A key trait for any successful football coach is getting his players to believe every opponent is capable of beating them if they do not bring their ‘A’ game.

Northwest Missouri State coach Adam Dorrel dismissed the fact that Nebraska-Kearney entered the game winless the first three weeks of the season.

The Lopers, Dorrel said Tuesday, are a dangerous team. They have a physical offensive line. His words were convincing.

Northwest came out on a soggy Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Stadium and completely dominated from start to finish for an impressive 53-7 victory in front of 7,375 fans.

“I said it all week that was the offensive line on film would be one of the best we have seen this year,” Dorrel said. “I thought our defensive line played really well today.”

It was so one-sided that parents who showed up to the game for Family Weekend at Northwest had plenty of time to chat with their sons and daughters in the second half.

The final statistics clearly show how much the Bearcats were in control. They had 28 first downs compared to six for Nebraska-Kearney. In addition, Northwest had 510 total yards and limited the Lopers to 124.

“I thought we were extremely ready,” said junior defensive end Matt Longacre. “We watched them on film and saw how aggressive they are. It is the best O-line we have faced all year, not trying to bring down anyone else.

“We really focused on stopping them. We wanted take the ball out of (quarterback) Bronson Marsh’s hands and let the other players on that team beat us.”

The rout began immediately. Northwest forced a three and out in the Lopers’ game opening drive. The Bearcats received the punt at its 42. They needed eight plays to go 58 yards, scoring on a five-yard run by Billy Creason.

“I thought we had a good mix of run and pass,” Dorrel said. “When we can do that offensively, that is when we are at our best.”

The only mishap was the Bearcats missing the extra point.

At 6-0 with 10:25 left in the first quarter, Northwest was still in position to lose if it found its ‘F’ game.

The Bearcats, though, made sure to continue playing championship-brand football. They once again stopped Nebraska-Kearney in three plays.

Northwest took over at the Lopers’ 46 and needed only 31 seconds to score again on a 25-yard r\pass reception by Robert Burton from Trevor Adams. A successful extra point gave the Bearcats a 13-0 lead with 7:50 remaining in the first quarter.

Northwest physical defensive line once again had its way with Nebraska-Kearney’s line, stopping the Lopers in three plays.

The Bearcats continued to follow the pattern of taking the football and driving for another touchdown.

Northwest moved to the Lopers’ 17. Another touchdown looked imminent. And that’s when the Lopers made their one play in the game. Inside linebacker Tyke Kozeal intercepted a deflected pass and raced 74 yards into the end zone, making it 13-7 with just under 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

The mistake didn’t bother the Bearcats one bit. They went 54 yards in nine plays and scored on a 14-yard touchdown reception by Clint Utter from Brady Bolles. The score came just before the first quarter ended.

“That was huge,” Adams said. “Getting off to a good start was huge. That goes back to our preparation this week.”

It was more of the same in the second quarter. The one difference was the Lopers received no more gifts.

Even though Nebraska-Kearney couldn’t afford it, the Lopers gave a nice gift to the Bearcats. Actually, Northwest earned it. Defensive end Collin Bevins made a big hit on a handoff, forcing a fumble.

Longacre was there to scoop up the ball and run 17 yards for a touchdown, increasing Northwest’s lead to 33-7.

“It is a great feeling to pick up the ball and try to score and out race everybody,” Longacre said. “He (Bevins) shot through that gap and made a huge play and I was lucky enough to be there and pick it up.”

The Bearcats went into halftime up 40-7 and showed no signs of allowing Nebraska-Kearney to get back into the game.

Adams had an impressive first half, completing 14 of 20 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

“I have to give credit to the offensive line, one, because they want me to,” said Adams, which produced a few laughs in the postgame press conference. “And two, they really do a good job. I am hardly getting hit out there. Those guys upfront work hard and set me up to do well.”

Adams and Bolles made it very difficult for the Lopers to lock onto one receiver. Utter, Burton, Bryce Young and Reuben Thomas all caught three passes in the first half.

“The quarterbacks are really throwing some good balls out there and the receiving corps is always trying to get open and help them out,” Utter said.

The Bearcats eased up some in the second half, but defensively, they were stout throughout. Nebraska-Kearney never came close to scoring an offensive touchdown.

“It’s one of those things you are extremely proud to be a part of,” said Longacre on not allowing an offensive score. “Everybody played their butt off. There wasn’t one person taking plays off.

“The starters get taken out and you got the twos and threes out there and they are making plays. It is awesome to see those guys who don’t get to play much and they go out there and play their butts off. I love seeing that.”

— David Boyce – Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team fell to the Fort Hays State Tigers on Saturday in Hays, Kan., 3-1. Northwest falls to 6-7 overall and is now 2-2 in MIAA play. Fort Hays State is now 1-9 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Northwest dropped a tough fought first set, 30-28. Both teams held early leads before reaching a 15-15 tie. After that, neither team was able to extend a lead past two points. In the second set, the Bearcats jumped out to a 9-5 lead but the Tigers responded by taking 16 of the next 21 points to go on to win, 25-20.

After reaching a 22-22 tie in the third set, sophomore Shelby Duren recorded two quick kills and junior Abby Graves scored the final point as Northwest took the set 25-23. In the fourth set, the Bearcats were unable to withstand an early run and dropped the set, 25-17.

Senior Bridget Hanafin recorded 40 assists, seven digs, six kills and three blocks. Duren put together a solid match, recording 21 digs, 10 kills, a block and a service ace. Graves had a team-best 14 kills to go along with four digs and three blocks. Classmate Brooke Bartosh had 13 kills. Defensively, junior Bailey Vance had 17 digs and three assists. Senior Mackie Keller had six blocks to go along with seven kills.

Northwest will continue MIAA play next Friday when the Bearcats head to Bolivar, Mo., for a 7 p.m. match against Southwest Baptist on Oct. 4.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State volleyball team fell to the No. 13 ranked Washburn Ichabods at Lee Arena in Topeka, Kan, on Tuesday evening, 3-0. The game was featured as a non-conference matchup as the two teams will meet again in MIAA action at Bearcat Arena on Oct. 25.

The win moves Washburn to 11-3 overall while Northwest falls to 6-6. In the first set, Northwest and Washburn traded points early as neither team was able to pull away. With the score tied 17-17,Washburn pulled away, never letting the Bearcats back within two points, winning theset, 25-22.

The Ichabods built an early second set lead and never looked back, winning 25-12, and headed into the break with a 2-0 lead.

After falling behind 8-0 to begin the third set, Northwest battled back, going on a 13-8 to pull within three at 16-13. The score remained close late in the set, as the Bearcats kept the Ichabods within three at 22-19. But Washburn would score three of the next five points to win, 25-21.

Junior Abby Graves had 13 kills to lead the Bearcats. Senior Bridget Hanafin had 25 assists and added 11 digs on the evening. Defensively, junior BaileyVance had 12 digs and freshman Jackie Becker recorded eight blocks.

Up next, the Bearcats return to MIAA action with a road contest at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon beginning at 3 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State tennis team concluded play at the ITA/USTA Regional Championship on Sunday in Springfield, Mo.

Alvaro Riveros had advanced to the final day of competition in the men’s singles draw but fell to Ouachita Baptist University’s (OBU) Vitor Oliveira in the semifinals, 6-4 2-6 10-5.

Northwest’s top seed doubles team of Lluis Altimires and Sergio De Vilchez fell to OBU’s Marko Boskovic and Oliveira in a tough fought final 6-2 7-6.

This will conclude the Bearcats’ fall tennis schedule.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The third-ranked Northwest Missouri State football team improved to 3-0 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play with a victory over Fort Hays State University (0-3, 0-3) on Saturday evening, 49-14, at Lewis Field Stadium. The game was the Bearcats’ first road test of the season and early on, Northwest erased any doubts of the outcome, jumping out to 42-7 halftime advantage.

Quarterback Trevor Adams completed 13 of his 15 pass attempts for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Brady Bolles was 6-of-12 for 72 yards and a touchdown. Combined, the duo connected with nine different receivers.

Running back Billy Creason rushed for three first half touchdowns, finishing the night with 26 yards on eight carries. Creason became the first Bearcat since Jordan Simmons to rush for three touchdowns, with Simmon’s feat coming last year against Emporia State on Nov. 3 at Bearcat Stadium. Robert Burton III had a team-high 95 yards on eight carries, including a 61 yard run in the first quarter to set up Creason’s and the Bearcats’ second touchdown of the evening.

Defensively, linebackers Eric Reimer and DJ Gnader had a team best six tackles. Despite not forcing an interception, the Bearcats pressure forced three Tiger fumbles. Cody Matthewson and Bryce Enyard each forced and recovered fumbles. Jacob Vollstedt also forced a fumble that was recovered by Zach Maloley late in the second quarter.

The Bearcats finished the evening with 519 total yards and 23 first downs. Northwest was very efficient in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all five trips inside the Tiger 20 yard line. The Bearcats also held a 31:03 advantage in time of possession to Fort Hays’ 28:57.

Northwest was forced to punt on the first drive of the game but promptly responded with touchdown drives on the ensuing six possessions. After two Billy Creason touchdown runs of two and one yards, respectively, Bolles hit Reuben Thomas for a 40 yard score to begin the second quarter. After a Fort Hays score, Adams hooked up with receiver Bryce Young for a 33 yard strike to bring the score to 28-7. Creason would add his third rushing touchdown with 3:25 left in the half, setup by a 21 yard run by Phil Jackson II, that put the ball inside the Tiger three yard line.

Fort Hays would fumble the ensuing kickoff return and on the very next play, Adams connected with receiver Clint Utter on a 17 yard touchdown pass.

Northwest’s final scoring drive came on its’ opening possession of the third quarter after Fort Hays fumbled on its own nine yard line. Bolles finished the quick two-play drive with a six yard touchdown run.

Northwest will host Nebraska-Kearney next week at Bearcat Stadium at 1 p.m. The game will be a part of Family Weekend on campus.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State women’s soccer team was beat 1-0 in overtime by Lindenwood Friday, as both teams opened up MIAA play.

For the second time in as many games the Bearcats fell to an opponent in overtime. It was also the team’s third game this season decided by a goal.

Northwest was able to outshoot Lindenwood 27-12 during the match, but could not find the back of the goal as the crowd saw two balls hit off the crossbar.

Jordan Albright was able to get a shot off with seconds to go in regulation that just missed high sending the game into overtime.

Kat Roe was able to score the game ender with :27 left in overtime for the Lions giving them the 1-0 victory.

The Bearcats fall to 1-4 on the season and will meet up with rival Missouri Western (2-3) Tuesday to continue MIAA play. Kickoff in St. Joseph is scheduled for 7 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State head women’s basketball coach Michael Smith has announced the additions of seven players to the Bearcat 2013-14 roster. The additions include four true freshmen, a Division I transfer and two junior college transfers.

Alexandria Blaurock was a second team All-Jayhawk Conference performer at Kansas City Kansas Community College averaging nine points and six rebounds per game as a 5-8 guard. She was a three sport varsity athlete at Sumner Academy in Kansas City.

Ariel Easton is a 5-8 guard who earned NJCAA second team All-America and first team All-Region 16 honors while playing at State Fair Community College. She averaged a team best 15.8 points and 2.1 steals. The native of South Bend, Ind., was a McDonald’s All-America nominee during her senior year at Clay High School. Both Easton and Blaurock will have junior eligibility for the Bearcats in 2013-14.

Shelby Mustain was an all district performer at Jefferson City High School in Jefferson City, Mo. Last season, she redshirted at Missouri Valley Conference member Bradley University. The 6-2 forward will be a freshman for the Bearcats in 2013-14.

Chantise Adams is a 5-8 forward from Plainfield East High School and is a native of Naperville, Ill.

Kena Veldhuizen is a 5-3 guard from Oskaloosa, Iowa. While at Oskaloosa High School, she averaged 19.6 points per game as a senior and earned all-state,all-conference and all-district honors. She also lettered in volleyball andtrack and field.

Morgan Dittberner is a 6-0 combo guard/forward from Louisville, Neb. She earned all-area and honorable mention all-state accolades three times during her high school career. She was a third-team all-conference performer as a sophomore, a second-team honoree as a junior and was named first-team all-conference during her senior season.

Ashley Guenther is a 5-10 forward from Independence, Mo. Guenther twice earned first team all-conference and first team all-district honors as a senior for Truman High School. As a junior, she was a second team all-area performer and was named to the first-team as a senior.

The Bearcats begin the 2013-14 season on Nov. 9 with a road game at Quincy University beginning at 6 p.m. Northwest will play Illinois State in an exhibition game on Nov. 3 in Normal, Ill., at 1 p.m. The home schedule begins on Nov. 16 against Truman State at Bearat arena at 7:30 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —