Jim Svoboda

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) tabbed Central Missouri’s Jim Svoboda as the Division II Region 3 Coach of the Year. The Mules went 11-2 qualifying for their fourth NCAA postseason appearance. UCM set numerous season and single-game records including matching the UCM record for wins in a season. Central Missouri started the season 10-0, the best start in school history.

This is the first regional award for Coach Svoboda and for the Mules. AFCA Region 3 is comprised of teams from the MIAA, Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC).

The Mules offense leads the NCAA in total offense after averaging 547.5 yards per game. They were also fifth in scoring offense at 44.8 yards per game and in the NCAA top-five in first downs and passing offense.

In ten seasons in Warrensburg, Svoboda is 81-35.

Photo/NWMS Athletics

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcat football team saw its 2019 season come to an end as the No. 2-ranked Ferris State Bulldogs posted a 25-3 victory in the quarterfinals of the 2019 NCAA Division II playoffs.

Ferris State took the second-half kickoff and marched 76 yards on eight plays that was capped by a Travis Russell three-yard touchdown run. The Bulldog score gave the home squad a 10-0 lead with 11:44 left in the third quarter. Northwest inserted backup quarterback Jadyn Kowalski and he led the first Bearcat scoring drive of the game. Kowalski guided the offense on an eight-play, 57-yard drive that culminated in a 27-yard field goal by Parker Sampson.

Another 20-yard field goal by Dieterle gave Ferris State a 13-3 lead with 10:34 to play in the game. The Bulldogs extended the lead to 16-3 on a 31-yard field goal by Dieterle. The Bulldogs took over at the Bearcat 15-yard line following a failed fake punt attempt. Dieterle’s third field goal of the game came with 6:28 left in the fourth quarter. Ferris State would later add a safety and another touchdown run.

Northwest finishes the 2019 season with a mark of 12-2 overall. Ferris State improves to 12-0 overall.

The Truman Bulldogs grabbed early control and won the inaugural America’s Crossroads Bowl 21-7 over Ohio Dominican on Saturday afternoon to pick up the school’s first 10-win season in program history. Truman held onto the ball for 37:44 and was 11-of-18 on third downs.

The Bulldogs opening drive went 19 plays and took over 10 minutes off the clock before Josh Scheiderer knocked through 20-yard field goal to stake the ‘Dogs to a 3-0 lead. The drive saw Truman convert on five third down plays. Truman then forced a quick three and out but Ohio Dominican punter Logen Neidhardt unleashed a 74-yard punt to flip the field and put the Bulldogs inside their own one yard line, but the Bulldogs responded with a 14 play drive, capped by Jordan Salima’s nine yard run and a 10-0 Truman lead.

Salima was named the most valuable player on offense with 117 yards on 30 attempts.

The 300th all-time win for Missouri Western football came in the final game of its 50th season. The Griffons (9-3) beat Henderson State (9-3) 35-14 in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl to reach nine wins for the first time since 2012 and break a program record with its 11th straight win away from St. Joseph. Missouri Western became the first team to ever win the Live United Bowl twice.

Trey Vaval was named MVP after breaking the Live United Bowl record with 225 return yards. The freshman returned four punts for 143 yards and three kicks for 82. He actually broke the record in the first half and became the second Griffon specialist to win MVP of the game in as many years.

The Griffons out-gained Henderson State 463-263 even with Vaval’s returns often setting the Griffs up with great field position.

photo/NW Missouri State Athletics

Northwest Missouri State, coming off a record setting win over Lindenwood in the second round of the Division II playoffs, will head to Big Rapids, Michigan to take on No. 2-ranked Ferris State in the Super Region 3 championship game. Kick is set for 12 p.m. at Top Taggart Field. Northwest reached the Super Region 3 final with victories over Harding (7-6) and Lindenwood (63-7). Ferris State had a first round bye and then defeated Central Missouri (37-10).

Saturday will mark the third all-time meeting between Northwest and Ferris State. Both previous matchups occurred in the NCAA Div. II playoffs. Northwest notched a 35-20 win over Ferris State in the 2016 national semifinals in Maryville. Ferris State posted a 27-21 victory over Northwest in the 2018 second round in Big Rapids.

Northwest’s Results vs. Ferris State
L, 27-21 at Ferris State (11/24/18)
W, 35-20 vs. Ferris State (12/10/16)

Ferris State ranks No. 1 in the nation in third-down conversion defense by allowing the opposition to convert only 24.1% of the time. The Bulldogs rank No. 3 in scoring defense by allowing only 13.4 points per game. Ferris State ranks No. 5 in the nation in total offense by averaging 514.4 yards per game. Ferris State enters Saturday’s game owning the second-longest home-field winning streak among Division II teams with 13 consecutive home victories at Top Taggart Field.

Northwest has tallied a mark of 13-8 all-time in road playoff games. Northwest is 4-1 on the road this season.

Northwest’s Road Playoff Wins
1996 – W, 22-21 at Neb.-Omaha
1999 – W, 41-35 at Northern Colo.
2005 – W, 45-14 at Angelo State
2005 – W, 42-32 at Washburn
2005 – W, 21-10 at Pittsburg State
2005 – W, 25-24 at North Alabama
2007 – W, 26-13 at Chadron State
2008 – W, 45-36 at Abilene Christian
2009 – W, 21-10 at Cent. Washington
2010 – W, 35-31 at Texas A&M-Kingsville
2011 – W, 39-35 at Missouri Western
2011 – W, 31-31 at Midwestern State
2018 – W, 42-17 at Grand Valley St.

For the first time in Truman Football history, the Bulldogs will take the field in the month of December, as they will face Ohio Dominican in the inaugural America’s Crossroads Bowl on Saturday afternoon in Hobart, Indiana.

The bowl game will pit the Great Lakes Valley Conference and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference against each other. The Bulldogs come in with a 9-2 record while the Panthers enter at 7-2.

It is the first postseason game for Truman since the 1994 Division II playoffs and only third bowl game in school history. The Bulldogs have played in the NCAA playoffs in 1982, 1990, 1992 and 1994 while the bowl appearances were the 1961 Mineral Water Bowl and the 1980 Shrine Classic. Truman is 2-0 in the bowl games with wins over Parsons (Iowa) 22-8 in 1961 and 17-14 over Pittsburg State in 1980. The latest in a calendar that Truman fielded a team was two games on November 30. The first was in 1916, a 92-0 win over Northwest Missouri and again in 1922, a 13-6 at Central Missouri.

Photo/SEMO Athletics

James Robinson ran for 297 yards and a touchdown to lead #13 Illinois State (9-4) to a 24-6 win over #12 Southeast Missouri (9-4) in the first round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs Saturday. Robinson averaged 7.2 yards per carry on 41 attempts and had all but 43 of ISU’s 340 rushing yards.

SEMO starting quarterback Daniel Santacaterina missed the first half and the Redhawks first drive of the third quarter due to shoulder and foot injuries. Backup Joe Pyle took his place and threw for 124 yards on 9-of-17 passes in his first career start. SEMO’s only points came on field goals of 45 and 34 yards by Kendrick Tiller.

SEMO made its third NCAA FCS Playoff appearance all-time and second in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history.The Redhawks, who saw their home winning streak end at 13 games, went 9-4 overall for the second year in a row.

Story: SEMO Athletics

Photo/NWMS Athletics Tom Weddle

The Division II football playoffs started with three teams representing the state of Missouri. After first round wins by Central Missouri, Northwest Missouri State and Lindenwood the number would be cut down after the second round. The only question was by how many? Northwest was hosting Lindenwood and Central Missouri traveled to number two ranked Ferris State. Heading into the third round, we have just one Missouri team standing.

Central Missouri Mules Football’s historic season came to an end Saturday afternoon at the hands of No. 1 seed and second-ranked Ferris State. The Mules, playing in their fourth-ever postseason and second-ever second round game, fell to the Bulldogs 37-10. The season ends at 11-2, tying the most wins in team history. Ferris State did most of their damage on the ground, rushing for 372 yards and four touchdowns. The Mules were held to 128 yards, and after falling behind in the second half and were forced into passing situations which Ferris State capitalized on four Mules turnovers and turned those into 14 points.

The Mules 11 wins on the season match a program record. Despite the rough final game, Brook Bolles finished his career with 8,364 yards and 68 touchdown passes, both second all-time at UCM. All-time in postseason games the Mules fall to 3-4. This is the first time in Mules history they have won a conference championship and playoff game in the same season.

The Northwest Missouri State University football team lit up its postseason record book in a 63-7 NCAA Division II second-round playoff victory over the Lindenwood Lions on Saturday at Bearcat Stadium. The Bearcats ran through the Lions for 413 yards in the largest postseason victory in Northwest history. The 63 points is also a Northwest postseason record for a single game. Lindenwood has struggled against the run, coming in as the No. 104 rush defense in the country, allowing 175 yards per game. Northwest, he No. 23 rush offense in the country, finished with eight rushing touchdowns – another Northwest postseason record.

Northwest becomes the fourth NCAA school to record 50 postseason victories joining Mount Union (104), North Dakota State (62) and Wisconsin-Whitewater (52) … Northwest improves to 50-17 all-time in the Div. II playoffs … Northwest has won 24 straight home playoff games at Bearcat Stadium.

The Bearcats move onto the Super Region 3 title game as they head to Big Rapids, Michigan, next Saturday to take on the No. 1 seed Ferris State. It will be a rematch of last year’s second matchup where the Bulldogs scored a 27-21 win over the Bearcats on Nov. 24, 2018.

Photo: Lindenwood Athletics/Don Adams Jr.

It was a clean sweep for Missouri schools in the Division II playoffs as the first round opened Saturday afternoon. Lindenwood picked up a huge upset win on the road. Central Missouri continued to dominate on their home field and Northwest Missouri State won a defensive struggle.

The Lindenwood football team (9-3) upset No. 5 Ouachita Baptist (11-1) in the first round of the playoffs by a final score of 41-38 on Saturday in Arkadelphia, Ark. The Lions kicked the go-ahead field goal with 1:24 remaining. The Lions overcame an early 21-10 deficit.

The Lions will hit the road for the second round off the playoffs next Saturday to take on No. 10 Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. at 1:00 p.m.

Photo: NWMS athletics/Don Weddle

The Bearcats advanced to the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division II playoffs with a 7-6 victory over the Harding Bisons at Bearcat Stadium.

Northwest (11-1 overall) moved to 30-3 all-time at home in the playoffs. It also marks the 23rd straight playoff victory at home for the Bearcats. Harding went for the win. The Bisons were able to score with a 1:14 left in the game on a six-yard keeper by quarterback Tristan Tucker. Harding head coach Paul Simmons went for the two-point conversion, but the Bearcat defense came up with the stop.

The Bearcats have the most playoff appearances in D-II history with their 24th in school history.

Photo: UCM Athletics/Andrew Mather

Central Missouri Mules Football won their first playoff game since 2010. The Mules got a lead in the second quarter and never looked back as they defeated the Greyhounds 37-27. The win is the Mules 11th for the season and they move on to round two of the NCAA Tournament. Brook Bolles completed 27-of-37 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns.

The Mules will travel to take on No. 1 seed Ferris State next Saturday, Nov. 30 in Big Rapids, Mich. As the No. 1 seed, Ferris State earned a bye in round one of the playoffs.

photo/SEMO Athletics

Daniel Santacaterina threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter to lead #13 Southeast Missouri (9-3, 7-1) to a 31-24 win over rival Murray State (4-8, 2-6) Saturday at Houck Field. Santacaterina broke SEMO’s all-time career record in passing touchdowns (46) as the Redhawks won a piece of the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference title. The OVC crown is SEMO’s second in program history and first in nine years.

SEMO won its 13th-straight game at home and kept presently the OVC’s longest home winning streak intact. The Redhawks closed out a regular-season on a six-game winning streak for the first time in their D-I history, as well.

The Redhawks will find out where they land in this year’s 24-team FCS Championship bracket Sunday. The FCS Selection Show will air live at 11:30 a.m., CT, on ESPNU.