The Missouri Western Griffons will play their third ranked team in as many weeks this weekend when they host their rivals to the north the 6th ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. The Griffons are ranked 12th in this weeks AFCA poll which is the highest they have been ranked since November 7, 2006 when they were ranked 11th.
The Griffons hit 10th in the D2Football.com poll which was released on Tuesday, September 29. Western is coming off of a thrilling victory over then ranked Pittsburg State University by a score of 45-40 in a game where they saw a 19 point lead cut to five with two minutes left in the contest.
The Griffons 5-0 start is the best start since 1981 when they started 7-0 and the 3-0 start in the MIAA play is their best start since 2000 when they started 3-0. The Bearcats, who have played in the last four National Championship games in Division II continues to dominate opponents. After an opening season loss at then #2 Abilene Christian, the Bearcats have rattled off big wins against Pittsburg State and then last week against Truman State in a 70-0 win.
Division II football roundup
6th ranked Northwest Missouri State wins their biggest game in school history and 11th ranked Central Missouri is upset on the road. Here’s a quick snapshot of Division II football games from Missouri schools.
Northwest Missouri State scored touchdowns on eight of 13 offensive possessions en route to a 70-0 win against Truman Saturday at Bearcat Stadium in the 75 th battle for the Old Hickory Stick. It’s the largest margin of victory for the Bearcats in series history (89 games). Northwest (4-1, 3-0 MIAA) has won eight in a row and 13 of its last 14 games against Truman (1-4, 0-3 MIAA).
Truman ran 31 offensive plays in the first half that netted four yards. The Bulldogs finished with 92 yards with 62 coming on an empty fourth-quarter possession. Truman completed four passes in the contest for 45 yards.
Northwest sacked Truman quarterback Taylor Breen eight times for 65 yards. Sean Paddock got his 25 th career sack on the second play of the game, making him the Bearcats’ all-time leader.
The No. 11 Central Missouri Mules turned it over five times at Washburn on Saturday afternoon on the road and suffered their first loss of the season, 36-21.
Washburn (4-1, 2-1 MIAA) jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and never looked back, while UCM (4-1, 2-1 MIAA) didn’t catch its offensive stride until the second stanza.
The Mules defense held serve in the first quarter, stopping the Ichabods on two drives inside UCM territory without allowing any points. The WU defense also had their way, but that effort lasted the entire first half, holding the Mules to only 136 yards.
Missouri Western remained undefeated on the season by defeating #23 Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. by a score of 45-40. Western has defeated the Gorillas three out of the last four years with two of those victories coming in "The Pitt (2007)."
Drew Newhart had four touchdowns (1 rush) with three touchdown passes to receiver Cedric Houston. Western improves to 3-0 in MIAA play for the first time since 2000 and to 5-0 overall for the first time since 1981 when they started 7-0.
The Southwest Baptist Bearcats jumped on the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers early and rolled to a 50-20 victory to pick up their first win of the season. The Missouri Southern football team had its highest point output of the season and Collin Howard threw for three touchdowns, but the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks had a school record 44 rushing attempts from true freshman Levi Terrell in his first collegiate game and the Mavs defeated the Lions 44-36 in front of a Homecoming crowd of 6,127.
Bearcats beat Bearcats
The Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State scored the final 35 points in a 49-14 win against the Bearcats of Southwest Baptist Thursday at Plaster Stadium in Bolivar, MO. (Photo courtesy of NorthwestBearcats.com )
Northwest quarterback Blake Bolles passed for a career high 345 yards and four touchdowns. His favorite target was Jake Soy who caught three of those TDs tosses. Soy finished with a career high 107 yards receiving on four catches.
Steven Gachette accounted for all but 20 of Southwest Baptist’s 327 yards of offense. He completed 30-of-46 passes for 267 yards and carried 20 times for 40. He connected with wide out Johnnie King nine times for 116 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown toss early in the second quarter that tied the game at 7-7.
Northwest led 14-7 at halftime and drove past midfield to start the third quarter when Bolles had a passed tipped in the air and intercepted by Tyrin Holt, who was tackled two yards shy of the end zone. Gachette ran in from there to tie the game at 14-14.
Northwest led 21-14 when Gachette was intercepted by defensive lineman Micah Wilson at the Northwest 11-yard line. Bolles hit Soy with the 89-yard score two plays later to pull ahead by two scores. It was the second of five straight touchdown drives by Northwest.
Portions of this story courtesy of Bryan Boettcher of Northwest Missouri State.
Central Missouri VB picked 3rd in MIAA. Truman 4th
Defending MIAA volleyball champion Emporia State was selected as preseason No. 1 by a slight margin over Washburn in the 2009 MIAA coaches poll. Central Missouri was the top state school coming in third.
The Hornets and Ichabods each received five first place votes, with Emporia State tallying 94 points and Washburn totaling 92 points. In addition to winning the 2008 conference title, Emporia advanced to the NCAA regional final a year ago. Washburn placed third in the MIAA and advanced to the NCAA regional tournament in 2008.
Coming in at No. 3 was Central Missouri, as the Jennies picked up 79 points. Central finished fourth in the MIAA in 2008 and made it to the NCAA regional semifinals.
Truman State tied with Nebraska-Omah for the fourth spot with 69 points. Truman finished as the 2008 MIAA runner-up and advanced all the way to the national semifinals.
Northwest Missouri State came in at No. 7 with 40 points, Missouri Southern State was voted eighth with 37 points, Southwest Baptist took the ninth spot with 35 points, Fort Hays State was 10th with 15 points, and Missouri Western State was voted 11th with 14 points.
The 2009 MIAA volleyball season starts Friday, Aug. 28, with several tournament matches. MIAA league play begins Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Story courtesy of the MIAA conference .
2009 MIAA Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Emporia State (5) – 94 pts.
2. Washburn (5) – 92 pts.
3. Central Missouri – 79 pts.
T4. Nebraska-Omaha (1) – 69 pts.
T4. Truman State – 69 pts.
6. Pittsburg State – 61 pts.
7. Northwest Missouri State – 40 pts.
8. Missouri Southern State – 37 pts.
9. Southwest Baptist – 35 pts.
10. Fort Hays State – 15 pts.
11. Missouri Western State – 14 pts.
Northwest Missouri State FB picked to win MIAA
Three-time defending Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Champion Northwest Missouri State was selected as preseason No. 1 in both the MIAA coaches poll as well as the first-ever MIAA media poll, it was announced Monday afternoon at the MIAA Football Kickoff Press Conference at the Downtown Marriott in Kansas City.
The Bearcats received 80 points with eight of 10 first-place votes in the coaches poll and 464 points with 42 of 47 first-place votes in the media poll.
Pittsburg State was selected as number two in both polls, receiving 407 points and four first-place votes in the media poll as well as 71 points and two first-place votes in the coaches poll.
Central Missouri was tabbed preseason No. 3 in both polls, receiving 59 points in the coaches poll and 321 points with one first-place vote in the media poll.
The number four spot was the first difference in the two polls, as Washburn was picked in fourth position in the coaches poll while Nebraska-Omaha was selected No. 4 in the media poll. The Ichabods and Mavericks swapped places in each poll, as Washburn was No. 6 in the media poll while Omaha was sixth in the coaches poll.
Numbers five and seven through 10 were exactly the same in both polls. Missouri Western State was voted number five in both, while Missouri Southern State was seventh, Emporia State was eighth, Truman State was ninth and Fort Hayes State was 10th.
The 2009 MIAA Football season begins Thursday, Aug. 27, with five conference schools competing. MIAA league play begins Saturday, Sept. 12.
2009 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri State (8) – 80 pts.
2. Pittsburg State (2) – 71 pts.
3. Central Missouri – 59 pts.
4. Washburn – 55 pts.
5. Missouri Western State – 50 pts.
6. Nebraska-Omaha – 49 pts.
7. Missouri Southern State – 31 pts.
8. Emporia State – 25 pts.
9. Truman State – 19 pts.
10. Fort Hays State – 11 pts.
2009 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri State (42) – 464 pts.
2. Pittsburg State (4) – 407 pts.
3. Central Missouri (1) – 321 pts.
4. Nebraska-Omaha – 315 pts.
5. Missouri Western State – 307 pts.
6. Washburn – 289 pts.
7. Missouri Southern State – 160 pts.
8. Emporia State – 139 pts.
9. Truman State – 100 pts.
10. Fort Hays State – 83 pts.
MIAA releases football schedule
A nationally televised season opener between three-time defending MIAA Champion Northwest Missouri State and Lone Star Conference foe Abilene Christian, plus several other big non-conference game and the usual in-conference rivalries highlight the 2009 MIAA football schedule, released by the conference office.
The Northwest Missouri State game against Abilene Christian is scheduled for Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports. The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats are the defending national runners-up as well as two-time defending MIAA Champions.
The MIAA slate features the eighth renewal of the Fall Classic at Arrowhead Stadium between Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State, which will be played Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. CT. Additional potential key games will be Nebraska-Omaha at Northwest Missouri State, Washburn at Missouri Western State, and Pittsburg State at Central Missouri Sept. 19; Central Missouri at Washburn and Missouri Western State at Pittsburg State Sept. 26; Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Western State Oct. 3; Central Missouri at Missouri Western State Oct. 17; Central Missouri at Nebraska-Omaha and Washburn at Northwest Missouri State Oct. 24; Central Missouri at Northwest Missouri State and Nebraska-Omaha at Missouri Western State Nov. 7.
The NCAA Division II Playoffs begin Nov. 14 with the first round. The MIAA has postseason bowl ties to the new Kanza Bowl, which will be played Dec. 5 in Topeka, Kan., as well as the Mineral Water Bowl, to be played Dec. 5 in Excelsior Springs, Mo.
MIAA schedule
Northwest Missouri’s Tappmeyer retires
Northwest Missouri State Head Men’s Basketball Coach SteveTappmeyer has announced he has resigned as coach and will retire from hisposition at the University following the 2008-09 academic year after completing21 years of service.
“My wife, Lyn, and I have enjoyed our 25 years in
“There’s a good chance I’ll coach again at this level, butfor now, Lyn and I plan on being in
Tappmeyer is the winningest coach in program history afteraccumulating a 408-208 record in his 21 seasons (.662). He has more wins thaneach of his last six predecessors combined and more than twice as manyvictories than any other coach in program history.
“Coach Tappmeyer is a terrific basketball coach,” saidNorthwest Director of Athletics Dr. Bob Boerigter. “On behalf of the entireNorthwest community we want to express our deepest appreciation to him forproviding us with 21 years of great Bearcat basketball that have includedconference and regional championships, exciting games and memorable moments. Wewish him the very best as he pursues the next chapter in his life.”
Tappmeyer’s list of accomplishments includes three MIAAchampionships (1998, 2002, 2007) and four MIAA tournament championships (1989,2002, 2004, 2008). He’s taken Northwest to the NCAA tournament eight times inthe last 10 seasons and 10 times overall. Tappmeyer led the Bearcats to theElite Eight in both the 2002 and 2004 seasons with records of 29-3 and 29-5,respectively.
Tappmeyer was named Kodak Coach of the Year following hisfirst seasons at Northwest in 1989. He earned regional coach of the year honorsin 2001 and is a four-time conference coach of the year (1989, 1998, 2001,2007).
Tappmeyer led the Bearcats to nine 20-win seasons in thelast 12 years and 10 20-win campaigns overall.
One of Tappmeyer’s most impressive feats is the success he’sbrought to the fans at Bearcat Arena. Northwest is 143-25 (.851) at home in itslast 12 seasons. The Bearcats were undefeated, 14-0, on their home court threeseasons ago, the same as they were during the 2002-03 season. The 2002 team was14-1 and the 2004 team was 12-1.
Tappmeyer is a 1979 graduate of
Tappmeyer served as an assistant at Northwest from 1981-85before arriving back at East Central. He was 62-32 in his three seasons as headcoach and was named the 1986 MCCAC Coach of the Year. Twice he guided his team tosecond-place finishes in the league.
A search for Tappmeyer’s successor will begin immediately.
MIAA tournament tickets on sale now
Tickets to the 2009 MIAA Basketball Championships at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City are on sale through the Missouri Southern Ticket Office at 417-625-9366. The men will open up the tournament this year with first-round games on Thursday, March 5, while the women will open up their tournament beginning on Friday, March 6.
All-tourney passes are just $40 and will allow you to see all 14 games. Single session passes are $15 and will be available at Municipal Auditorium only.
A new attraction to the tournament this year will be the MIAA/Golden Ox Fan Pavilion, located just across the street from Municipal Auditorium at the Barney Allis Plaza. The pavilion will be a heated structure featuring several televisions and other activities. The Golden Ox will offer several of their menu items, with a variety of drinks available.
This is the seventh year the MIAA has hosted the tournament at the Auditorium in Kansas City. For more tournament information, including partner hotels visit www.themiaa.com
Central Missouri picked top MIAA baseball team
The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association baseball coaches have selected defending tournament champion University of Central Missouri as the team to beat in the 2009 preseason poll.
This is the first time in a long time, the MIAA’s baseball coaches have done a preseason ranking.
The Mules collected nine of a possible 10 first-place votes (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team) and finished with 99 of a possible 100 points. Central Missouri earned the regional championship and was eliminated in the semifinal round of the 2008 NCAA Division II Championship by eventual national champion Mount Olive (N.C.).
The 2008 regular season MIAA champions from Emporia State picked up the other two available first-place votes — the Hornets finished second in the balloting with 92 points.
MIAA newcomer Nebraska-Omaha, like UCM and ESU a qualifier for the NCAA Division II regional in 2008, placed third in the poll with 78 points. Fort Hays State finished fourth on the list with 69 points.
Northwest Missouri State edged out Missouri Western for fifth place in the poll, the Bearcats scoring 60 points to the Griffons’ 58. Missouri Southern was seventh with 52 points.
The Washburn Ichabods were one point ahead of the Pittsburg State Gorillas for eighth in the ranking, while Southwest Baptist and Truman round out the list.
The Mules are third in the preseason Collegiate Baseball Division II Coaches Poll. The MIAA will compete in the NCAA Division II South Central Region for baseball with the Lone Star and Heartland conferences this season.
1. Central Missouri
2. Emporia State
3. Nebraska-Omaha
4. Fort Hays State
5. Northwest Missouri State
6. Missouri Western
7. Missouri Southern
8. Washburn
9. Pittsburg State
10. Southwest Baptist
11. Truman
Northwest upsets 19th ranked Central Missouri
Northwest Missouri State got 26 points and 10 rebounds from Hunter Henry and stopped Central Missouri’s seven-game win streak with a 61-57 victory Wednesday night at Bearcat Arena. The Bearcats improved to 12-2 at home against the Mules dating back to 1998.
It was the lowest scoring output of the season for No. 19 Central Missouri (12-3, 5-3 MIAA), which hadn’t been held to less than 70 points all season. The Mules shot 33 percent from the field, including a 9-of-30 clip from 3-point range.
The Bearcats (7-8, 2-6) meanwhile pounded the paint with Henry and Elijah Allen, who combined for 40 points and 15 rebounds on 13-of-20 shooting. Henry made both 3-pointers he took. Northwest was 3-of-4 from behind the arc.
The Bearcats took a 30-21 lead into the break. Edriss Floyd knocked down a 3, then beat the defense for a layup to give the Bearcats a 44-30 lead with 14 minutes remaining.
A jumper by Northwest guard DaJuan Harris made it 51-37 at the 10:50 mark, but it would be the Bearcats’ only bucket for more than eight minutes.
Nathan Frazier and Joe Young knocked down 3’s for Central and the Mules got within five, 54-49, with less than five minutes to play. Young led the Mules with 18 points, but was 6-of-19 from the field and 5-of-13 from behind the arc.
It was 58-52 with less than a minute left when Northwest was charged with a 10-second violation. The shot clock showed 26 seconds when the whistle was blown and when Northwest crossed half court, but the official ruled the shot clock didn’t start on time back when the ball was inbounded and the Mules were awarded possession.
De’Andre Byrd hit a three and after Larsen made 1-of-2 free throws, Josiah Miller’s layup made it 59-57 with 29 seconds left.
Larsen missed two free throws, but stuffed Young in the paint on the defensive end and pulled down the rebound before being fouled. His two free throws with five seconds left sealed the win.
Larsen had seven assists, two steals and two blocks for the Bearcats. Henry scored 16 of Northwest’s 31 second-half points and recorded his fourth consecutive double-double in the process. He’s averaged 21.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in his last four games.
Story courtesy of Northwest Missouri State athletics
