After dodging a bullet in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead VI last weekend, ninth-ranked Northwest Missouri State (4-1, 4-0 MIAA) has to face another school looking for a share of first place in the MIAA race.
The Bearcats, third in the initial NCAA Division II Southwest Region Ranking released Monday (Oct. 8), host the No. 11 team in the region, the Central Missouri Mules (4-2, 3-1 MIAA), this Saturday (Oct. 13).
The game will feature not only two of the league’s top running backs in Northwest senior Xavier Omon (148.4 ypg) and UCM junior Glenn Milner (115.7 ypg) — ranked second and third in the MIAA, respectively — but also two of the league’s leading rushing defenses.
The Mules have allowed just 78.3 rushing yards per game (second in the league), while the Bearcats have surrendered an average of 99.8 yards per game on the ground (third in the MIAA). And both have already faced conference rushing offense leader Pittsburg State (4-2, 2-2 MIAA).
The No. 23 Gorillas will be trying to avoid not only back-to-back losses, but going overtime as well when they travel to Truman (4-2, 2-2 MIAA). PSU has played OTs in each of its previous two games.
The Bulldogs have averaged 267.2 passing yards per game in 2007 — second-best in the MIAA. They’ll face the No. 2 pass defense (101.3 opponent passer rating) in PSU.
Washburn (4-2, 3-1 MIAA), seventh in the first regional ranking, heads to Emporia State (3-3, 1-3 MIAA) for the 104th renewal of the Turnpike Tussle rivalry. The series between the Ichabods and Hornets is the most contested active rivalry in NCAA Division II football.
ESU is trying to snap a three-game skid after starting the year with three straight wins. Washburn will be looking to maintain pace with Northwest and UCM and stay in the top three of the league race.
The MIAA’s other regionally-ranked squads — No. 9 Missouri Western (4-2, 2-2 MIAA) and No. 12 Missouri Southern (4-2, 2-2 MIAA) — each have Homecoming games this week.
The Griffons return to Spratt Stadium to host winless Southwest Baptist (0-6, 0-4 MIAA), while the Lions entertain Fort Hays State (3-3, 1-3) at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
The Western defense will have to stop an SBU offense which amassed 680 yards last week against Truman — 378 directly accountable to freshman QB Steven Gachette (356 passing, 22 rushing).
FHSU makes its first trip to Joplin since 1988 — when the Tigers and Lions played in the Central States Intercollegiate Conference. Both teams enter the contest allowing less than 20 points per game.
All MIAA games this week are available in streaming video on www.themiaa.tv for $5.95 each.
SBU MAKING PLAYS: The Southwest Baptist Bearcats shattered NCAA Collegiate (all divisions) and MIAA records for most offensive plays in a game during their 55-31 loss to Truman last Saturday (Oct. 6).
SBU recorded 126 plays — 74 passes and 52 rushes. The NCAA Collegiate and Division II record was 117, set back in 1982 by Texas A&M-Kingsville against Angelo (Texas) State.
The MIAA record was 99, reached three times. The first was by Northwest Missouri State against Lincoln (Mo.) in 1977. Truman did it against Missouri State in 1985 and Missouri-Rolla was the last to hit it in 2003 vs. Missouri Western.
SBU’s 74 pass attempts was two short of the MIAA record of 76.
OMON WATCH: Northwest Missouri State senior RB Xavier Omon passed Truman’s Jarrett Anderson for fourth on the MIAA career scoring list after scoring five touchdowns against Pittsburg State last week.
He now has 462 points, 18 behind Pittsburg State’s Ronald Moore (1989-92 — 480) in third.
Omon remains fifth on the MIAA’s career rushing list with 5,478 yards. He needs 298 yards to pass Moore (5,776) for fourth place on the conference list.
THE 80-WIN CLUB: Two men have a chance to close in on the 80-win plateau as a head coach in the MIAA.
Willie Fritz of Central Missouri needs one more to be the eighth MIAA coach with 80 wins. He passed Terry Noland (1983-96) as UCM’s most victorious coach and for eighth place on the league list.
With 75 wins, Missouri Western’s Jerry Partridge needs wins in the Griffons’ last five games to make 80 this regular season
