**** The Official Northwest Missouri State vs. Valdosta State Game Thread ****
 

This is all for the marbles!

11:00 on ESPN 2.

Northwest Missouri will use experience to its advantage in title game

By DAVID BOYCE

The Kansas City Star

Coach Mel Tjeerdsma (center) last week led Northwest Missouri past title-game nemesis Grand Valley for another shot at the championship.

• D-II Championship: Northwest Missouri vs. Valdosta State matchups

FLORENCE, Ala.| Several hours after Northwest Missouri lost the 2006 NCAA Division II football title by three points, Ben Harness spoke.From winter conditioning to spring football to practice in the fall, Harness said at a team banquet, the Bearcats pushed to try to avenge a 21-17 loss to Grand Valley State in the 2005 championship game.

“We gave everything we had to win a national championship,” Harness said after a 17-14 loss to Grand Valley in 2006.

The lesson was that sometimes your best effort is not good enough.
But, there were no regrets in Harness’ mind because Northwest Missouri gave its all.

For the returning Bearcats, the lingering pain of those championship losses has fueled their desire to reach the top of Division II football.
Northwest Missouri coach Mel Tjeerdsma is confident that when the Bearcats, 12-1, step onto Braly Field in Florence, Ala., at 11 a.m. today against Valdosta State, 12-1, his players will have the right mind-set.

“I really get a sense from these guys, especially our seniors that they were extremely disappointed two years in a row, and they don’t want that feeling again,” Tjeerdsma said.

“They are on a mission to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I like that attitude. I think that’s the way we’ve been playing, really since the Missouri Southern game.”

The Bearcats showed a heightened intensity in their 49-14 victory over Missouri Southern in their regular-season finale, and it has continued through the playoffs.

For the second year in a row Northwest Missouri went 9-0 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

But unlike last year when the Bearcats never trailed in a MIAA game, they had a stretch from Oct. 6 to Nov. 3 when they struggled to put opponents away.

A missed field goal allowed Northwest Missouri to go into overtime and beat Pittsburg State. Missed extra points helped the Bearcats escape with a two-point win over Central Missouri and a one-point victory over Washburn.

“Everybody was thinking for a while, what’s wrong and stuff like that,” senior tight end Mike Peterson said. “We had to figure out that we all needed to get on the same page, really start playing together.

“I know for a time a lot of people were a little bit hesitant about our team and even some of our teammates were thinking about it. What do you do? You got to be a man about it, correct things and have fun with it.”

The Bearcats believe those midseason struggles have prepared them for anything they might face in the championship game.

All the outside distractions that come with playing in the championship game, the Bearcats now have under control.

“The last two years will help a lot,” junior offensive lineman Tom Pestock said.

Tjeerdsma, who led Northwest Missouri to back-to-back titles in 1998 and ’99, has learned a few things from the last two years.

The previous two years the Bearcats flew to Florence on Thursday morning. This time they left Wednesday evening so Thursday wouldn’t be so hectic.

Northwest Missouri is ready, and the players know they are fortunate to be in this position again.

“This is our third year in a row to compete for a national title,” junior quarterback Joel Osborn said. “That’s all you can ask for.

“So many guys have experienced the last couple of years and just knowing what the feeling is like to lose this game. It’s a feeling of being so empty inside. It’s something we don’t want to experience again.”
<HR class=infobox-hr-separator>NCAA DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP
•WHO: Northwest Missouri vs. Valdosta (Ga.) State
•WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. today in Florence, Ala
•TV/RADIO: ESPN2; WHB (810 AM), KCXL (1140 AM)

D-II Championship: Northwest Missouri vs. Valdosta State matchups

When Northwest Missouri runs
Despite what the Harlon Hill trophy voters think, Northwest Missouri has the best running back in NCAA Division II in senior Xavior Omon. Omon is all but guaranteed to get at least 150 yards against a defense that allows 123 rushing yards per game.
EDGE: Northwest Missouri

When Northwest Missouri passes
With each game, Northwest Missouri junior quarterback Joel Osborn is becoming a more efficient passer. He’s gotten away from forcing balls into coverage, and that bodes well for the Bearcats. Osborn has also dealt with inclement weather the last two weeks, so the expected rain for today’s game shouldn’t bother him.
EDGE: Northwest Missouri

When Valdosta State runs
The Bearcats have been strong against the run all season, except for the second half against Pittsburg State. Valdosta State averages 178 yards rushing per game, but running back Michael Terry isn’t capable of hurting Northwest Missouri with his 82.4 yards rushing per game.
EDGE: Northwest Missouri

When Valdosta State passes
The Northwest Missouri secondary has made plays in crucial situations, but the Bearcats have given up some big pass plays, particularly in the first half against Grand Valley State last week. Valdosta State senior quarterback Willie Copeland ranked third in pass efficiency in the Gulf South Conference.
EDGE: Valdosta State

Special teams
Both teams have reliable place-kickers. Northwest Missouri has a more explosive kickoff returner. And don’t be surprised if the Bearcats block a punt.
EDGE: Northwest Missouri

Coaching
Valdosta coach David Dean led the Blazers to the Division II title in 2004 over a more talented Pittsburg State squad. Dean can coach. But what Mel Tjeerdsma has done in 14 seasons at Northwest Missouri has been phenomenal. He has taken a program that was at the bottom of the MIAA and transformed it into a Division II power that is making its third straight trip to the title game. Tjeerdsma’s team will not be denied.
EDGE: Northwest Missouri

Intangibles
Valdosta State overcame a 14-0 first-quarter deficit against Pittsburg State and came back and won 36-31 for the 2004 title. So the Blazers know how to win the biggest game. Northwest Missouri has lost the last two title games, so the Bearcats have the hunger.
EDGE: Northwest Missouri

PREDICTION: Northwest Missouri 31-17
<HR class=infobox-hr-separator>•WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. today at Braly Field in Florence, Ala.
•TV/RADIO: ESPN2, WHB (810 AM), KCXL (1140 AM)

Ben Roethlisberger's mom went to NW Missouri State. Maybe you can borrow sonny boy for a few hours.

Valdosta State settled for a 35 yard FG.

3-0

Jeez, NWMSU's defense is getting shredded....

End of 1st quarter, 3-0 Valdosta State.

NWMSU missed a 40 yarder FG.

INTERCEPTION, NWMSU returns it for a TD!

Its been a pretty good game so far.

NW has come a long ways since the suckage they put on the field during most of my years there.

Great playcall for the touchdown... hopefully they'll open it up a little in the 2nd half so Omon can get some room to run. Nothing crazy, but Valdosta State has come back in each of their 3 playoff games, so I don't want to hear "the punters are playing great" again in the second half.

Usually NWMSU is somewhat like a slow start in the first half, but then they make excellent adjustments in the 2nd half and it has shown.

I think you are right on one thing. They need to open it up a little bit more.

Not sure if it's been the same all season, but last week it seemed like Omon would either break one for 20 or get stopped behind the line. When you have a kid that's run for 600 yards in 2 games, I understand you have to give him plenty of chances. However, they should be able to soften them up over the middle with Peterson.

Tjeerdsma said they need to open it up before going into the lockeroom, and I don't expect him to Herm it up.

Great start. 3 and out. :shake:

I know they called holding and not PI, but the damn thing was thrown out of bounds. :cuss:

Yeah, but there was no reason to hold him in the first place anyways.

NWMSU is making costly mistakes in this drive. Touchdown, Valdosta State.

Enough for a Bearcat...

...First Down!

Refs fleeced NWMSU on that one. That was not a block in the back.

Jeez, Mel is doing a pretty good job of doing Herm Edwards impression.

Points!

You're Herming it up! :cuss: :banghead:

Awful spot.

Barely got it.

Eat shit Valdosta players!

How about taking a shot at downfield?

Sheesh.

Oh yeah, he got it.... a few very questionable calls in the 2nd half :shake:

I keep waiting for Valdosta's D to wear out so Omon can get loose.

And there's a INT.

Damn.

Fortunately that was overthrown, but had it hit him right on the money, that would have been six.

INT or running into a wall over and over and over... eh.

Thanmks for the heads up. Otherwise I'd be watching something stupid.

DIII is on after this... and it'll still be better than the Chiefs game.

I'm starting to get the feeling that 14 isn't going to be enough :(

What is this, Robinson defense?

Hey - their nickname is "Bearcat". No wonder you like them.

Holy crap.

:banghead:

So much for "finishing" it.

I noticed the coincidence while posting on the NWMSU/GVS thread during the 3rd quarter of the game last week.

For years I had been calling them the Bobcats. Stupid Chris Bearman

Jeez, where was that play like 2 series ago?

Hey, with 11 men in the box, the MIDDLE OF THE FIELD IS OPEN!!!

Or that one?

Hey, with 11 men in the box, THE REVERSE MIGHT WORK!

I'd run it up the middle here...

PBJ

And extra point is blocked and returned for 2.

OMFG :head explodes:

Bearcat defense better rise to the occasion.

Finally, a sack.

Huge sack on the 3rd and six.

Bearcat defense showed up in time. Now NWMSU can "finish" it if they can use up all the six minutes of clock time.

Oh jesus, that was right in his hands, both the receiver and the defensive back could had caught that.

Go V-State!

:(

The Buffalo Bills of DII football :suck: er, :sulk:

Why don't they let them score... or use timeouts? WTF?

woo hoo!

Jesus Christ, Mel actually learned something from the Herm Edwards coaching school.

http://www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/ima...erdsma_mel.jpg = http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/writers/p...y/p1_marty.jpg

Game over. :shake: :deevee:

Ball game. Good season. This loss is deftinaly on the coaches, especially on offense.

Mel "hermed" up that second half.

What a misuse of time at the end.

He did misuse time but it didn't cost them the game. They threw a pick anyways.

I hope Herm recovers from the flight back in time for the game tomorrow.

I was planning on giving mobile updates in this thread from Braly Memorial, but I was too frustrated to do it the more the game went on. And then it started raining, etc.

Big ups to Valdosta State. They owned the line of scrimmage for the better part of the game, and they looked hungrier in the second half. Which is amazing, because I would have figured that NW would be hungrier than any team ever for a NC ring.

Coaching is a big part of the blame, too. I know NW's passing game isn't that strong because of the absence of Faulkner and Robsinson, but you have to adjust to what the opposition is doing. The times NW did try to pass were either very successful, or only unsuccessful because the o-line didn't block anyone, leaving Osborn to scramble.

At least NW just got beat. I mean, yeah, the scheming and adjustments could have been better, and the clock should have been handled much better, but NW simply go beat more than anything. I'm content with that.

Though the profound sense of, despair, I think it is, washing over me is debilitating. 3 straight NC losses? I know now that I will never know what victory feels like in any competitive venture that I invest energy into; whether as a fan of a team or as an active participant, I have never, ever, ever tasted the big-time victory. I have personally experienced more second places, be they in following a sports team or in competitive theater and forensics competitions, than any one person should. I am profoundly sad right now. Profoundly so.

Damn; I've wasted a whole lot of money going to Alabama these past 3 years only to experience the sensation of someone taking a shit of their own directly into my asshole.

Get this damn D2 game off my tv and put Oklahoma on.

F-in ridiculous. Baby carrot type bs.

Hey, at least there is a Chiefs game to look forward to tomor...

...

...

I'm going to jerk this van off of a bridge now and die a watery, Alabaman death.

On second thought, I'm not going to kill myself. Because in the off-chance that I ever run into the quoted poster in real life, I can maul his skull in with a Stanley FUBAR Demolition Tool.

As one can easily ascertain, immense sorrow makes me violent.

We're the Buffalo Bills of DII football. :cuss:

The Bearcats did great all season. The coaching staff just drew blanks in the 4Q today. Hope they're back in the playoffs next year.

Reaper is now Alabama man and will beat women...

That a threat dude?

Meet up tonight? I'll be out by the Legends.

They'll be back in the playoffs... maybe. Pitt State and UCM have favorable schedules next season. Washburn is always strong. Mo West is young, very talented, and was a win away from being the 4 seed in the playoffs this season. UNO enters the MIAA conference next season, and looks to be extremely, extremely strong with a senior-heavy team.

Northwest loses two future NFL draft picks on offense in Omon and Peterson, and loses 5 of the starting front 7 on defense.

Northwest will be lucky to escape conference play with 2 losses. 3 losses, maybe even 4, is far more likely.

Northwest will not have a chance at the NC for a number of years, I fear. By that time, Mel might be retired... its very possible that Northwest has reached thier peak in terms of being a football power.

The kicking game snafus for NW were killer, as well, now that I think about it. Frevert missed a FG and had a PAT blocked and returned for 2 points... that's a lot of points.

Nice internet threat, baby carrot.

Seriously reaper, you should be banned for that. I've contacted admin.

I'm posting from a phone in Alabama. I probably won't be able to make it until 3:00 am or so. Rain check?

LMAO

Bills were 0-4 in championship games. NW is 2-3, now. But I can see the comparison in terms of consecutive losses, yeah.

Bannable offense's: Physically threatening other members, or posting private information such as home address or phone numbers.

I probably should have a temp ban, yeah. I was grieving in public and making inappropriate comments towards you. Nothing drastically more inappropriate than the average content of your hateful posts, but you have a point. I mean, anyone could tell that it wasn't a serious threat... it was ridiculous to the point of being laughable; a joke. But you do have a point -- it was both unfortunate and inappropriate.