2021 MIAA Week Eight Preview

October 20th, 2021 7:00pm

Good luck figuring out the MIAA in 2021. Washburn, Missouri Southern and Central Oklahoma all pulled off upsets in week seven. Nearly half the conference is either 4-3 or 3-4. Four teams are still alive for a playoff berth in Nebraska Kearney (6-1), Northwest Missouri (5-1), Pittsburg State (5-2) and Washburn (5-2).

Let’s take a quick look around the region to see what teams are vying for the seven playoff spots. The first regional rankings will be released next Monday.

GAC: Harding (6-1), Henderson State (6-1),Ouachita Baptist (6-1) and Southeastern Oklahoma (5-1)

GLIAC: Ferris State (6-0), Grand Valley State (5-1) and Michigan Tech (4-2)

GLVC: Lindenwood (5-2) and Truman State (5-2)

We are down to 13 teams battling for seven spots. I doubt a three loss team gets into the playoffs unless the GLVC gets one in via Earned Access. The region will go through Ferris State after they beat Grand Valley State last week. Ferris State will be heavily favored over the last month of the season and should finish undefeated.

Washburn 17 Northwest Missouri 16

For back to back weeks, the Northwest Missouri offense did not score in the first half. Well it burnt them in Topeka. Unlike the Pittsburg State game, Northwest Missouri outplayed Washburn for a majority of the game but failed to end drives with points. Mike Hohensee threw two interceptions, one in the endzone to end the first half and the other to end the game. Pair that with Cole Lammel missing fields from 27 and 24 yards and that is how you lose games on the road in the MIAA. Give credit to Washburn though, they held firm in the redzone and won despite losing their star quarterback Mitch Schurig on the first drive of the game. Kellen Simoncic did an excellent job off the bench against one of the best defenses in the nation.Washburn keeps their playoff hopes alive.

Nebraska Kearney 42 Emporia State 35

This was a game of runs. Emporia State jumped out to a 21-7 lead before Nebraska Kearney scored 35 unanswered points to take a 42-21 lead with nine minutes left. Emporia State would then score two touchdowns and were an onside kick recovery away from a game tying drive. Nebraska Kearney escapes with a win and I still do not trust their defense with any lead. Emporia State continues to play weird, one score games.

Pittsburg State 59 Lincoln 7

What did you expect? The biggest surprise was Pittsburg State only rushing for 284 yards.

Missouri Southern 30 Central Missouri 28

What a win for Missouri Southern. Two years ago Central Missouri was co-champions of the MIAA and made the playoffs while Missouri Southern was 2-9. Missouri Southern’s defense is much better this year, including the number one pass defense in the MIAA. Great win for the Missouri Southern program, wins like this can turn a program around in a hurry. Just ask Nebraska Kearney. As for Central Missouri, what a disappointing season. For a team that started the year ranked 11th in the nation and second in the MIAA to be 2-5 is mind boggling.

Missouri Western 57 Northeastern State 24

The Missouri Western defense forced seven turnovers including six interceptions. Two pick-sixes and a kickoff return for a touchdown later and it is a rout. The Missouri Western offense did not perform as well as it needed to to give me faith in that unit going forward. Missouri Western has too many weapons on the perimeter in Traveon James, Cooper Burton and Hezekiah Trotter to be this inconsistent in the passing game. Something just is not right.

Central Oklahoma 24 Fort Hays 14

Central Oklahoma just out-physicaled Fort Hays in Hays. That does not happen often. I was skeptical of the two quarterback system that Central Oklahoma has used this year with Keats Calhoon and Stephon Brown. But it worked last week. Stephon Brown was the off speed pitch in the running game that Central Oklahoma needed to win this game. Also, give credit to Central Oklahoma’s defense for limiting the Fort Hays passing attack to 235 yards and the offense to 14 points.

Last week: 3-3

Season: 27-14

MIAA Week Eight Power Rankings

Northwest Missouri State --
Nebraska Kearney --
Pittsburg State --
Washburn --
Missouri Western +2
Emporia State +2
Central Oklahoma +2
Fort Hays State -3
Missouri Southern +1
Central Missouri -4
Northeastern State --
Lincoln --

Week Eight Games

Northeastern State (2-5) at #7 Northwest Missouri (6-0)

Saturday, 1pm

All-time: Northwest Missouri leads 10-0

2019: Northwest Missouri won 79-0

	Northeastern State	Northwest Missouri
Points Scored	19.0	27.7
Points Allowed	42.6	9.5
Pass Yards	220.4	226.5
Pass Yards Allowed	289.7	209.7
Rush Yards	110.6	188.0
Rush Yards Allowed	174.7	45.0
Total Offense	331.0	414.5
Total Defense	464.4	254.7

Northwest Missouri is going to win this game and win big. The only question is how good or bad will the Bearcats look while doing it? There are just so many questions about Northwest Missouri on offense. How healthy is Mike Hohensee’s ankle? Will Hohensee keep his spot as the starter with Braden Wright coming back? Will Braden Wright get regular snaps at quarterback or will he get a package of plays? Either way, this should be a tune game for next week’s homecoming showdown with Nebraska Kearney.

Northwest Missouri 52 Northeastern 14

Fort Hays (3-4) at Central Missouri (2-5)

Saturday, 1:30pm

All-time: Central Missouri leads 10-4

2019: Central Missouri won 34-30

	Fort Hays	Central Missouri
Points Scored	32.6	25.0
Points Allowed	22.3	31.4
Pass Yards	312.3	306.0
Pass Yards Allowed	212.4	290.3
Rush Yards	157.3	114.1
Rush Yards Allowed	155.4	209.1
Total Offense	469.6	420.1
Total Defense	367.9	499.4

The disappointment bowl. I had these two teams as top three teams in the MIAA in the preseason along with Northwest Missouri. Now Central Missouri is one loss away from a losing season, for the second time in the Svoboda era (5-6 in 2018). Fort Hays is staring down their worst season since they went 6-5 in 2013 and 5-6 in 2012. Both offenses have been up and down all year long, but I do not trust Central Missouri’s defense at all. The only defense worse in the MIAA right now is Lincoln. Give me Fort Hays in this ball game, Central Missouri has not given me any reason to believe in them in 2021.

Fort Hays 31 Central Missouri 21

Washburn (5-2) at Central Oklahoma (4-3)

Saturday, 2pm

All-time: Central Oklahoma leads 6-3

2019: Central Oklahoma won 22-20

	Washburn	Central Oklahoma
Points Scored	35.1	28.1
Points Allowed	23.1	22.0
Pass Yards	294.4	177.4
Pass Yards Allowed	242.3	222.6
Rush Yards	139.1	173.3
Rush Yards Allowed	118.0	140.7
Total Offense	433.6	350.7
Total Defense	360.3	363.3

Both teams are coming off upset wins last week. Washburn is playing for a potential playoff berth while Central Oklahoma still has its eyes on a potential bowl game invitation. Unfortunately for Central Oklahoma, I think they will finish the year at 5-6. Their next three games are brutal with Washburn, at Pittsburg State and Nebraska Kearney. I am not sure about Mitch Shurig’s status for this week (concussion protocol). However, I am rolling with Washburn this week. The backup quarterback, Kellen Simoncic, showed he was competent enough to win them games last week. One thing to note though, Central Oklahoma has won the last three games in this series.

Washburn 30 Central Oklahoma 23

Missouri Southern (3-4) at Emporia State (3-4)

Saturday, 4pm

All-time: Emporia State leads 23-22

2019: Emporia State won 29-6

	Missouri Southern	Emporia State
Points Scored	21.4	34.6
Points Allowed	27.3	30.4
Pass Yards	184.6	339.3
Pass Yards Allowed	206.6	294.9
Rush Yards	178.6	144.7
Rush Yards Allowed	188.6	110.6
Total Offense	363.1	484.0
Total Defense	395.1	405.4

Emporia State has won eight straight matchups against Missouri Southern and I believe they run that streak to nine, barely. This game is strength vs strength. Emporia State has the number one passing offense in the MIAA and Missouri Southern has the number one passing defense in the conference. On the other side of the ball, Missouri Southern’s rushing offense ranks third while Emporia State’s rushing defense ranks second in the MIAA. In the end, I believe Braden Gleason is the difference in this game for Emporia State. Sit back and enjoy this game, it should be a fun one.

Emporia State 28 Missouri Southern 27

Lincoln (0-6) at #22 Nebraska Kearney (6-1)

Saturday, 2pm

All-time: Nebraska Kearney leads 2-1

2019: Nebraska Kearney won 44-0

	Lincoln	Nebraska Kearney
Points Scored	21.2	33.9
Points Allowed	62.8	22.9
Pass Yards	220.3	216.7
Pass Yards Allowed	270.3	243.0
Rush Yards	127.0	246.9
Rush Yards Allowed	294.0	167.6
Total Offense	347.3	463.6
Total Defense	564.3	410.6

Will Nebraska Kearney run for 450 yards or not? That is the only thing I am paying attention to in this game. I expect TJ Davis to get some rest this week in preparation for playing Northwest Missouri next week. Lincoln is just not a competitive team in the MIAA right now.

Nebraska Kearney 63 Lincoln 21

Pittsburg State (5-2) at Missouri Western (3-4)

Saturday, 4pm

All-time: Pittsburg State leads 34-12

2019: Missouri Western won 35-21

	Pittsburg State	Missouri Western
Points Scored	32.6	30.7
Points Allowed	18.3	32.6
Pass Yards	256.0	233.3
Pass Yards Allowed	211.1	299.1
Rush Yards	158.9	137.1
Rush Yards Allowed	127.6	147.7
Total Offense	414.9	370.4
Total Defense	338.7	446.9

I have been impressed with Pittsburg State since their week two second half collapse against Nebraska Kearney. Even in their loss to Northwest Missouri, Pittsburg State looked impressive. I cannot say the same thing about Missouri Western. The Missouri Western offense has been hot and cold all year and it has been cold over the last three weeks. Pittsburg State’s defense is not the defense that you get out of a slump against. Pittsburg State keeps their playoff hopes alive with a win in St. Joseph.

Pittsburg State 30 Missouri Western 21