Rick Dunaway
Northwest, Pitt St. clash at Bearcat Stadium for 1st time since 2000
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
Friday, Nov. 7, 2008
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Bearcat has a whole different view
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
Friday, Oct. 24, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
Bearcats bringing offense home
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Northwest defense doesn't rely on individual stars
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Friday, Oct. 3, 2008
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008
Northwest, Pitt St. clash at Bearcat Stadium for 1st time since 2000
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008
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.
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008
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.
Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008
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.”
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008
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.
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
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.
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008
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.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008
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.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
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.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008
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.”
Friday, Nov. 7, 2008
A breakdown of today's matchup between Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern
Bearcats aim to finish 3rd straight undefeated MIAA campaignThursday, Nov. 6, 2008
There was a time when the chance to face their former offensive coordinator Bart Tatum was big motivation for the Northwest Missouri State football players in their annual game against Missouri Southern.
This year it has been relegated to a minor sub-plot in the Bearcats’ regular season finale in Joplin, Mo.
Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008
One good thing about Northwest Missouri State football this time of year is that its success forces you to not be quite so provincial in your thinking.
That broader scope, of course, involves Super Region 4, where something interesting happened this week. ESPN has reported that Ryan Leaf, quarterbacks coach of West Texas A&M, has been placed on leave from his position with the school, which is currently ranked No. 4 in the region.
Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Maryville took care of business early, but Mother Nature closed up shop on the Spoofhounds on Wednesday night.
The Spoofhounds’ Class 2 regional game against Plattsburg was called because of lightning at halftime, following an approximately one-hour delay. Maryville was leading 34-0 and had returned to the field for second-half warm-ups when officials ordered the field vacated and a series of delays began.
“(Plattsburg has) to travel so far that their administration made the decision that if we don’t get this thing started by 9:20, we’re going home,” Maryville coach Chris Holt said.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
Here are a few items lost behind the headlines of Northwest Missouri State's 56-7 thumping of Emporia State on Saturday at Bearcat Stadium ...
-- Coach Mel Tjeerdsma had high praise for junior running back LaRon Council at the end of the Bearcats' 56-7 thumping of Emporia State on Saturday.
Council had spent the past two seasons battling leg fractures, and when he did play he was usually languishing behind current NFL rookie draft pick Xavier Omon.
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008
Don’t look for Northwest Missouri State’s football team to let off the gas pedal this week.
There is too much at stake when the Bearcats (9-1, 8-0 MIAA) play Saturday at Joplin, Mo., against Missouri Southern.
Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The word from the pregame injury report was that senior wide receiver Kendall Wright could be limited on Saturday by an injured hand.
He didn’t play that way.
Wright caught one touchdown pass and rushed for his first career score as Northwest Missouri State trounced Emporia State 56-7 on Senior Day at Bearcat Stadium.
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
Emporia State (4-5, 2-5) at No. 3 Northwest (8-1, 7-0), 1 p.m., Bearcat Stadium
Payback doesn’t work out so well for ’CatFriday, Oct. 31, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Regardless of whether there’s a rule against hitting the long snapper when he is in a vulnerable position, Northwest Missouri State’s Cody Lanus usually winds up flat on his back by the end of the point-after play.
“It’s illegal to hit the center when his head’s down, but they do it anyway,” said Lanus, who finally got his revenge after dozens of plays that ended with him taking a solid shot. He got his chance to strike back last Saturday against Washburn in Topeka, Kan. — but things still ended badly.
Bearcat has a whole different view
Friday, Oct. 31, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Cody Lanus looks at his key moments of Northwest Missouri State football games from an unusual perspective.
Usually that’s upside down, peering between his legs.
Maybe that’s why Lanus, a senior long snapper from Liberty, Mo., acts like such a character around his teammates.
“The most vulnerable position you can possibly be in to take a block is what I’m in,” said Lanus, a smile never leaving his face. “My legs are about double the length of shoulder width apart, and my head’s between my legs. It’s not fun.”
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — When assistant women’s basketball coach Lori Hopkins delivered the news on Tuesday afternoon, Northwest Missouri State head coach Gene Steinmeyer clearly wasn’t pleased.
Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — For the first few days of preseason basketball practice at Northwest Missouri State, coach Steve Tappmeyer might have thought he was watching an old movie clip of the “Keystone Cops.”
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
TOPEKA, Kan. -- It was a windy day at Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kan., and the breeze created somewhat of an optical illusion that made more than one reporter do a double take during pregame ceremonies of the MIAA battle between Northwest Missouri State and Washburn.
Northwest still perfect in MIAA with victory against WashburnSaturday, Oct. 25, 2008
TOPEKA, Kan. — This was Northwest Missouri State’s great escape of the MIAA football season.
Safety Myles Burnsides intercepted a pass with just more than 3 minutes remaining, and the Bearcats hung on for a 24-21 victory Saturday against Washburn.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008
TOPEKA, Kan. — Big plays like a fake punt for a huge gain played a role, but Washburn coach Craig Schurig credits a 5-yard pass play from Joel Osborn to tailback LaRon Council with changing the momentum in Northwest Missouri State’s 24-21 MIAA victory against the Ichabods on Saturday.
Northwest-Washburn scouting reportFriday, Oct. 24, 2008
When NORTHWEST has the ball
Northwest Missouri State’s offense scored on eight of its nine true drives last Saturday, and there are few signs it will let up this week. Never mind that Washburn boasts the best scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing only 16.2 points per game. What was impressive was that Northwest needed only 13 minutes to rack up 56 points against Fort Hays.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008
Practice made nearly perfect on Saturday against Fort Hays State. In fact, it was almost too perfect for Northwest Missouri State’s offense, which was on the field for only 13 minutes in the Bearcats’ 56-7 rout of the Tigers at Bearcat Stadium.
While the lopsided score allowed coach Mel Tjeerdsma to get all his players involved pretty early in the contest, the extended Fort Hays offensive drives worked at cross-purposes with any attempts to get the backups on offense any seasoning.
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Washburn who?
A team that was all but written off by many fans after the first two weeks of the MIAA season won’t be written off by Northwest Missouri State when the Ichabods host the Bearcats on Saturday in Topeka, Kan.
Washburn stumbled out of the MIAA gate with losses at cellar-dwelling Fort Hays State and against Central Missouri. An 0-2 start does little to instill confidence in fans or fear in the hearts of opponents.
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Home was sweet for Northwest Missouri State’s football team ... and on homecoming, to boot.
“You don’t know how much you appreciate being home until you’ve been on the road for four weeks,” coach Mel Tjeerdsma said after the Bearcats’ 56-7 victory against Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Northwest Missouri State needed only 39 plays to rack up 56 points on Saturday in the Bearcats’ 56-7 homecoming victory against Fort Hays State.
“We got killed in time of possession,” Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma joked as he took his first look at the statistics at the end of the game.
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — This was not a ball-control offense. But it was effective.
Fort Hays State controlled the ball more than four times as long as Northwest Missouri State on Saturday afternoon, but that didn’t show up on the scoreboard in the Bearcats’ 56-7 homecoming victory.
The Bearcats punted only once and didn’t have a drive last longer than 2 minutes, 19 seconds in racking up their seventh straight victory.
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
These were the Werst of times at Noyes Field.
Oak Park running back Nick Werst ran for 248 yards and three touchdowns Friday night as the Northmen opened Class 5 District 11 play with a 38-24 victory against Central.
“He was a big load for us, and there were times we didn’t tackle him,” Central coach Tony Dudik said. “When they ran their counter play or pulled their guards, instead of attacking force with force, we kind of stood there and caught. When you’re catching a guy coming full speed, the chances of being successful are pretty slim.”
Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008
Ours was a case of mistaken identity ... at least on my part.
Northwest scouting reportFriday, Oct. 17, 2008
Fort Hays State (2-5, 1-4)
at
No. 5 Northwest (6-1, 5-0)
1:30 p.m., Bearcat Stadium
Friday, Oct. 17, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Brant Gregg is just happy to be playing football again.
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — A string of 48 consecutive starts will end Saturday for Northwest Missouri State offensive tackle Reid Kirby, who is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee today.
“It’s not good,” Northwest coach Mel Tjeerdsma said of Kirby’s pending absence from the lineup.
It never is good when an All-America lineman is injured, but even Kirby would admit that his play had diminished from that lofty level of late, as the injury took its toll.
Bearcats bringing offense home
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — It was a little scary, even 20 days before Halloween, when Central Missouri tied the score at 10 against Northwest Missouri State in the third quarter of the nationally ranked teams’ MIAA showdown last weekend.
But that might be just what the Bearcats needed to give this team’s fans a treat this weekend, coach Mel Tjeerdsma said on Tuesday.
“Sometimes it’s good to be shocked a little bit, to realize that you have to practice better,” Tjeerdsma said. “That’s what makes it for you.”
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
The MINK League has expanded to 10 teams and will be split into two five-team divisions for next summer’s play, league officials determined Sunday during the fall league meeting.
Monday, Oct. 13, 2008
Willie Fritz was scratching his head on Saturday afternoon. No matter what he and his coaches did, Northwest Missouri State’s defensive front seemed to be able to get pressure on his quarterback.
NORTHWEST GAME NOTES: Bearcats pick Czerniewski twiceSaturday, Oct. 11, 2008
Central Missouri quarterback Eric Czerniewski had been intercepted only once before — in the season opener — but Northwest Missouri State’s defense got to him for two picks in the first quarter alone in Saturday’s 20-13 victory against the Mules.
Council's record day helps Northwest beat CentralSaturday, Oct. 11, 2008
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — LaRon Council set a career high and an MIAA record on Saturday, but Northwest Missouri State’s offensive performance paled in comparison to its defensive effort in a 20-13 win against Central Missouri.
Mustangs land big name for GMSaturday, Oct. 11, 2008
It’s just an hour’s drive between CommunityAmerica Ballpark and Phil Welch Stadium, but this summer they were worlds apart. The Kansas City T-Bones became champions of the Northern League, while St. Joseph’s old ballpark was idle.
Rick Muntean hopes that all changes next summer. The five-year general manager of the Northern League champion T-Bones has been named chief executive officer and general manager of the St. Joe Mustangs.
Dan Gerson announced it Friday, explaining that Muntean will have a minority ownership stake in the Mustangs and handle the team’s day-to-day operations. He begins his duties officially on Sunday at the MINK League meeting at Terrible’s St. Joe Frontier Casino.
Friday, Oct. 10, 2008
Northwest Missouri at Central Missouri
When NORTHWEST has the ball
Running back LaRon Council leads the nation in scoring, averaging 17 points per game. He added four more touchdowns last week against Pittsburg State — the second time he’s done that this season. Council is averaging 111.3 yards per game with four 100-yard games under his belt.
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
Thanksgiving may still be nearly two months away, but Northwest Missouri State football coach Mel Tjeerdsma expressed his gratitude, nevertheless, to both the athletic department and the fans who made Saturday’s Fall Classic at Arrowhead VII a success.
The Bearcats defeated Pittsburg State 35-10 in front of 21,316 fans.
“We had an unbelievable crowd,” Tjeerdsma said. “There were over 21,000, and a large majority of those were wearing green and white.
Northwest defense doesn't rely on individual stars
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — A “no-name” defense may be rising to prominence at Northwest Missouri State.
Fresh off two straight shutouts, the Bearcats held the high-octane offense of No. 7 Pittsburg State to just 10 points in a 25-point victory at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
Not everybody is a fan of Pittsburg State coach Chuck Broyles.
Some think he's brash, some think he's arrogant. Some even harsher, more personal words have even been used in our brotherhood of sports journalists.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
KANSAS CITY – Northwest Missouri State owned third down on Saturday.
The Bearcats converted for a first down on 9 of 12 chances on offense and smothered 8 of 10 third-down attempts on defense in a 35-10 victory against Pittsburg State on Saturday in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead VII.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008
It wasn’t pretty, but Northwest Missouri State quarterback Joel Osborn’s touchdown pass to Nick Rhodes was effective.
Northwest Missouri State scouting reportFriday, Oct. 3, 2008
Here's a capsule look at today's matchup between Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State.
Family, church help Northwest lineman turn life aroundFriday, Oct. 3, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — Jeremy Davis had been to hell and back, but he found a slice of heaven in Maryville, Mo.
Davis, Northwest Missouri State’s 6-foot-3, 295-pound offensive right guard, is back on top, having earned Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America first-team honors last season as a junior. But if not for an ultimatum from his grandfather three years ago, he might be dead.
Davis had begun experimenting with alcohol while in high school, then branched into prescription narcotics. Codeine and Xanax became the drugs of choice.
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008
MARYVILLE, Mo. — The thrill of shocking Nebraska-Omaha 42-0 is over. Now, Northwest Missouri State’s football players are looking forward to the thrill of an NFL venue for their next big rivalry game.
Defensive tackle Tyler Roach said he’s sure he’ll have some nervousness again as he walks down the Arrowhead Stadium tunnel and appears before an expected 20,000 fans for Saturday’s 5 p.m. kickoff of the Fall Classic at Arrowhead VII.
