The Gorillas are riding high as the winners of eight straight games after defeating the Central Missouri Mules 48-35 last weekend. Sitting at 8-2, with both losses coming to top ranked teams early in the season, the Gorillas are currently sitting at #8 in the country, and second in the MIAA conference. There is only one game left in the season, and one game in the Gorillas’ way of claiming the MIAA title, and that team is Northwest Missouri State.
The Bearcats have had a strong season, one that somewhat mirrors the Gorillas’ own. Northwest Missouri started the season off with a loss to Minnesota State, but has since won nine straight, including a win over then #15 ranked Central Oklahoma. Other than that solitary win, the Bearcats have not faced any other ranked opponents, and Central Oklahoma has not been ranked for a few weeks now.
This is not to say that the Bearcats are a pushover. They have defense for days, having both the top passing and rushing defense in the MIAA in terms of yards per game. They have allowed only eight passing touchdowns this year, three less than the Gorillas. They have the second most sacks in the MIAA, behind just Pitt State, and are the only MIAA team to be averaging less than 100 rushing yards per game.
On offense, Northwest Missouri is also impressive, with their strength being the rushing game. The Bearcats sit in the first-place spot in the MIAA, averaging almost 50 more yards per game than second-place Pitt State. They also have 30 rushing touchdowns, eight more than the Gorillas. Their only weakness, if it can be called that, is their passing game, which sits slightly below average in terms of yards per game. This, however, is likely due more to the nature of playing with a lead and is supported by the Bearcats having scored 19 passing touchdowns, tied for the top in the MIAA and seven more than Pitt State.
If the Gorillas want to come out of this extremely important game with a win, they will have to keep up with the Bearcats. If they allow Northwest Missouri to take an early lead, it will be extremely hard for the Gorillas to make up the lost ground. The recipe for success for the Gorillas will be to come out fast and not let up, putting the Bearcats in unfamiliar territory as they try to play catch-up.
This game comes with serious playoff implications on top of the battle for the MIAA title, as both of these teams are ranked and looking for some playoff games. If the Gorillas can pull off the win, they will be making a serious push for hosting at least one round of the playoffs, a huge advantage.
This game will be played in a neutral setting, as the Gorillas and Bearcats will be playing in Children’s Mercy Park, home of the Sporting KC soccer club. This is not the first time that the two teams have met in Kansas City, as the teams have a rich history of meeting in larger stadiums pre-covid. With the change in location comes a change in rules and ticketing.
“There will be a special interest for those who purchase tickets in advance, so you will get in a little bit quicker if you do that. Our guest experience staff will be all over the place, not hard to miss. They will be ready to help everybody to make sure they know where they are going, that they know where to sit, and what to do. If you go online as well, you can see which seating sections are closest to which team,” senior director of events Alesia Lawson said.
Lawson emphasized the value of purchasing your tickets online before the game, as it will be much easier for fans to get into the stadium. She also stressed the fact that the stadium was entirely cashless, including parking, so bring a card if you plan to attend. This will be the last game of the regular season for the Gorillas and will be a can’t-miss game.