not opened a season with two straight losses since the 1995 campaign.
    The Bearcats fell to South Dakota State and Minnesota State on the road to start the 1995 season before turning it around and posting a 6-5 record. It started run of 28 consecutive winning season.
    Northwest started the 1992 1993, 1994 and 1995 seasons with two straight losses.

HONORING BRANDON MISENER
The Bearcats will honor Brandon Misener, the founder of D2Football.com with a helmet decal this season.
    Misener suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. He has been hospitalized near his home in Kansas City since May 7.
    A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist Brandon and his family. All donations are humbly appreciated.

OFFENSE CAN GET EXPLOSIVE
Northwest had a rare feat of scoring touchdowns on three consecutive offensive plays in the season-opening game vs. Minnesota State.
    Northwest's Andrew Bradley caught a 41-yard scoring strike from Chris Ruhnke with 3:05 left in the third quarter. Northwest's next offensive snap resulted in an 80-yard touchdown pass from Ruhnke to Luke Mathews. The next snap ended in a 13-yard touchdown pass from Ruhnke to Tank Young with 10:53 left in the fourth quarter.

RUHNKE FINDS GROOVE
Junior quarterback Chris Ruhnke delivered a three-touchdown performance against Minnesota State.
    Ruhnke went 15-of-24 passing for 268 yards and three scores. He connected with six different receivers and did not throw an interception.
    Runhke has passed for 567 career yards and six touchdowns as a Bearcat.

MATHEWS NABS FIRST 100-YARD RECEIVING GAME
Junior wide receiver Luke Mathews captured his first 100-yard receiving game with his five-catch, 140-yard performance against Minnesota State.
    Mathews came into the contest having recorded one catch for one yard in his previous two seasons.
    Mathews nabbed his first career touchdown reception on an 80-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter.

TRE'ON TALLIES A PICK
Senior defensive back Tre'on Jones secured his first interception of the season and third pick of his career against Minnesota State.

DOUBLE DIGITS IN TACKLES
Juniors Shane Fredrickson and Carter Olesen each recorded 10 tackles in the season-opening contest with Minnesota State. Fredrickson notched 10 solo stops, while Olesen tallied five solos and five assisted tackles.
    Fredrickson is the program's active career leader in tackles with 120 through 24 games.

LAMMEL BOOTS THE PIGSKIN
Senior punter Cole Lammel enjoyed a great start to the season with a punting average of 51.4 yards per boot. Lammel punted four times with a long of 64 against the Mavericks.

FISHER, SMITH NAMED TO ELITE 100 WATCH LIST
Northwest Missouri State University seniors Jake Fisher and Cahleel Smith have been named to D2Football.com's Elite 100 Watch List. The D2Football.com Elite 100 Watch List was selected by the staff of D2Football.com with the input of numerous sitting head coaches as well as professional football scouting veteran Josh Buchanan.
    Fisher (Smithville, Mo.) was named to the D2Football.com's Elite 100 Watch List second-team defense. Fisher gained first-team all-MIAA status last season after notching third-team honors in 2022 on the defensive line. Fisher has played in 35 games and has made 24 starts as a Bearcat. Fisher has registered 63 tackles, 26.5 tackles-for-loss and 14 sacks in four seasons at Northwest.
    Smith (Independence, Mo.) earned an honorable mention nod on the Elite 100 Watch List. Smith is a three-time first-team all-MIAA performer. Smith started all 37 games of his Bearcat career at cornerback. Smith has notched 105 career tackles, 22 passes defended and four interceptions.

SMITH LANDS SPOT ON SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST
Senior defensive back Cahleel Smith has landed a spot on the 2025 Senior Bowl Watch List.
    This year's 12th annual list comprises an all-time record 859 prospects. This total number is up significantly from past years due to the new addition of specialists and underclassmen, as well as the inclusion of many fifth and sixth-year seniors opting to use their extra COVID year of eligibility. All the prospects who made the cut were evaluated by our staff and tape-based grades.
    The 2025 Senior Bowl is set for Feb. 1, in Mobile, Ala.

FIVE CAPTAINS
Head coach Rich Wright has designated five captains for the 2024 football season.
    Wright has named running back Jadon Brady (Savannah, Mo.), defensive back Shane Fredrickson (Lee's Summit, Mo.), defensive lineman Jake Fisher (Smithville, Mo.), linebacker Andrew Dumas (Olathe, Kan.), offensive lineman Jake Winslow (Colona, Ill.) as team captains.

59 TIMES OF 50 OR MORE
Northwest has scored 50 or more points in a game 59 times in the history of the program. Northwest scored a 52-0 win at Northeastern State on Nov. 4, 2023.    
    It was the 15th time Northwest has scored 50 or more points since head coach Rich Wright took over in 2017.

HALFTIME LEADS ARE SECURE
Northwest is a perfect 52-0 under head coach Rich Wright when the Bearcats lead at the half.
    Northwest has won 80 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.

ONE-SCORE GAMES
Under head coach Rich Wright, Northwest has produced a mark of 12-9 in one-score games.

COMEBACK 'CATS
Northwest has produced 21 come-from-behind victories in head coach Rich Wright's era at Northwest.
    Northwest faced a 10-3 deficit in the second quarter of its 27-23 victory at Missouri Western.
    The comeback win at MWSU is the 10th time in coach Wright's tenure that Northwest has overcome a deficit of six points or more to win.
    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)
-10 at Missouri Western (10/14/23)

SHUTOUTS UNDER WRIGHT
Northwest has recorded 11 shutouts under the direction of head coach Rich Wright, following its 52-0 blanking of Northeastern State at Doc Wadley Stadium.
    Eight of the 11 shutouts under coach Wright have come at home.

Shutouts Under Coach Wright
52-0 at Northeastern State (11/4/23)
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)

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 Mo. St.    26
Grand Valley State    22
North Alabama    21
Pittsburg State    20
Indiana (Pa.)    19
Valdosta State    19
UC Davis    18
North Dakota State    17
Carson-Newman    16
Shepherd    15
Albany State    14
Ferris State    14
Minnesota State    14
North Dakota    14
West Chester    14

Consecutive Div. II Appearances
Northwest Mo. St.    18 (2004-2022)
Grand Valley State    10 (2001-2010)
Ferris State    9     (2014-pres.)
Pittsburg State    9    (1989-1997)
Albany State    8    (2004-2011)
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 23 years.

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.        6
North Alabama    5
Pittsburg St.        5
Jacksonville St.    4
Carson-Newman    3
Delaware        3
Ferris St.        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.    39
North Alabama    35
Valdosta St.    31
North Dakota St.    30
Pittsburg St.    27
Ferris St.    26
Indiana (Pa.)    22
Carson-Newman    20
Shepherd    20

Div. II Playoff Win Percentage
West Florida    12-4    .750
Northwest Mo. St.    53-20     .726
North Dakota State    30-12     .714
Tex. A&M-Commerce    9-4    .692
Grand Valley State    39-18     .684
Ferris State    26-12    .684
Valdosta State    31-15     .674
North Alabama     35-18     .660
Delaware    7-4    .636
Northern Colorado    12-7    .632
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 107 wins. North Dakota State ranks second with 77 playoff victories. Wisconsin-Whitewater has posted 58 playoff triumphs.
    NDSU won 30 NCAA Div. II playoff games before transitioning to FCS where the Bison have picked up 47 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 44 playoff games.

MIAA Playoff Records
Northwest Missouri    53-20 (26 years)
Pittsburg State    27-18 (20 years)
Central Missouri    4-5 (5 years)
Central Oklahoma    3-4 (4 years)
Emporia State    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)

NORTHWEST'S MARK AS A RANKED TEAM
Northwest has played 350 games as a ranked team in the AFCA Top 25. Northwest has posted a record of 298-52 as a ranked team. Northwest was ranked No. 22 last week in its 36-22 home loss to No. 13-ranked Minnesota State.

BEARCATS BOAST OF 28 STRAIGHT WINNING SEASONS
Northwest has produced 28 straight winning seasons. It is the longest active streak among NCAA Division II programs.
    The 28 consecutive winning seasons ranks as the fourth-longest active streak among current NCAA schools.
    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    Began
1. Linfield (Ore.)    67    1956
2. Mount Union    45    1979
3. Wartburg    30    1993
4. Northwest    28    1994
5. Hobart    26    1997
6. Wheaton (Ill.)    25    1998
    Boise State    25    1998
7. Mary Hardin Baylor    24    2000

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 23 players on the list, including 22 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)
Kobe Clayborne, DT - 2023 (Second Team)

GENT, NOVAK ADDED TO COACHING STAFF
Ryan Gent has been added as Assistant Head Coach – Wide Receivers/Director of Camps and Neil Novak has been named Assistant Coach – Secondary/Recruiting Coordinator.
    Gent served on the Bearcat football staff from 2014-2016. He began as a graduate assistant in 2014 and 2015 when he worked with the offensive line and running backs. He was elevated to Running Backs/Tight Ends Assistant Coach in 2016 for then head coach Adam Dorrel. Gent's tenure saw the Bearcats capture undefeated NCAA Div. II national championships in 2015 and 2016. Novak was a graduate assistant on the Bearcat coaching staff in 2017 and 2018 when he worked with the defensive backs and assisted with special teams. Novak was a part of two NCAA Div. II playoff appearances at Norhtwest. Gent most recently served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at South Dakota Mines for former Bearcat assistant coach Charlie Flohr from 2020-2023. Gent served a wide receivers coach at Abilene Christian from 2017-2019 as a part of Dorrel's staff.
    Novak spent the previous three seasons at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. Novak coached the defensive line and the defensive backs, while also serving as the special teams coordinator for WSC. Novak helped the Wildcats to an NSIC title and a berth into the NCAA Div. II playoffs in 2022. Novak spent the 2019 season as the defensive coordinator at MidAmerica Nazarene, where he worked with current Bearcat offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy. Prior to his time at Northwest, Novak served as a graduate assistant coach at Black Hills State in 2015 and 2016 working with their safeties.

STAYING STINGY VS. THE RUN
Since 2017, Northwest has held 18 opponents to 20 rushing yards or less in a game.
    Northwest held Missouri Western to minus-17 yards rushing in its 27-23 win. It is the seventh time since 2017 that Northwest has held an opponent to minus rushing yards in a game.

20 Rushing Yds Allowed (or less) Since 2017
7 at Northeastern State (11/4/23)
-17 at Missouri Western (10/14/23)
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)

RARE FOUR-LOSS SEASON
Northwest has posted a winning season in 28 straight seasons and in 2023 it marked only the fourth time in that stretch that Northwest had lost four or more games with a end of season mark of 7-4.
    Northwest went 6-5 in 1995, 7-4 in 2001 and 11-4 in 2005.
    It was only the 19th time in program history that Northwest had lost four or more MIAA games in a season.

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 THIRD IN PRESEASON MIAA POLLS
The Northwest Missouri State University football team has been projected to finish third in the preseason MIAA coaches' and media polls.
    Central Missouri claimed the top spot on both the 2024 preseason coaches poll and preseason media poll. The defending MIAA co-champions collected eight first-place votes from MIAA head coaches and totaled 20 first-place selections in the media poll. Central Missouri finished 11-2 overall and 9-1 in the MIAA last season. The Mules ended last season in a 35-34 loss to Harding in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs – Harding went on to win the 2023 national championship. Pittsburg State, the league's other defending MIAA co-champion, was picked second in both polls with two first-place nods from MIAA coaches and six from media representatives.

2024 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri [8] - 80 pts
2. Pittsburg State [2] - 73 pts
3. Northwest Missouri St. - 58 pts
4. Emporia State - 56 pts
5. Fort Hays State - 55 pts
6. Missouri Western - 42 pts
7. Central Oklahoma - 31 pts
8. Missouri Southern - 24 pts
9. Washburn - 16 pts
10. Nebraska Kearney - 15 pts

2024 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Central Missouri [20] - 254 pts
2. Pittsburg State [6] - 231 pts
3. Northwest Missouri St. - 199 pts
4. Missouri Western - 158 pts
5. Fort Hays State - 155 pts
6. Emporia State - 145 pts
7. Central Oklahoma - 94 pts
8. Missouri Southern - 81 pts
9. Washburn - 60 pts
10. Nebraska Kearney - 53 pts