Mel Tjeersdma The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are preparing for their 3 rd round Division II football playoff game against Abilene Christian, a team they lost to in the first week of the season.   Head coach Mel Tjeersdma talks with me about the upcoming game.

The Bearcats were faced with a 4 th and 10 late in their game against Pittsburg State trailing.  Joel Osborn completed a 27 yard pass to keep the season alive to receiver Nick Rhodes, and then found Kendall Wright for a 15 yard touchdown to win 38-35.

You won’t believe how a busted play turned into a big gain and kept the Bearcats in the game.  Now, Northwest gets ready for Abilene Christian, a team that beat them 44-27 for the Bearcats’ only loss of the season in week one.

Abilene Christian won 93-68 over West Texas A & M last week, a game that is of no use to Tjeersdma other than to know not to stack the line with 11 players which West Texas did.

Listen to my interview with coach Tjeerdsma.  If you would like to follow the Bearcats this Saturday, you can get more info from the Bearcats website .

Also, make sure you get your vote in for Mel Tjeerdsma as D-II’s coach of the year.  Vote online !

Download/listen to Mel Tjeerdsma (9:00 mp3)