The Northwest Missouri State University football team is 6-0 and the Bearcats are also perfect in the MIAA player of the week awards. For the sixth consecutive week, the Bearcats have earned at least one MIAA player of the week honor.
This week the awards went to senior tight end Marqus Andrews (Blue Springs, Missouri) as the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week and sophomore linebacker Sam Phillips (Tabor, Iowa) as the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week.
Andrews caught three first-half touchdown passes to lead Northwest to a 38-17 win over Pittsburg State at Arrowhead Stadium. Andrews had three total receptions for 61 yards against the Gorillas. Andrews also rushed once for eight yards. Andrews returned two kickoffs for 25 yards including a long of 17. Andrews's first touchdown game on a six-yard shovel pass from Braden Wright that leveled the game at 7-7 with 8:33 left in the first quarter. His second score came on a 20-yard pass from Mike Hohensee with 5:08 left in the first quarter to give Northwest a 14-7 advantage. His final catch of the day came on a fourth down at the Gorilla 35-yard line. The Bearcats lined up to kick a field goal, then shifted into a regular formation. Andrews leaked out down the middle of the field and Hohensee hit him for a 35-yard touchdown strike that gave Northwest a commanding 28-7 lead with 6:21 left in the second quarter.
Phillips totaled a team-high 11 tackles (eight solos) and a tackle-for-loss in Northwest's 38-17 win over Pittsburg State at Arrowhead Stadium. Pittsburg State entered the game having averaged 204.4 yards per game - Phillips and the Bearcat defense limited the Gorillas to 87 net rushing yards on 35 attempts. Pitt State had 12 rushing touchdowns on the season but did not have a rushing score on Saturday against the Bearcats. For Phillips, it is the seocnd time this season he has been honored as the league's top weekly player. He also earned the honor in week one against Missouri Western.
The No. 7-ranked Bearcats will be on the road this week traveling to Kearney, Nebraska, to take on the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers. Kick is set for 2 p.m. at Cope Stadium.
Northwest's MIAA Players of Week - 2019
Sam Phillips, LB - Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9)
Braden Wright, QB - Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16)
Jerrell Green, DB - Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 23)
Imoni Donadelle, RET/WR - Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 30)
Parker Sampson, PK - Special Teams Player of the Week (Oct. 7)
Marqus Andrews, TE - Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 14)
Sam Phillips, LB - Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 14)
--- Northwest Athletics ---