GAME 8: SBU BEARCATS (3-4) vs NORTHEASTERN STATE RIVERHAWKS (2-5)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 • 1:30 PM
PLASTER STADIUM • BOLIVAR, MO
RADIO: KBFL 99.9 FM (Rob Evans, play-by-play)
INTERNET AUDIO: www.radiospringfield.com
LIVE STATS: via Sidearm stats

SBU NOTES
    
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats look to get even from last season, as they host the Northeastern State RiverHawks, in a rematch from last year's 45-20 loss in Tahlequah. The 'Cats have been riding high as of late, winning their last three games by a combined score of 149-53. With a win, the Bearcats' four-game winning streak would be the longest in school history since 1987.

SBU's junior quarterback Steve Gachette continues his record-setting career for the Bearcats. He ranks second in the nation in Division II in total offense (372 yds/game) and fifth in the nation in passing yards (2,059). Already this season, he's set single game school records for total offense (573 yards) and passing yards (459) as well as career marks for passing attempts (1198) and total offense (8672) which added to the ten individual marks he held coming into the year.  

Wide receiver Johnnie King, who led the nation in receptions per game (89 grabs in 10 games) in 2008, is tied for 33rd nationally in receiving yards per game (81.86). SBU ranks third nationally in Division II in total offense (497 ypg) and 11th in passing offense (301 ypg). King and teammates John Austin and Charles Johnson are tied for 59th nationally with each other and several others with five catches per game.

Linebacker Jarred Schumpert is tied for twelveth nationally in tackles per game at 11.0. Schumpert has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in his three previous years. He is also 15th with 1.79 tackles for loss/game.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Bearcat head coach Keith Allen is in his third season at the helm of the Bearcats. He's already engineered a significant turnaround, moving the 'Cats from 0-11 his first year as interim coach, to 5-6 in 2008. Kenny Evans is head coach at Northeastern State, where the RiverHawks have seen slow but steady improvement since Evans taking the helm in 2008. NSU has doubled its win total from last season with four games still remaining. The one and only meeting between the two squads was last season, a 45-20 loss for the Bearcats on the road.

SCOUTING THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State's offense is primarily focused on the run; NSU has passed the century mark in rushing five out of their seven games so far this season. They ball is spread to a few different backs, as they have had a runner collect one hundred yards on the ground only twice. La'Ron Elmer and Woody Wilson lead the team with 249 and 241 yards rushing, respectively.