MARYVILLE, Mo. — It’s the playoffs, so everybody has reason to be excited. But around Maryville, Mo., its Northwest Missouri State’s football fans who are as giddy as anyone about this weekend’s matchup at Bearcat Stadium with Pittsburg State.
The Gorillas (11-1) haven’t met in Maryville since the 2000 season, when the Bearcats won 35-28. Since the advent of the Fall Classic at Arrowhead, all of the regular season games have been held at the neutral site in Kansas City. The last on-campus meeting came in 2005, when Northwest avenged a regular-season loss with a playoff victory in Pittsburg, Kan.

It’s always difficult to beat a team twice in one season. It could be even more difficult for Northwest Missouri State’s football team on Saturday, given the level of improvement Pittsburg State has enjoyed during the last half of the season.
That’s the assessment of Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma and his Bearcats, who play Pittsburg State at noon Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Bearcat Stadium.

WELLINGTON, Mo. — Princeton’s offense put Wellington-Napoleon against the ropes with the final play of the first half, and the defense dealt the knockout blow at the start of the second half Saturday in a 54-28 Class 1 quarterfinal victory.
Princeton (12-1) stunned the hosts with a 35-yard halfback pass from Vance Purdun to Mace Ormsby as time expired in the first half, giving the visitors a 26-14 halftime advantage.
“I just caught it on the run, and I was in the end zone,” said Ormsby, a senior wide receiver. “He put it right on the money. It was a good pass.”

Rest is a good thing for a football team this time of year.
That's exactly what Northwest Missouri State is getting in general, and Reid Kirby is getting in particular as he tries to come back from arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee.

Lighter workouts and a three-day practice week greeted Northwest Missouri State’s playoff-bound football team this week as it prepares for its second-round Division II opponent.
The Bearcats (10-1), seeded No. 2 in Super Region Four, are enjoying a bye week and will play the winner of Saturday’s game between Nebraska-Omaha and Pittsburg State.
The Bearcats lifted weights and watched film Sunday, took Monday off and then began three days of practices on Tuesday.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Call this one a clean sweep. When the MIAA announced its postseason football awards on Tuesday, conference champion Northwest Missouri State boasted the offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year, freshman of the year and coach of the year.
The coaches named Northwest quarterback Joel Osborn the league’s top offensive player — one of seven Bearcats to earn first-team status on the All-MIAA team.
Junior safety Myles Burnsides was the conference’s top defensive player, while defensive lineman Josh Lorenson earned the league’s best freshman honor.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — There was no cheering at the NCAA Division II football playoff watch party when Northwest Missouri State’s name flashed up on the large-screen television as the No. 2 seed in Super Region Four.
The Bearcats have been here before. In fact, three of the past four years they have been among the top two seeds and the recipient of a first-round bye.

LaRon Council would not take any credit for his new Northwest Missouri State record for touchdowns in a regular season, forged in the Bearcats’ 48-24 victory against Missouri Southern on Saturday in the regular season finale.
He had just rushed for four touchdowns, giving him 27 overall to surpass Xavier Omon and to match Omon’s total of 26 rushing scores last season.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Northwest Missouri State had not faced this predicament for a long time.
Down by a touchdown late in the first half, neither the momentum nor the cold, stiff breeze favored the Bearcats.
“I kind of questioned whether maybe we should just run out the clock and get out of there,” coach Mel Tjeerdsma said. “Thank goodness (offensive coordinator Adam Dorrel) was persistent and said we had to drive.”

A breakdown of today's matchup between Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern