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Northwest to Represent MIAA in DII Playoffs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - After finishing off its fourth consecutive perfect conference season and league championship, Northwest Missouri will now represent the MIAA in the 2009 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs. The bracket was unveiled Sunday afternoon, and the Bearcats received a first-round bye with the No. 2 seed in Super Region Four. They will face the winner of No. 3-seed Midwestern State and No. 6-seed Abilene Christian in the second round Nov. 21 at home in Maryville, Mo.
Northwest went 9-0 in MIAA play this season to increase its conference winning streak to 37 games, the second-longest streak in league history. Northwest Missouri won 41 consecutive MIAA games from 1997-2001, including four consecutive conference titles (1997-2000). Pittsburg State also went 37 games without an MIAA loss from 1989-1992, but the streak included a tie in the 21st game.
Northwest Missouri has now made the NCAA Division II Playoffs in six consecutive seasons and 12 out of the last 14 years. The Bearcats have appeared in the last four NCAA Division II Championship games.
The MIAA will also have representatives in the Kanza Bowl and Mineral Water Bowl, both to be played Dec. 5. The announcements for these bowl games will be made Monday. The Kanza Bowl will feature an MIAA school against a school from the Lone Star Conference, while the Mineral Water Bowl will match up an MIAA squad against a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent.
2009 NCAA Division II Playoffs
Interactive Bracket | Printable Bracket
Super Region Four
First Round (Nov. 14)
5-Tarleton State (9-2) at 4-Texas A&M-Kingsville (9-2) - Noon
CT; Kingsville, Texas
6-Abilene Christian (8-3) at 3-Midwestern State (9-2) - Noon CT;
Wichita Falls, Texas
Second Round (Nov. 21)
Tarleton State/Texas A&M-Kingsville winner at 1-Central
Washington
Abilene Christian/Midwestern State winner at 2-Northwest Missouri
Quarterfinals (Nov. 28)
To be determined (on campus)
Semifinals (Dec. 5 or 6)
To be determined (on campus)
Championship (Dec. 12)
Braly Municipal Stadium
Florence, Alabama
Host: University of North Alabama and the Shoals National
Championship Committee
