Northwest Bearcat Football Notes
By: Import User
Updated: September 18, 2007
FROM ONE RIVAL TO ANOTHER...After Walloping Missouri Western Last Saturday, Northwest Football sets its sights on another rivalry game this Saturday. The Bearcats will host Truman State in the "Old Hickory Stick" Game. The Hickory Stick has long been known as one of the oldest traveling trophies in Division Two Athletics.
The Hickory Stick has stayed in Maryville for five years. Northwest hasn't lost to Truman since 2001.
NO QB CONTROVERSY HERE...
Senior Quarterback Josh Mathews will start Saturday IF he's ready to play, according to Head Coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
Tjeerdsma says Mathews will take reps in practice this week, and if he's cleared to play, then he'll play.
Mathews sat out the Missouri Western game last Saturday after suffering a mild concussion the week before at UNO.
All backup QB Joel Osborn did was throw for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the Bearcats 44-20 win over Western.
CATS CLIMBING THE POLLS...
.-Northwest moved up a spot from No. 11 to No. 10 in the AFCA Coaches' Poll released Tuesday following its first win of the season against Missouri Western State University.
Northwest has now been ranked in the coaches' poll 45 consecutive times dating back to 2004. Northwest is 4-1 when playing as the No. 10 team in the nation.
Nebraska-Omaha moved up two spots to No. 6. Pittsburg State slips one spot to No. 7 despite moving to 3-0. No other MIAA teams are ranked.
D2Football.com Poll: Northwest moves up a spot to No. 8 in the D2Football.com Poll. Nebraska-Omaha stayed at No. 5. Pittsburg State moves up a spot to No. 10 and Missouri Western slips five spots to No. 24.
OBERT EARNS POW HONORS...
Caleb Obert, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior from Bethany, Mo., logged a 37-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as the No. 11 Bearcats defeated Missouri Western, 44-20.
He scooped up an onside kick by the Griffons and scored with 2:20 left in the game on what may be the shortest kickoff return TD in MIAA history, and the first for Northwest since the 2002 season.
Obert is a graduate of South Harrison High School.
