Bearcats take on Mules at Arrowhead

By Editor | September 29, 2016 |

DAILY FORUM FILE PHOTO
Northwest’s Collin Bevins rushes at Nebraska-Kearney quarterback Justin Roberts during the Bearcats’ 52-14 win over the Lopers on Sept. 17. Bevins was wearing No. 52 that game in honor of teammate Nicholas Turner, who passed away before the season.

As the Northwest Missouri Sate University football team heads into its Arrowhead Stadium matchup against Central Missouri on Saturday (kickoff at 5 p.m.), it will have experience on its side.

This will be the 13th game at Arrowhead stadium for the Bearcats, who have always played Pittsburg State in the neutral site contest. Bearcat head coach Adam Dorrel is excited to go back to the stadium where his team is 9-3.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “To me, there’s zero negatives about playing there. I look at it as a financial gain for not just the football program, but for the whole athletic program. The Kansas City area is a huge recruiting hub for us. Then for the student-athletes, just the memories…that’s awesome. The last part of it is, if you’re fortunate enough to make the playoffs in a year you play at Arrowhead, I really believe it helps you in the playoffs because it feels like a playoff game.”

The Bearcats are coming off a 45-21 win over Missouri Southern in which Dorrel said his team fought through some adversity and made adjustments, but he also said it hoped it was a wakeup call that it needs to play better.

The Mules are going to offer skill at more positions than the Lions did in Week 4.

“They have a lot more veteran players,” he said. “A lot of people picked them to win the league and they are loaded from top to bottom with seniors, fifth-year seniors, fourth-year juniors and guys that have started since they were redshirt freshmen and sophomores. Their quarterback is a good player and they have two kids that can tote the rock. They are the only team in the conference that runs a 30 defense consistently.”

Garret Fugate leads the Mules under center and has had an impressive season thus far. Fugate has thrown eight touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 60 percent of his passes and throwing for 1,322 yards.

Gabe Vandiver and Xavier Washpun have split the rushing duties almost evenly with Vandiver at 39 attempts and Washpun at 37. Vandiver has 222 yards and three touchdowns to go with 191 yards and two touchdowns from Washpun. Both backs average north of five yards per carry.

Jaylen Zachary has proven to be Fugate’s favorite target when he drops back to throw. Zachary has 23 receptions on the year and five have gone for touchdowns. He has 347 receiving yards through four games.

Defensively, the Mules are led by cornerback Monteze Latimore and linebacker Michael Tannehill, who each have a team-high 31 tackles. As a defense, the Mules have come with five interceptions.

Central Missouri averages 480 yards of offense per game, which is second in the MIAA while Northwest averages 467 yards per game, which is third in the conference.

Dorrel is 4-1 all time against Central Missouri.

Maryville native seeing more playing time

Junior defensive tackle Caleb Mather, a Maryville native, has seen his role increase as his career has gone on. He redshirted in 2013, appeared in 12 games in 2014 and recorded two tackles, and appeared in all 15 games in 2015 when he made 22 tackles to go with 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Going into the Central Missouri game, he has registered 10 tackles and two sacks.

Dorrel said its can be both harder and easier to recruit a Maryville native.

“It depends on the situation,” he said. “Some kids, at 18, want to get out of town and I can understand that. I grew up here. As they get older, they figure out it’s a pretty good place. They grow up in this football community and I think it pulls those kids to this place. If you look at al the things I talk about in recruiting, I know those things immediately with those kids because I know the moms and dads. I know exactly what were getting with a Maryville kid.”

Mather is just as excited to be playing at Arrowhead stadium, where the Bearcats last played in 2013 — his redshirt season, as his other teammates.

“It’s just exciting,” he said. “Going down and watching all those games when I was younger…It’s cool that I’m going to be out there playing.”

IMPORTANT ITEMS:

Parking gates open at 11 a.m.
Arrowhead Stadium gates will open at 3:30 p.m.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Northwest Missouri will be on the south sideline.
Central Missouri will be on the north sideline.
Programs will be available for $5 at the game.
Find information on the Arrowhead Clear Bag Policy, the Fan Code of Conduct and the A-Z guide.

PREGAME TAILGATES

Northwest Missouri State fans can join the Northwest Alumni Association Bearcat Zone in the Pavillion beginning at 2 p.m. The Pavillion is on the south side of the stadium. The Bearcat Marching Band and spirit groups will perform immediately outside the Pavilion at 3 p.m. In addition, the University Bookstore will be selling merchandise inside the pavilion throughout the event.
Central Missouri fans can join UCM Athletics and the UCM Alumni Foundation in the Founder’s Club beginning at 2:30 p.m. The Founder’s Club is located on the north side of the stadium.

ROYALS GAME AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM

The Kansas City Royals take on the Cleveland Indians at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday, October 1^st as well. First pitch is set for 3:15 p.m. Due to the large number of spectators expected at the Truman Sports Complex that day, fans for the baseball game and the Fall Classic are encouraged to consider this factor when planning their travel plans for this day and allow for additional time.

TICKET INFORMATION

Online: Visit Chrome & Firefox Ticketmaster Link or Internet Explorer Ticketmaster Link with the promo code (bearcats)
Northwest seating is on the south side (home sideline) / UCM seating is the north side (visitor sideline)
Fans are encouraged to purchase online prior to the event. On-site ticket sales will be available beginning at 11:15 a.m. on the day of the game.

PARKING & DIRECTIONS

Parking will be $12 cash. Oversized vehichles are $17 and bus and RV parking will be $25 cash.
Cash will be the only accepted form of payment unless purchased in advance online.
Bearcat fans are encouraged to use gates 3, 4 or 5 to enter the Truman Sports Complex.
Large vehichle (bus and RV) parking will be available in lot N. Pleas use entry gates 5 and 6 for easiest access to those lots.
Parking lots C and D will be open for guests entering the Truman Sports Complex via parking Gates 2, 3 and 4.
Parking lots F and G will be open for guests entering via Gates 5 and 6.
Visit Chiefs.com/parking for directions to the stadium and a parking map.
Please note that GPS directions to the stadium may not indicate the best gate through which to enter.

STADIUM ENTRANCE

Stadium gates are scheduled to open at 3:30 p.m.
Guests with a lower level ticket may enter via the Hy-Vee Gate or Sprint Gate.
Guests with a Scout Investments Club Level ticket may enter via the Hy-Vee Gate, Sprint Gate, Tower Gate or Founder’s Gate.
Re-entry is prohibited.

POLICIES

Smoking is prohibited in the seating bowl and all areas of the stadium except at designated areas at the four corner entry gates and at the top of the Field Level End Zone stairs behind sections 101 and 128.
Alcohol sales will cease at the start of the 3rd quarter.
State law requires that all persons consuming alcohol be at least 21 years of age.
Only two (2) alcoholic beverages per ID may be purchased at a time.
No alcoholic beverages will be sold to anyone perceived to be alcohol impaired or intoxicated.

GUEST ASSISTANCE

Talk: Call the Customer Relations Hotline at 816.920.4237.
Text: Text “CHIEFS” YOUR LOCATION and ISSUE to 69050
Visit: For immediate assistance visit a Fans First Booth presented by Sprint located in sections 114 or 131.

WEATHER INFORMATION