Midlands Notes: Bearcats seeking to break finals jinx

Northwest Missouri State coach Mel Tjeerdsma isn't fazed by those who keep asking when the Bearcats are finally going to win another NCAA Division II football title.

Second-ranked Northwest (13-1) is making a record fifth straight appearance in the championship game Saturday at noon on ESPN2 when it plays Grand Valley State in Florence, Ala. The Bearcats, who won titles in 1998 and 1999, have come up empty each time in that stretch.

“I'm really at peace with all that,'' Tjeerdsma said. “All those other years, that's in the past. I told our kids tonight. In order to be successful in life, you have to look ahead and not look back.''

His team is excited, he said, about taking on another team that has about as much championship history as the Bearcats, who are making their 11th national television appearance in the past five years. The Lakers, who won titles in 2005 and 2006, and the Bearcats will meet in the final for the third time in the past five years.

“It's a great matchup,'' he said.

Tjeerdsma feels good about this team. Although the Bearcats have faced some adversity in their three playoff games, he said they've managed to right the ship each time.

Against Abilene Christian, the defense played well, he said, allowing the Bearcats to overcome four turnovers. Against Central Washington, the offense turned it on in the second half after making it into the red zone three times in the first half and not finishing. The defense played well after the first quarter in a physical game in a tough environment.

On Saturday against California (Pa.), the defense gave up some points against the best quarterback and receivers the Bearcats have seen all year, but Tjeerdsma said the offense played well and special teams were outstanding.

“Everybody is doing their job — that is what I like about this team. Everybody does what they are supposed to do,'' he said. “They have total respect for each other. The offense or defense, if one is struggling, we just go about and do our job and they are going to get it straightened out, and that's what happened.''

He said if the Bearcats have a good week of practice, and continue to get better every game like they have throughout the playoffs and season, the title will take care of itself.

“Our kids, they just keep everything in perspective,'' he said. “We're excited but we're not overly hyped up.''

Bearcat fans are invited to participate in the “Bearcat Championship Sendoff” on Wednesday. Coaches and players will load their buses at 4 p.m. Fans are encouraged to line College Avenue/Fourth Street in Maryville between Lamkin Activity Center and Main Street, wearing Bearcat green and white and waving Northwest banners, flags and signs as the buses are escorted out of town by University Police.

Five players net honors from coaches

Wayne State wide receiver Frederick Bruno and University of Nebraska at Kearney center Jack Hiett have been named to the first-team offense of the AFCA Division II Coaches' All-America Team. Northwest Missouri State defensive back Myles Burnsides was named to the defensive team. Chadron State punter Kevin Berg and UNO kicker Greg Zuerlein were on the first-team for special teams. ... Concordia St. Paul, which won the NCAA Division II title with a 37-0 record, is ranked first in the final AVCA Coaches Top 25 poll. The University of Nebraska at Kearney (33-3) finished 12th and Wayne State (29-8) 18th. The University of Nebraska at Omaha received votes. ... The College of St. Mary will host its second home swim meet of the season on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Iowa Central Community College. The Flames, in their first season of competition, competed at the UNO Invitational last weekend, and the 200-yard medley relay team of Audree Uhlarik, Kendra D'avila, Kaity Greco and Katie Simpson qualified for NAIA nationals with a time of 2:08.85.

Contact the writer:

444-1034, marjie.ducey@owh.com

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