November 22, 2009
Rick Dunaway - Sports Reporter
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Bearcats shut down Abilene Christian
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009
A dominant defense trumped four turnovers on Saturday, giving Northwest Missouri State the winning hand in its second-round NCAA playoff game against Abilene Christian.
The Bearcats turned the ball over on three interceptions and one fumble, all by Blake Bolles, but the defense rose to the occasion nearly every time in a 35-10 victory at Bearcat Stadium that avenged a season-opening loss against the Wildcats.
“They did a tremendous job in all three phases of the game,” Abilene (9-4) coach Chris Thomsen said. “They were a lot more efficient on offense than in game one. They established the run well, and I thought they threw it down the field more in this game than they did in game one.”
Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009
Familiarity is breeding excitement — rather than contempt — around Bearcat Stadium this week, as Northwest Missouri State prepares for its fourth meeting with Abilene Christian in two years.
Northwest and Abilene kick off their second-round NCAA Division II playoff game at noon Saturday in Maryville with the Wildcats holding a 2-1 edge in the recent series.
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
The play of his guards pleases new Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum despite their obvious inexperience.
While former Lafayette High School standout Bryston Williams started and played well in the season-opener against Manhattan Christian on Monday night, DeShaun Cooper came off the bench to make his mark as well.
And both are freshmen.
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
Missouri Western basketball coach Tom Smith is convinced Mike DeWalt is one of the more valuable tools available to him if he is to construct a winner this season.
And Western’s season-opener at home tonight against Quincy is just the type of game that could hone DeWalt into form.
“The quicker we can get experience for Mike DeWalt, the better off we’ll be,” Smith said of the junior guard from Carbondale, Ill. “He’s going to need to step up and be good enough to play in the MIAA.”
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009
Missouri Western lost twice as many games as it won this year, but the final days of the volleyball season have first-year coach Cory Frederick twice as optimistic as before.
Behind hitter Kelli Sicner and setter Madison Benton, the Griffons went 3-3 over their past six games, including a 3-2 victory on Nov. 6 against then-No. 20 Nebraska-Omaha.
“I’m happy with the way the girls finished this season, to make the
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Time may not heal all of Northwest’s wounds, but it should bring the Bearcats back to nearly full strength by the time they face their second-round NCAA Division II playoff opponent.
Northwest running back named MIAA Offensive Player of the YearWednesday, Nov. 11, 2009
LaRon Council couldn’t help but feel touched when he was informed that he was named the MIAA’s Offensive Player of the Year.
“Just as a senior, it’s an amazing feeling to win that award,” said Council, who also was a unanimous first-team selection at running back. “It’s kind of hard to explain, but when you’re a senior you know your career’s coming to an end, so everything’s just a lot more sentimental to you.”
Council is the third straight conference offensive player of the year to come from Northwest. Running back Xavier Omon won the award in 2007 and quarterback Joel Osborn won it in 2008. But after two injury-prone years early in his career, it clearly became Council’s turn.
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009
After a grueling 11-week schedule, a first-round bye in the playoffs is almost like a vacation.
But don’t bet that Northwest Missouri State football coach Mel Tjeerdsma will nap in his office this afternoon. He’s got an opportunity to get a big advantage on his second-round opponent — whoever that might be.
The Bearcats (10-1), by virtue of their No. 2 ranking in Super Region 4, earned the bye and home-field advantage. They will play the winner of the first-round game between Midwestern State and Abilene Christian on Nov. 21 at Bearcat Stadium.
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
Missouri Western knew pretty early that it was headed for the Mineral Water Bowl football game in Excelsior Springs, Mo., on Dec. 5. What seemed to take forever was the selection of its opponent.
The Griffons (8-3) knew they had to settle for a bowl game on Sunday night after they fell out of the regional rankings with a devastating 30-21 home loss against Nebraska-Omaha. And with Omaha’s conference tie-breaker advantage over the Griffons, the Mavericks chose to go to the inaugural Kanza Bowl in Topeka, Kan.
That left Western with its sixth Mineral Water Bowl appearance since the MIAA began its relationship with that bowl in 2000 — more than any other team. It will be Western’s seventh Mineral Water Bowl trip overall. The Griffons defeated Graceland 44-0 in 1975 as an NAIA institution.
Griffons' playoff hopes take big blow
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009
Nebraska-Omaha’s running backs have been a major headache for the Mavericks all season. On Saturday, they were a headache for Missouri Western.
Bryce Hawthorne rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns, while Duane Bowen rushed for 113 and another score in a 30-21 victory against the Griffons at Spratt Stadium.
“I knew we had some talented guys backing up,” said Nebraska-Omaha coach Pat Behrns, who saw two running backs leave the team before the third game and has had three others injured. “Those two guys playing today were both hurt throughout the course of the year. (Hawthorne) had a high ankle sprain for about four weeks, and Duane Bowen had a separated shoulder.”
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