March 29, 2024

Bearcats breeze forward to semis

Preparation cited heavily in Northwest’s defensive dominance

Image 1 of 4

MARYVILLE, Mo. — A week’s worth of diligent and exhausting preparation led to the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats running rampant over the Harding University Bison 35-0 at Bearcat Stadium.

Both squads came into Saturday afternoon’s NCAA Division II national quarterfinals undefeated, the Bearcats at 12-0 and the Bisons at 13-0.

For Creston native Collin Bevins, the newly-minted sackmaster at Northwest Missouri State, prepping for the Bisons was a different task.

“Coach (Rich) Wright had a great gameplan all week,” Bevins said. “We took probably 180-190 snaps against the triple-option this week in practice and it paid off once it came to game time.”

Bevins’ role consisted more of fulfilling gap responsibilities and taking away the threat of one of the Harding players on particular plays against the Bisons’ vaunted rushing

attack.

“Your alignment assignment has to be impeccable,” Northwest Missouri State coach Adam Dorrel said. “Our guys did a great job with that we continued to mix up what we were doing. Who’s got dive. Who’s got pitch? Who’s got quarterback? I think that’s important that you don’t show them the same look over and over again.”

Harding’s vaunted rushing attack ran for 4,960 yards on the ground through 13 games, good for 381.5 per game.

Saturday Harding ran for just 119 yards on 43 carries Saturday and that averaged dropped to 362.8 yards per game on the ground.

“They got off blocks well. If you watch film, their defensive line is outstanding,” outgoing Harding coach Ronnie Huckeba said. “They run to the ball well, they don’t get out of position. They keep the ball in front of them.”

Bevins had three tackles, one solo and two assisted. He also was involved in hurrying Harding quarterback Park Parish twice among his six pass attempts, one of which ended up being an interception that landed in the hands of Jarrod Bishop.

“They would tell you that’s the last type of offense that they would like to play against,” Dorrel said. “They’d rather play against a team that throws the ball 40 times a game and they can look pretty coming off an edge. If you go back and watch the film, between the B-gaps, there’s nothing pretty about that. That was trench warfare in there today.”

Dorrel gave props to his defensive staff and the kids for coming in focused and prepared as they have ever been.

“Our preparation going into today was absurd the amount of time and energy that our kids put in,” Dorrel said.

Huckeba was impressed not only with the preparation put in by the Bearcat, but also by the pure talent that the defense possessed.

“They have more than two defensive ends that are outstanding,” Huckeba said. “73 (Cass Weitl) and 11 (Collin Bevins), those are Division One players.”

Part of the Bearcats’ success came in special teams play. The Bearcats blocked a punt. Kicker Simon Mathieson booted five field goals and Bevins blocked a field goal attempt in the third quarter in what was Harding’s best scoring opportunity of the game.

Jordan Grove of Adel factored into the offense with a 58-yard touchdown reception and a two-yard direct snap touchdown on the ground.

Bevins has made a run to the Division II national title with Northwest in each his freshmen and junior seasons.

Now in his senior year, his team sits one win away from being in a position to battle for a title again.

“It was special. But now to do it as a senior and to really experience it as a senior, it’s awesome,” Bevins said.

The Bearcats (13-0), will host Ferris State (12-2) at Bearcat Stadium Saturday at 2:30 p.m. for a chance to go to the title game on the line.