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

[Coach]

This is all for the marbles!

11:00 on ESPN 2.

[Bearcat]

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.”

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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)

[Bearcat]

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

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•WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. today at Braly Field in Florence, Ala.
•TV/RADIO: ESPN2, WHB (810 AM), KCXL (1140 AM)

[Skip Towne]

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

[Coach]

Valdosta State settled for a 35 yard FG.

3-0

[Coach]

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

[Coach]

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

[Coach]

NWMSU missed a 40 yarder FG.

[Coach]

INTERCEPTION, NWMSU returns it for a TD!

[Iowanian]

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.

[Bearcat]

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.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

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.

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Coach

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.

[Coach]

Great start. 3 and out.

[Bearcat]

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