In Super Region 4 on Saturday, it's all about rematches. The last battle between Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western is still fresh in everyone's mind, seeing as how it was just two weeks ago. But in Topeka, you'll have to go back to Week 1 of the 2010 season to remember why Washburn is looking to get back at Abilene Christian.

The 'Bods lost 34-26 at home to ACU, beginning what was a horrid stretch to start the season, and perhaps, in the end, costing them a playoff spot.

Now, Washburn can return the favor by improving the MIAA's record against LSC teams in the playoffs to 6-0 in the past four years.

This game has plenty of fun to offer, but I'd be cheating myself, and my readers, if I didn't start this week at Spratt Stadium, where I'll be Saturday to watch the game.

No. 7 Northwest Missouri (9-2, 7-2 MIAA) at Missouri Western (9-2, 7-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 19; Noon
Spratt Stadium; St. Joseph, MO
MWSU Ticket Info: Here | NWMSU Ticket Info: Here
Free Live Video: Here | MWSU Game Notes: Here | NWMSU Game Notes: Here
Previous Meeting: at Missouri Western 31 Northwest Missouri 28, Nov. 5

Any player, coach or fan will tell you, one of the hardest things to do is beat the same team twice in one season. That fact is only amplified when you're talking about Northwest Missouri, the six-time defending Super Region 4 champion.

Now anyone can tell you, this isn't the Northwest of old. The Bearcats lost their All American quarterback, their coach retired, his replacement and longtime assistant passed away, and even once the season started, they dealt with injuries to their two best players (QB Blake Christopher and WR Jake Soy). To come out of that with a 9-2 record is nothing less than spectacular.

And to do it as the nation's top-scoring offense, second behind only 10-0 Midwestern State in total offense, is downright unbelievable. What incredible depth this team has shown this year, with backup quarterback Trevor Adams stepping in to the starting role in several games like it was just another day at the office. With Soy missing some time and being deemed insignificant in some of the games he did play (others - like Pitt and Washburn - he was Northwest's offensive star) has left room for guys like WR Tyaler Shaw, RB Jordan Simmons and TE Kyle Kilgore to step into the forefront of the passing game - the three have a combined 19 TDs (9, 5 and 5 respectively)

With both Christopher and Soy expected to play Saturday, it's certainly nice to have that many options for the first-year senoir starter, as there just isn't a better defensive line in the conference. David Bass (14.5) and David Pister (8.5) are first and second in the conference in total sacks and for my money, how Bass isn't the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year should be investigated by federal authorities. (Nate Dreiling is a downright animal, but Bass singlehandedly changed games over and over).

In the Griffons' victory a few weeks ago, Bass was fairly quiet, but did come up with the stop on fourth down that ended up winning them the game.

Besides Bass, the MIAA' biggest weapon on defense, this game also features more of the conference's heaviest artillery kicker (Greg Zurlein - MoWest) and perhaps biggest all-around threat (Simmons, who can run, catch and hurt you in the return game), so this matchup has plenty to watch for.

What I'll be watching for the most in this game is the play of Travis Partridge. Missouri Western's sophomore quarterback (and coach's son) looked completely incapable of running an MIAA offense the first few weeks of the season, and after the Griffs fell to 2-2 a month into the season, I wasn't sure he'd make it through the year.

But all he's done since is go from a 1-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio to a 2-to-1 and proven consistently he can hurt you on the ground just as much as through the air, including back-to-back 100 yard rushing games to end the regular season.

You team his improved play with the conference's leading rusher, Michael Hill (whose 112 yards a game put him at a modest 17th in the country), and this is team entirely capable of knocking off the mighty Bearcats twice in three weeks.

I'm not necessarily saying that will happen though. This IS Northwest, and this IS the playoffs. Road games obviously don't scare the 'Cats, and don't think for a second the loss to Missouri Western will somehow instill some sort of fear into the players' heads.

I think if EVERYBODY, on both sides of the ball for both teams, plays their game, Northwest has the weapons to win, though Bass makes it difficult. If Christopher and/or Soy show some ill-effects from their injuries, the Bearcats might be in trouble. And if Partridge comes back to his early-season "Little P" form, it might get ugly for the Griffons.

I simply can't do this whole preview without mentioning him, so I'll throw him in as my potential game-changer. With 17 rushing touchdowns on the year, James Franklin is tied with Morehouse's David Carter for fourth in the country, and I think he'll move past 20 this week with a long run that either breaks the game open or shifts the momentum back to the Bearcats on their way to a victory.

Prediction: Northwest Missouri 31 Missouri Western 28

No. 5 Abilene Christian (9-2, 7-2 LSC) at No. 14 Washburn (9-2, 7-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 19; 1 p.m.
Yager Stadium; Topeka, KS
Washburn Ticket Info: Here | Abilene Ticket Info: Here
Free Live Video: Here | Washburn Game Notes: Here | Abilene Game Notes: Here


It's been a long time since these two teams met to open the season last year. Abilene's best player from that game (Edmund Gates) is playing for the Miami Dolphins while Washburn's leading threat (Vershon Moore) is awaiting federal sentencing Monday for bank robbery.

Through all the changes, one thing remains the same for both teams. They have great quarterbacks leading the way. Dane Simoneau has been great this year, finding ways to overcome his slow stretches and work his way into the initial list of 22 regional candidates for the Harlon Hill trophy. Bob Eblen calls him the best quarterback in all of Division II, and who am I to argue with that?

Gale had the chance to grab that role, and while his numbers aren't as shell-shocking as they were last year, he has still worked his way onto that list of 22 as well and is the nation's fourth-leading passer (behind only Simoneau, UCM's Tommy Corwin and WVWC's Adam Neugebauer).

As fun as Gale can be to watch, who us MIAA fans really need to keep an eye on is LSC Defensive Player of the Year Aston Whiteside, considered an NFL-caliber player on a defensive line that has compiled 36 sacks on the year.

Gale and his powerful offense, in most games, have made up for what has proven to be, even with a stellar D-line, a sub-par defense. You might recall the Wildcat defense getting doused with 740 yards by Midwestern in a 70-28 defeat.

Running back Daryl Richardson, another returnee from last year's team, averages 5.6 yards a carry and has found the end zone 10 times, plus he averages three catches a game out of the backfield.

Gale's favorite target though is Taylor Gabriel, who has eight scores and nearly six grabs a game.

Overall, I think Washburn's talent outweighs Abilene's here. Even if Whiteside goes off and gets at Simoneau, Ichabod running backs Justin Cooper and Sean McPherson can hurt you on the ground.

I'm not going to lie. Last week's flat performance against UCM was concerning, and it's not the way you want to be coming into a playoff game, but if Washburn can get back into their groove, this shouldn't be too much of a contest.

Prediction: Washburn 42 Abilene Christian 31

Just for Fun

Here's my picks from the rest of the bracket:

SR1
Cal over Elizabeth City
Kutztown over Concord

SR2
Albany State over North Greenville
North Alabama over West Alabama

SR3
St. Cloud over Wayne State
SVSU over Duluth (gotta go with my alma mater!)


Agree with what I have to say? Think I'm an idiot? It's cool either way. I just want to hear about it. Leave a comment below, e-mail me at [email protected], @ me on Twitter @miAARONd2 or send me a message at Facebook.com/apheintz.