A solid defensive effort paved the way for a 33-3 season-opening win for the 3rd-ranked Northwest Missouri State football team Thursday night against East Central (Okla.) in nonconference action from Bearcat Stadium.

The Bearcats battled hard to move to 1-0 on the year while the Tigers fell to 0-1. Northwest will have nine days before opening MIAA play at Central Missouri Sept. 8.

After a record-setting season on offense in 2011, the defense answered the bell only allowing a 32-yard field goal. The Bearcat defense held ECU to only 48-yards on the ground and picked-off the Tigers three times.

Northwest jumped on the board after Brandon Dixon’s first interception of the night was tipped to Eric Reimer who raced 55-yards – setting up the Bearcats’ first score. One play later, Trevor Adams would punch it in from 3-yards out putting Northwest up 7-0.

The Bearcats would put together their longest drive marching 80-yards in six plays. Jordan Simmons scored his first touchdown from the one yard line as Northwest took a 14-0 lead into the break.

East Central picked up its only points of the night as a seven-play drive stalled at the Bearcat 30-yard line. However, Brian Gonzalez drilled a 32-yard field goal for the Tiger’s lone points.

The Northwest defense locked in as Brandon Dixon picked-off his second ECU pass and raced 38-yards to give the Bearcats a 24-3 lead.

A bad snap from ECU went through the Tigers’ end-zone giving Northwest two more points and 26-3 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

After the Bearcats forced the ECU safety, Trevor Adams would find Bryce Young with a shovel pass on the Bearcat’s first play from scrimmage. Young then raced 53-yards for the game’s final score, giving Northwest a 33-3 lead.

However after the final whistle, it was the Northwest defense that highlighted the season-opening win. Picking off ECU three times and adding three sacks Northwest held the Tigers to just under 300-yards of total offense. DJ Gnader led Northwest with 10 tackles while Brandon Dixon added seven tackles to his two interceptions.

“We have really hit it hard during practice, so it was kind of like slow motion,” Dixon said of the defenses’ solid play.

Starting his second season at the helm of the Bearcats, Dorrel was pleased with the way the defense picked up the offense.

“I’d rather have a game like tonight where the offense struggles,” Dorrel said. “Defense is what wins championships and we have a really good foundation.”

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Former Northwest Missouri State linebacker, Chad Kilgore was signed by the Oakland Raiders the organization announced on Sunday.

Kilgore joins another former Northwest defensive star, Dave Tollefson, who signed with the Raiders as an unrestricted free agent during the off-season. Terms of Kilgore’s deal with the Raiders were not released.

He led the Bearcats in tackles the last two seasons and was a two-time All-America selection. He ranks fourth all-time at Northwest with 392 tackles and posted 2.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for a loss as a senior.

The Raiders report to training camp in Napa, Calif., this weekend, as the team will hit the practice field for the first time on Monday. According to the team’s website the Raiders currently have 89 players under contract, one under the NFL limit for the pre-season. The pre-season opener for Oakland is set for Aug. 13 as the Raiders will host the Dallas Cowboys on ESPN.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State junior quarterback Trevor Adams has been named a nominee for one of the most prestigious off-the-field honors, the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team announced by the organization Tuesday.

Adams has been instrumental in the Maryville community and surrounding areas serving as an intern with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and working in the northwest Missouri area. He also helped during the annual Spring Clean-Up, a community event that Bearcat football players participate in each season to help pick-up trash on roads sides and help the elderly with yard work.

He was also part of a group of football players who helped with Habitat for Humanity and worked with the Special Olympics. Adams also helps as a counselor at all of the Bearcat football summer camps.

The Odessa, Texas, native earned eight starts as a sophomore including the final five games of the season. Adams threw for 2,202 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season helping lead Northwest to its eighth straight NCAA Division II playoff appearance, the longest active streak in NCAA II.

Since 1992, the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has shown a spotlight on the countless “good works” and remarkable stories of service by student-athletes at all levels of college football competition.  Award recipients represent the sport’s finest in terms of character and leadership in the community.

“This year’s Allstate AFCA Good Works Team nominees have some of the most impressive community service resumes in the program’s 21-year history,” said Kathy Mabe, president of Allstate’s West regions and a member of the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team voting panel. “These young men continue to raise the bar for the impact that student-athletes can have on others, and are an inspiration to Allstate, our agents and our employees.”

From the nominees submitted by sports information directors across the nation on behalf of their schools, a special voting panel consisting of former Allstate AFCA Good Works Team members and prominent college football media members will select two 11-player Good Works Teams – one comprised of players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and another representing players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III, and the NAIA. The final roster of 22 award recipients will be unveiled in September.

Allstate and the AFCA will launch the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® website on ESPN.com featuring profiles and images of the final team members, as well as the opportunity for fans to vote for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced Thursday that Jessica Rinehart has stepped down as head volleyball coach and named Amy Phelps interim head coach.

“Coach Rinehart has been a valuable member of the Bearcat family and we will miss having her at Northwest,” Baker said. “She has done a great job reenergizing the volleyball program and we wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”

Rinehart, who is leaving to relocate closer to family, finished 29-32 in two seasons with the Bearcats and is 115-107 overall in her career as a head coach. In her first season at Northwest, she guided the Bearcats to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance in the South Central Regional.

“I’m grateful for my time at Northwest.  Being a Bearcat is truly special,” Rinehart said. “I had two of the most enjoyable seasons of my coaching career leading these young women. I want to thank the University and community for their support and wish the best for coach (Amy) Phelps and the program moving forward.”

Phelps returned to Northwest last season as an assistant coach for the Bearcats after a six-year absence from Maryville. She spent the 2003 and 2004 season as a graduate assistant under head coach Lori Slight.

In her time at Northwest, Phelps has been the top recruiter and director for all Bearcat volleyball camps as well as working primarily with the setters and middle hitters.

“Amy Phelps is a bright, young, energetic coach who has been an important part of our program,” Baker said. “We appreciate her willingness to serve as interim head coach and lead our volleyball program.”

Prior to returning to Northwest, Phelps spent six seasons at Alaska-Fairbanks as an assistant coach during the 2005 and 2006 season before being elevated to associate head coach from 2007-2010. She helped coach 10 All-Conference honorees in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and 31 GNAC Academic All-Conference student-athletes. Under Phelps the Nanooks also earned one GNAC Newcomer of the Year and one GNAC Freshman of the Year.

Her coaching career began in 2001 at her alma mater, Graceland University, where she assisted with both the men’s and women’s teams. In 2002 the Lady Jackets were Region V finalists and qualified for the NAIA National Championships.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to step up and take over the Bearcat volleyball program,” Phelps said. “We are excited about the direction Northwest volleyball is headed and that is a credit to the foundation laid by coach (Jessica) Rinehart. We will continue building a successful program that will become a consistent threat in the MIAA and region.”

During her time as a player, Phelps earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors and was named an honorable mention NAIA All-American as well as an NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete. Her team won both the regular season and postseason titles in the Heart of America Conference and she served as a co-captain.

Northwest opens its season Aug. 31 at the Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic in West Palm Beach, Fla. The Bearcats will match up with Barry University, host Palm Beach Atlantic, Saginaw Valley State and Lewis University during the two-day tournament. Northwest opens its home slate Sept. 14 hosting MIAA-newcomer Lindenwood at 7 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —