Press Release

Nov. 11, 2012

Bearcats host Harding in NCAA First Round

MARYVILLE, Mo. – For the ninth consecutive season the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats have earned a spot in the NCAA Division II football playoffs and for the first time under Head Coach Adam Dorrel the Bearcats will host a first round game as the No. 4 seed in the Super Region Three bracket.

The Bearcats will host Harding University who finished 9-1 overall, 7-1 in the Great American Conference and earned the region’s No. 5 seed. Kickoff from Bearcat Stadium is set for noon as the two teams will meet for the first time in program history.

Current season ticket holders can begin to purchase tickets online at www.nwmissouri.edu/tickets/playoffs.htm beginning tonight (Nov. 11) at 7 p.m. Sales for season ticket holders will be available at the Student Services desk in the Administration Building or by calling 660.562.1212 at 8 a.m. Monday and run through Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

Northwest students may purchase tickets in person at the Student Services Desk in the Administration Building beginning Monday at 8 a.m. Online sales for student tickets will begin Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8 a.m.

Any unclaimed seats will go on sale to the general public beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased in person, by phone, online at northwestbearcats.com (Go to “Game Day” menu and click Purchase Tickets) or by clicking here.

Ticket prices are as follows:
$15 – Reserved seating
$10 – Youth Reserved seating (age 3 to high school)
$10 – SRO (standing room only) ages 3 and up
$5 – Student ticket (Northwest students only)
Youth ages 2 and under free

The top three seeds were all conference champions as Minnesota State Mankato earned the No. 1 seed as the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Champion. Henderson State, who won the Great American Conference, earned the No. 2 seed, as the top two teams earn a first round bye.

Rounding out Super Region Three is MIAA Champion Missouri Western as the No. 3 seed. The Griffons will host playoff mainstay Minnesota Duluth Saturday in St. Joseph.

The winner of the Northwest-Harding game will play at Minnesota State Mankato on Nov. 24, while Henderson State will host either Missouri Western or Minnesota Duluth in the regional semifinals. The regional final will be the following Saturday, Dec. 1 at the highest remaining seed.

The winner of Super Region Three will play the winner of Super Region Two in the national semifinals, while the winner of Super Region One will play the winner of Super Region Four in the other national semifinal. Those games will be played either Dec. 8 or Dec. 9.

The NCAA Division II national championship game is set for Saturday, Dec. 15, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala., and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.