Football ****The Official Northwest Missouri State vs North Alabama Game Thread****

**Reaper16** · 12-05-2008, 05:10 PM

ESPN 2, 3:00pm Saturday 12/06

The Division II football national semi-finals are here. North Alabama comes up to Maryville to take on the Bearcats for a chance to avenge UNA's 2005 home semi-final defeat at the hands of Northwest. Josh Lamberson threw a TD pass with 25 seconds left to lead the Bearcats to a 25-24 victory back three years ago.

This year is all screwed up. Northwest, I thought, was looking at a re-loading year after losing Xavier Omon, Mike Peterson, and a shit-load of defensive starters. Surprise, surprise, this young NW team is one win away from the national title game for a 4th consecutive year. This Bearcat team has gelled around La'Ron Council's 32 TDs and the solid QB combo of Joel Osbourn and the mobile Blake Bolles. The defense keeps getting better -- last week, NW upset the best D2 offense I've ever seen. Abeliene Chistian had scored 92 points the week previous; NW went into Texas and held that offense to 34 points (the first time ACU was held under 40 all season).

The Game:

Both teams are talented, and are playing at peak-level right now. UNA is more athletic than NW. Their QB, Milwee, is a Harlon Hill award finalist. He can spread the ball around and rush the ball himself with success. NW's Dline will need to apply constant pressure to make up for the fact that UNA's WR corps are bigger and faster than NW's Dbacks.

UNA's rush defens is suspect, which will be a key facter considering how effective LaRon Council has been for NW. NW is very, very balanced. They will use both the run and the pass, not relying on the run like they did when Omon was not a Buffalo Bill. UNA's Dbacks and linebackers are very oppuntunistic; it seems as if they haul in every turnover chance. NW doesn't turn the ball over, in fact they have zero interceptions thrown in the last 6 games. That streak of protecting the ball HAS to continue.

Overall, I think Northwest can win it. But it won't be easy. At all. UNA is a big-time program. Whichever team can be the most balanced offensively will win; neither team is very good when they are one-dimensional.

**Skip Towne** · 12-05-2008, 05:12 PM

Yeah, those directional schools are a big draw.

**Reaper16** · 12-05-2008, 05:14 PM

BTW - in the other national semi-final, California (PA) returns to the semi-finals, where they will play the undefeated, Cinderella Minnesota-Duluth team.

All of the # 2 seeds beat the #1 seeds last week, that's 4 road playoff wins, and at the regional final round no less. Cal beat Bloomsburg, UNA knocked off GSC conference champion Delta State, NW upset the juggernaut ACU, and Minnesota-Duluth managed to upset super-power Grand Valley State in double-overtime.

**Reaper16** · 12-05-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Yeah, those directional schools are a big draw.

And it's a shame. I think most football fans would eat D2 football up if they knew about it. The quality of play is consistently better than most FCS (1-AA) play. There are very talented teams in D2, comprised of real student-athletes. Plus, they use a damn playoff! D2 football has nearly all the positives of BCS football without the bullshit. If people watch D2 football, they will be impressed.

BTW -- two Chiefs rookie defensive backs, Brandon Carr and Maurice Leggett, are Division II players. The world champion NY Giants have two D2 players playing important parts on the team (TE Kevin Boss and DE Dave Tollefson). I could go on.

beavis · 12-05-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

Yeah, those directional schools are a big draw.

Enough of a draw for you to click and make an ignorant post on the thread.

**Iowanian** · 12-05-2008, 05:35 PM

Brandon Carr played against the bearcats in a playoff-finals game last year or the year before I believe.

Demonpenz · 12-05-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper16

And it's a shame. I think most football fans would eat D2 football up if they knew about it. The quality of play is consistently better than most FCS (1-AA) play. There are very talented teams in D2, comprised of real student-athletes. Plus, they use a damn playoff! D2 football has nearly all the positives of BCS football without the bullshit. If people watch D2 football, they will be impressed.

BTW -- two Chiefs rookie defensive backs, Brandon Carr and Maurice Leggett, are Division II players. The world champion NY Giants have two D2 players playing important parts on the team (TE Kevin Boss and DE Dave Tollefson). I could go on.

ROBINSON ON THE COLTS IS FROM MO WEST DAMNIT!

**Reaper16** · 12-05-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonpenz

ROBINSON ON THE COLTS IS FROM MO WEST DAMNIT!

He's been a very good role player for them, too. Indeed.

Cornstock · 12-05-2008, 06:10 PM

Mel Tjeerdsma is one of the best college coaches out there. Hes won everywhere hes ever been going back to when he was offensive coordinator at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. The way he gets his players to give everything is truly amazing.

**Reaper16** · 12-06-2008, 11:25 AM

Bump.

I know that, like, none of you are going to watch this over the Alabama-Florida game. They're both on at the same time, which is terrible.

Maybe you can flip this game on during commercial breaks? It's great football. I promise.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 12-06-2008, 11:27 AM

Shove that hickory stick up your ass, you Northwest bastard

eazyb81 · 12-06-2008, 11:40 AM

Still can't believe NWMSU beat Abilene Christian after they set the record for most points ever scored in a game.

Hopefully the Bearcats stop their extended impression of the Buffalo Bills and actually win a damn championship this year.

**Reaper16** · 12-06-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eazyb81

Still can't believe NWMSU beat Abilene Christian after they set the record for most points ever scored in a game.

Hopefully the Bearcats stop their extended impression of the Buffalo Bills and actually win a damn championship this year.

That would be nice. I'm not counting my chickens yet, though. UNA is a good-ass team. Do I think NW will win? Yeah. UNA is not as good as ACU, but ACU kind of had an off-day. I can see UNA upsetting the Bearcats.

**Reaper16** · 12-06-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Shove that hickory stick up your ass, you Northwest bastard

We might as well. Its been in Maryville for so long -- it doesn't look to leave the town anytime soon -- we ought to do something else with it.

**Reaper16** · 12-06-2008, 01:47 PM

One last bump before I go out to the stadium.

"All my life I wanna' be a Bearcat! Hoo-Ha! Hoo-Ha! Go, go, get 'em, get 'em, and when you got 'em say Hoo-Ha! Hoo-Ha!"

12-05-2008, 05:10 PM
Reaper16 Eat/Sleep/Procrastinate/Repeat Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dystopia Casino cash: $10017397	**The Official Northwest Missouri State vs North Alabama Game Thread ESPN 2, 3:00pm Saturday 12/06** The Division II football national semi-finals are here. North Alabama comes up to Maryville to take on the Bearcats for a chance to avenge UNA's 2005 home semi-final defeat at the hands of Northwest. Josh Lamberson threw a TD pass with 25 seconds left to lead the Bearcats to a 25-24 victory back three years ago. This year is all screwed up. Northwest, I thought, was looking at a re-loading year after losing Xavier Omon, Mike Peterson, and a shit-load of defensive starters. Surprise, surprise, this young NW team is one win away from the national title game for a 4th consecutive year. This Bearcat team has gelled around La'Ron Council's 32 TDs and the solid QB combo of Joel Osbourn and the mobile Blake Bolles. The defense keeps getting better -- last week, NW upset the best D2 offense I've ever seen. Abeliene Chistian had scored 92 points the week previous; NW went into Texas and held that offense to 34 points (the first time ACU was held under 40 all season). The Game: Both teams are talented, and are playing at peak-level right now. UNA is more athletic than NW. Their QB, Milwee, is a Harlon Hill award finalist. He can spread the ball around and rush the ball himself with success. NW's Dline will need to apply constant pressure to make up for the fact that UNA's WR corps are bigger and faster than NW's Dbacks. UNA's rush defens is suspect, which will be a key facter considering how effective LaRon Council has been for NW. NW is very, very balanced. They will use both the run and the pass, not relying on the run like they did when Omon was not a Buffalo Bill. UNA's Dbacks and linebackers are very oppuntunistic; it seems as if they haul in every turnover chance. NW doesn't turn the ball over, in fact they have zero interceptions thrown in the last 6 games. That streak of protecting the ball HAS to continue. Overall, I think Northwest can win it. But it won't be easy. At all. UNA is a big-time program. Whichever team can be the most balanced offensively will win; neither team is very good when they are one-dimensional.
Posts: 33,369

12-05-2008, 05:12 PM	#2
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	Yeah, those directional schools are a big draw.
Posts: 69,689

12-05-2008, 05:35 PM	#6
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4688454	Brandon Carr played against the bearcats in a playoff-finals game last year or the year before I believe.
Posts: 61,548

12-05-2008, 06:10 PM	#9
Cornstock Veteran Join Date: Oct 2008 Casino cash: $9986835	Mel Tjeerdsma is one of the best college coaches out there. Hes won everywhere hes ever been going back to when he was offensive coordinator at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. The way he gets his players to give everything is truly amazing.
Posts: 1,606

12-06-2008, 11:27 AM	#11
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7989572	Shove that hickory stick up your ass, you Northwest bastard __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 74,833

12-06-2008, 11:40 AM	#12
eazyb81 The Illuminati Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: the road less traveled Casino cash: $10004900	Still can't believe NWMSU beat Abilene Christian after they set the record for most points ever scored in a game. Hopefully the Bearcats stop their extended impression of the Buffalo Bills and actually win a damn championship this year.
Posts: 12,033