American college football season
The 2016 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football team represented Northwest Missouri State University as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) during the 2016 NCAA Division II football season . Led by sixth-year head coach Adam Dorrel , the Bearcats compiled an overall record of 15–0 with a mark of 11–0 in conference play, winning the MIAA title. They won the program's sixth NCAA Division II Football Championship with a win over North Alabama in the NCAA Division II Championship Game .
The Bearcats played their home games on the newly-renovated Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Missouri .[ 1] 2016 was the 100th season in school history.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Preseason The Bearcats entered the 2016 season as the defending NCAA Division II National Champions , after finishing the 2015 season with a 15–0 record overall and in conference play.[ 5] On August 2, 2016 at the MIAA Football Media Day, the Bearcats were chosen to finish in 1st place in both the Coaches Poll and in the Media Poll.[ 6] [ 7]
Sporting News released their Top-25 on May 25, 2016, landing Northwest Missouri State at #1.[ 8] On June 15, 2016, Lindy's NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 released its poll ranking Northwest Missouri State at #1.[ 9]
On August 15, the American Football Coaches Association released the Preseason Division II Poll,[ 10] landing Northwest Missouri State at #1.[ 11]
On August 22, D2football.com released its Top 25 poll, ranking Northwest Missouri State 1st.[ 12]
Personnel
Coaching staff Along with Dorrel, there are 12 assistants.
Name
Position
Seasons at NWMSU
Alma Mater
Adam Dorrel
Head coach
6
Northwest Missouri State (1998)
Rich Wright
Assist. Head Coach – Defensive Coordinator
6
Dana College (1995)
Charlie Flohr
Assist. Head Coach – Offensive Coordinator
11
Dakota State (2002)
Joel Osborn
Assist. Head Coach – WR/Recruiting Coordinator
6
Northwest Missouri State (2009)
Chad Bostwick
Assist. Head Coach – Linebackers
6
Northwest Missouri State (2005)
Brandon Clayton
Assist. Head Coach – Defensive backs
2
Northwest Missouri State (2009)
Ryan Gent
Assist. Head Coach – Tight Ends/Running backs
3
Iowa State (2013)
Ross Sharp
Director of player personnel
3
Northwest Missouri State (2014)
Scott Reilly
Graduate Assistant – Offensive Line
3
Northwest Missouri State (2016)
Andrew Pitts
Graduate Assistant – Defensive Backs
1
Northwest Missouri State (2016)
Justin Mulloy
Graduate Assistant – Quarterbacks
1
Minnesota (2014)
Brock Sherman
Graduate Assistant – Defensive Line
1
Northwest Missouri State (2016)
Tucker Peve
Football Equipment Manager
4
Northwest Missouri State (2017)
Reference: [ 13]
Roster
Schedule Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 1 7:00 p.m. at No. 24 Emporia State No. 1 W 41–146,821
September 8 7:00 p.m. Washburn No. 1 W 41–77,501
September 17 1:30 p.m. Nebraska–Kearney No. 1 Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO W 52–148,550
September 24 6:00 p.m. at Missouri Southern No. 1 W 45–215,267
October 1 5:00 p.m. No. 22 Central Missouri No. 1 W 42–1715,349
October 8 2:00 p.m. at Central Oklahoma No. 1 W 56–103,109
October 15 1:30 p.m. Northeastern State No. 1 Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO W 74–297,296
October 22 1:30 p.m. at Lindenwood No. 1 W 47–123,527
October 29 2:30 p.m. Pittsburg State No. 1 Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO (rivalry ) ASN W 69–1010,283
November 5 2:00 p.m. at Fort Hays State No. 1 W 28–73,325
November 12 1:30 p.m. Missouri Western No. 1 Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO (rivalry ) W 44–37,542
November 26 1:00 p.m. No. 9 Emporia State* No. 1 W 44–135,119
December 3 1:00 p.m. No. 5 Harding * No. 1 Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal) W 35–05,473
December 10 2:30 p.m. No. 5 Ferris State * No. 1 Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO (NCAA Division II Semifinal) W 35–205,264
December 17 3:00 p.m. No. 7 North Alabama * No. 1 ESPN2 W 29–39,576
[ 14]
Game summaries
Regular season
Emporia State
Northwest Missouri State at Emporia State
1
2 3 4 Total
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
3
17 14 7
41
#24 Emporia State
7
0 0 7
14
Washburn
Washburn at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
Washburn
0
7 0 0
7
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
17
0 14 10
41
Date: September 8Location: Bearcat Stadium , Maryville, MO Game start: 7:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:54Game attendance: 7,501Game weather: Overcast, 80 °F (27 °C)Referee: Sean Johnston
Nebraska–Kearney
Nebraska–Kearney at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
Nebraska–Kearney
7
0 7 0
14
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
10
28 7 7
52
Date: September 17Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 1:30 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:01Game attendance: 8,550Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)Referee: Brian Moore
Missouri Southern
Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Southern
1
2 3 4 Total
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
0
28 7 10
45
Missouri Southern
13
0 8 0
21
Date: September 24Location: Fred G. Hughes Stadium , Joplin, MO Game start: 6:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:58Game attendance: 5,267Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 85 °F (29 °C)Referee: Danny Harris
Central Missouri
Central Missouri at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
#22 Central Missouri
7
7 0 3
17
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
7
14 7 14
42
Date: October 1Location: Arrowhead Stadium , Kansas City, MO Game start: 5:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:49Game attendance: 15,349Game weather: Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C)Referee: Dwight Neibling
Central Oklahoma
Northwest Missouri State at Central Oklahoma
1
2 3 4 Total
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
14
28 14 0
56
Central Oklahoma
0
10 0 0
10
Date: October 8Location: Wantland Stadium , Edmond, OK Game start: 2:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:55Game attendance: 3,109Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)Referee: Danny Harris
Northeastern State
Northeastern State at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
Northeastern State
6
9 14 0
29
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
21
25 21 7
74
Date: October 15Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 1:30 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:07Game attendance: 7,296Game weather: Overcast, 70 °F (21 °C)Referee: Sean Johnston
Lindenwood
Northwest Missouri State at Lindenwood
1
2 3 4 Total
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
14
17 0 16
47
Lindenwood
6
0 0 6
12
Pittsburg State
Pittsburg State at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
Pittsburg State
0
3 7 0
10
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
14
27 14 14
69
Date: October 29Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 2:30 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:12Game attendance: 10,283Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)Referee: John AdamsTelevision network: American Sports Network
Fort Hays State
Northwest Missouri State at Fort Hays State
1
2 3 4 Total
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
14
0 0 14
28
Fort Hays State
0
0 0 7
7
Date: November 5Location: Lewis Field Stadium , Hays, KS Game start: 2:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:02Game attendance: 3,325Game weather: Partly cloudy, 67 °F (19 °C)Referee: Craig Helser
Missouri Western
Missouri Western at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
Missouri Western
0
3 0 0
3
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
10
7 10 17
44
Date: November 12Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 1:30 pm CST Elapsed time: 2:50Game attendance: 7,542Game weather: Sunny, 50 °F (10 °C)Referee: Dwight Neibling
With their win over Missouri Western, the Bearcats clinched their fourth straight conference title.[ 15]
Postseason
Emporia State
Emporia State at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
#9 Emporia State
0
13 0 0
13
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
17
14 3 10
44
Date: November 26Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 1:00 pm CST Elapsed time: 2:50Game attendance: 5,119Game weather: Sunny and clear, 51 °F (11 °C)Referee: Craig Hesler
Entering postseason as the No. 1 team, the Bearcats earn a bye during the first week of playoffs and will play the winner of the Emporia State and Minnesota–Duluth game.[ 16]
Harding
Harding at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
#5 Harding
0
0 0 0
0
• #1 Northwest Missouri State
10
12 3 10
35
Date: December 3Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 1:00 pm CST Elapsed time: 2:22Game attendance: 5,473Game weather: Clear and cool, 40 °F (4 °C)Referee: Bob Rose
Ferris State
Ferris State at Northwest Missouri State
1
2 3 4 Total
#15 Ferris State
0
0 0 0
0
#1 Northwest Missouri State
0
0 0 0
0
Date: December 10Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MOGame start: 2:30 pm CST
References
^ "Northwest Missouri State University – Bearcat Stadium" . May 7, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "2016 Northwest Missouri State Football Quick Facts" (PDF) . August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Adam Dorrel biography" . Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ White, Kevin (June 27, 2013). "Rich History of Bulldog Athletics in MIAA" . Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Northwest Missouri State beats Shepherd 34-7, wins Division II national championship" . December 19, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "NWMSU Tops Football Polls" . August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Northwest Tops MIAA Preseason Polls" . August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Emporia State Football is in Sporting News Preseason Top 25" . Retrieved August 4, 2015 .
^ "Emporia State University Athletics - Emporia State Football Ranked #12 in Lindy's Preseason Rankings" . June 15, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Northwest Missouri State No. 1 in Preseason AFCA Poll" . August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ Weast, Donald (August 15, 2016). "Emporia State Football Ranked in AFCA Top 25 to Start Season" (Press release). Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Top 25 Poll" . D2football.com. August 22, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Northwest Missouri State University – 2016 Football Roster" . Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ "Northwest Missouri State University – 2016 Football Schedule" . Retrieved August 26, 2016 .
^ MIAA Scoreboard (November 12, 2016). "Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association - NWMSU Football Wins Fourth Straight MIAA Title" . Themiaa.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016 .
^ MIAA Scoreboard (November 13, 2016). "Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association - Three MIAA Teams Make NCAA Division II Football National Tournament Field" . Themiaa.com. Retrieved November 13, 2016 .
Venue Bowls & rivalries People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
National championships in bold