No game is bigger in the MIAA that this weekend’s matchup between #7 Northwest Missouri State and #4 Pittsburg State at Arrowhead Stadium in the Fall Classic VIII.

What started out as a home game for the Bearcats who needed to move this game eight years ago because of stadium renovation work going on in Maryville, has now turned into one of the marquee matchups of the Division II football season.

Pittsburg State is 2-0 after a big 41-13 win  over then # 7 Chadron State (Neb.). The Gorillas were led by MIAA Offensive Player of the Week John McCoy, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a career-high 112 yards (on 15 carries) and two touchdowns. Pitt State’s Alex Kuhlman was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after registering an interception and a fumble recovery as the Gorillas forced four Eagles turnovers.
 
Northwest Missouri bounced back from its season-opening loss with a 49-14 win against Southwest Baptist in the "Battle of the Bearcats".  Northwest quarterback Blake Bolles passed for a career-high 345 yards and four touchdowns, three of them to Jake Soy, including an 89-yard strike in the middle of the third quarter that gave Northwest a 28-14 lead. Soy finished with a career-high 107 yards receiving on four catches.
 

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