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During the first two rounds of the playoffs, Northwest Missouri State has proven its still one of the most resilient teams in the country even without hall of fame coach Mel Tjeerdsma roaming the sidelines.
In consecutive weeks, the Adam Dorrel-led Bearcats have been able to pull off double-digit second half comebacks against two of the top 20 teams in the nation on the road.
Northwest trailed Missouri Western by 15 in the second half before scoring the final 21 points to win 35-29 in the first round.
In Saturday’s 38-31 second round overtime win over Midwestern State, the Bearcats rallied from 18 down in the first half and 14 down entering the fourth quarter.
That makes four double-digit playoff comebacks in the last two years under two different head coaches.
"I don't know if I can put it into words," said Dorrel. "I'm telling you when that third quarter ended (at Midwestern State) I turned around and looked at our kids, I knew we were going to win that game. I really did. There was never a doubt in my mind. I just think our kids enjoy their time together. I think they're passionate about Bearcat football. We got some kids that have been on these playoff runs. I do think they're being very coachable right now and believing in us. That's neat to see."
Northwest does have some veterans that have been through the playoff wars like Jake Soy, Josh Lorenson and Chad Kilgore, but most of the players had never appeared in a post-season game before this year.
And others like James Franklin III, Jerry Key, Derrick Thomas and John Becklun weren't even with the team last year.
Yet, the Bearcats (11-2) are as stubborn as ever in their refusal to let the season end prematurely.
"I really can't put my finger on it," said Franklin III. "There is a lot that has to contribute to it. The defense, they've stepped up. They really have been dominating in all aspects. The offense, when we see our defense fighting for us, we kind of feel like we have to do the same for them."
The Bearcats are not only playing for themselves this year, they are also playing in memory of former head coach Scott Bostwick who passed away in June.
Franklin says that extra motivation has helped them get through the tough times in each of their playoff wins.
During the first two rounds of the playoffs, Northwest Missouri State has proven its still one of the most resilient teams in the country even without hall of fame coach Mel Tjeerdsma roaming the sidelines.
In consecutive weeks, the Adam Dorrel-led Bearcats have been able to pull off double-digit second half comebacks against two of the top 20 teams in the nation on the road.
Northwest trailed Missouri Western by 15 in the second half before scoring the final 21 points to win 35-29 in the first round.
In Saturday’s 38-31 second round overtime win over Midwestern State, the Bearcats rallied from 18 down in the first half and 14 down entering the fourth quarter.
That makes four double-digit playoff comebacks in the last two years under two different head coaches.
"I don't know if I can put it into words," said Dorrel. "I'm telling you when that third quarter ended (at Midwestern State) I turned around and looked at our kids, I knew we were going to win that game. I really did. There was never a doubt in my mind. I just think our kids enjoy their time together. I think they're passionate about Bearcat football. We got some kids that have been on these playoff runs. I do think they're being very coachable right now and believing in us. That's neat to see."
Northwest does have some veterans that have been through the playoff wars like Jake Soy, Josh Lorenson and Chad Kilgore, but most of the players had never appeared in a post-season game before this year.
And others like James Franklin III, Jerry Key, Derrick Thomas and John Becklun weren't even with the team last year.
Yet, the Bearcats (11-2) are as stubborn as ever in their refusal to let the season end prematurely.
"I really can't put my finger on it," said Franklin III. "There is a lot that has to contribute to it. The defense, they've stepped up. They really have been dominating in all aspects. The offense, when we see our defense fighting for us, we kind of feel like we have to do the same for them."
The Bearcats are not only playing for themselves this year, they are also playing in memory of former head coach Scott Bostwick who passed away in June.
Franklin says that extra motivation has helped them get through the tough times in each of their playoff wins.
"I kind of feel like I'm here playing for him just because he's the person that got me down here," said Franklin III. "There are a lot of people that have that in mind. We keep that in mind as we go through the game. That's kind of why I feel like we won't let ourselves be beat."
Northwest has also benefitted from good fortune, especially against Midwestern State.
The Bearcats would likely be done right now if it weren't for Greg Saladino's 27-yard missed field goal with nine seconds left in regulation.
The Mustangs also had three points taken off the board earlier when Saladino's successful 45-yard attempt was negated by a false start.
He later missed from 50 yards out.
Saladino's second miss gave Northwest new life, and the Bearcats capitalized in overtime.
When Midwestern's final pass hit the ground, the Bearcats could celebrate another unbelievable playoff win.
Northwest is now one one of eight teams remaining in the playoffs and will take on No. 2 Pittsburg State Saturday at 1 p.m. with a berth in the quarterfinals on the line.
If the Bearcats manage to rally in the second half this week, it would be sweet revenge for what happened earlier this year.
With Northwest ahead 28-6 at the half, the Gorillas stormed back to win 38-35 on a field goal as time expired.
"We came out guns blazing," said Franklin. "We came out ahead and I kind of felt like we went into the locker room expecting that we were going to win. It kind of felt like we didn't really finish all the time. Our coach says 'fast, physical, finish.' We need to be finishing these teams and not let them get back in it. That's kind of what we let them do. We let them come back in the game and that's definitely unacceptable. We will not make the same mistakes."
Northwest will be on the road for the third straight week and playing in a stadium it hasn't visited since 2005.
The Bearcats and Gorillas have played all of their regular season games since 2002 at Arrowhead Stadium in what has been dubbed the "Fall Classic."
Northwest had won six straight against the Gorillas before this year's regular season setback.
The winner of Saturday’s rematch will take on Delta State or North Greenville in the semifinals Dec. 10.
"I'm definitely really excited for this game," said Franklin III. "I feel like everybody is going to be jacked up. Our coaches, the players, the fans. Everybody is going to be ready for us to come out and play hard. It's a game where we feel like we definitely can't disappoint."
Quarterback update
When it comes to the team's quarterback situation, Northwest head coach Adam Dorrel is sticking to his guns.
As long as Blake Christopher shows he's 100 percent this week in practice, he will start for the Bearcats Saturday against Pittsburg State.
"Christopher is going to practice (Tuesday),” said Dorrel. “We got to see him be able to do everything you need him to do, then we'll kind of go from there to do what's best for the team. He's got to be able to do everything on a Tuesday or Wednesday before we can even think about playing."
Christopher has now missed the last four games with a knee injury suffered on Oct. 29 and eight of 13 overall. In his place, sophomore Trevor Adams has gone 7-1 with two playoff wins to show for it.
He completed 15-25 passes last week with three touchdowns and just one interception.
"Trevor is doing some really good things, but I think we're a better football team when our quarterback can run the ball," said Dorrel.
Northwest came out of the Midwestern game relatively healthy in all other areas.
Jordan Simmons suffered a hand contusion that caused him to wear a cast, but returned to practice Tuesday.
Men's Basketball
Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State have both been impressive during the non-conference portion of their schedules.
The Bearcats are off to a 5-0 start with a win over UMKC under their belt, while Emporia State is 5-1 and boasts a win over No. 11 Central Oklahoma.
Emporia’s only loss came against Missouri State.
Tonight's conference opener between the Bearcats and Hornets at Bearcat Arena will begin to shed some light on just how good each of these teams will be going forward.
"No one knows how good anyone is," said Northwest Missouri State head coach Ben McCollum. "Emporia just beat the No. 11 team in the country. Are they really No. 11? You just don't know early in the season."
The reason for Northwest's fast start has almost everything to do with their defense.
Ranked as the 10th lowest scoring offense in the MIAA, Northwest is allowing a league-best 50.2 points per game and no one has scored more than 62 points against them this season.
"I think guys have bought in," said McCollum. "The transfers we got and then the returners, we have a lot of competition there. If you don't defend, you don't get on the floor. That helps them to compete at a higher level and guard. Overall, we've just really bought in to getting stops. We enjoy it. We take pride in it. They're doing it."
Emporia State, which swept the season series from Northwest last year, has won its last three games by a total of 11 points.
The Hornet starting five is made up entirely of Division I transfers brought in during the off-season by first-year head coach Shaun Vandiver.
All five average between 7.8 and 11.8 points per game.
"They are very tough offensively," said McCollum. "Defensively, they make you play multiple defenses. You have to be ready to attack those."
Women's Basketball
With a renewed sense confidence gained from their Thanksgiving trip to Hawaii, the Northwest women's basketball team opens conference play against Emporia State tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Bearcat Arena.
The Bearcats (2-4) split with St. Augustine's and Hillsdale last week and easily could've won both games even though they didn't have point guard Abby Henry.
In her absence, junior Ashley Thayer scored 18 points per game and sophomore Meridee Scott scored 13 in both games.
Northwest head coach Gene Steinmeyer said Henry could be back for tonight's game, but might not return until the start of the new year.
"I think it's when she can manage the pain," said Steinmeyer. "The pain has been a 10 out of 10 most of the time."
Northwest lost its conference opener to Emporia State last year, but won the last two meetings over the Hornets—the last one coming in the MIAA Championship game.
Emporia State is off to a 3-1 start under second-year head coach Jory Collins and comes in on a three-game win streak.
The Hornets lost All-American center Alli Volkens, but return most of their other key pieces from last year.
Volkens has been replaced in the lineup by 6-3 freshman Merissa Quick whose averaging 12 points and seven rebounds per game.
Sophomore Kelsey Balcom, the MIAA's Player of the Week, is the Hornets top scorer with 13.5 ppg.
Junior guard Rachel Hanf (11.8 ppg) and senior guard Heather Robben (11.5 ppg) are also averaging in double-figures.
