Northwest Missouri State University

Northwest New Release


Dec. 3, 2007

Northwest, Grand Valley to meet at Bearcat Stadium

football

The Bearcats defense stops the run against Grand Valley in last year's NCAA
Division II championship game. This year's rematch, a semifinal contest, takes
place at 8 p.m. (CST) Saturday, Dec. 8, in Bearcat Stadium. The game is being
carried live on ESPN2 and the Bearcat Radio Network.


As practically every NCAA Division II football fan in the country knows, the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (11-1) and the Grand Valley State Lakers (12-0) will meet in the D-2 national football semifinals at 8 p.m. (CST) Saturday, Dec. 8, at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville.

Bearcat Stadium, which seats about 7,000 fans, is sold out, but fans can still purchase standing-room-only tickets for $8 at the Northwest Student Services Center on the first floor of the Administration Building or by calling 660.562.1212 (ext. 1212 on campus).

Center hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please have your credit card ready when placing a phone order. For detailed ticket information, go to: www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/football/playoffs/tickets3.htm.

The Bearcats/Lakers game will be televised live on ESPN2, which is channel 24 for Maryville cable subscribers. Fans who can’t be at the stadium and who don’t have cable or satellite access to ESPN2 can tune into the game on the Bearcat Radio Network or listen online at www.kxcv.org.

In addition to University-operated KXCV (90.5 FM, Maryville) and KRNW (88.9 FM, Chillicothe), fans can hear the game on these Bearcat Radio Network stations:

Since 2000, the football programs at Northwest and Grand Valley have chalked up four national titles, three runner-up finishes and 11 semifinal appearances.

The Lakers have the longest current streak of consecutive playoff appearances with seven, while the Bearcats have missed just two postseasons in the past eight years -- 2001 and 2003.

Even though this will be just the fourth overall meeting between the two teams, and the third in a row in the playoffs, the rivalry has already produced some thrilling football.

In both the 2005 and 2006 national championship games, Northwest had a chance to bust up perfect Lakers' seasons and grab a ring. In 2005, the final Northwest drive came up four yards short when Raphael Robinson was tackled as time expired with the score at 21-17. In 2006, the Bearcats started their last possession on the Grand Valley 48 trailing 17-14 with 1:32 left. A fumble on the 21 yard line secured another Lakers victory.

Since 2000, Northwest or Grand Valley has been ranked No. 1 in the nation 80 out of 104 possible weeks, according to the American Football Coaches Association poll. Grand Valley leads the way with 68 weeks at No. 1, while Northwest has 12 weeks atop the rankings.

A Bearcat win would avenge two championship losses and snap Grand Valley’s current 40-game winning streak. The Lakers have not been beaten since Nov. 27, 2004, when North Dakota prevailed 19-15 in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals.

Northwest became the Southwest Region representative following its 26-13 win at Chadron State on Saturday, Dec. 1. Grand Valley won the Northwest Region championship by beating Central Washington 41-21.

Additional Bearcats football playoff information is available at: www.nwmissouri.edu/sports/football/playoffs/playoffs.htm.


For more information, please contact:

Bryan Boettcher
Athletic Media Relations Director/Sports Information
Northwest Missouri State University
Office: (660) 562-1118

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