Happy Thanksgiving: ACU and ESPN

Read Rick Reilly's article on Nick Jones on ESPN.com.

Lessons Learned: ACU vs. NWMo

• For the second straight year, ACU's season has a win over and a loss to the Bearcats as bookends.
  
• Northwest Missouri State is just plain good, especially good in the playoffs, where Mel Tjeerdsma's team has more postseason wins than any other NCAA Division II coach. They have made the playoffs 11 times in the past 13 years, with a 25-9 postseason record during that run, have never lost in the second round, and have played in the last four national championship games. 
• It's hard to beat a team twice in the same season, as Midwestern State learned last week, and ACU was reminded of again today.
• A 19-14 loss to ACU, in Abilene, is the only blemish on NWMo's 11-1 record in 2009. The Wildcats have lost just five games the past two years, with the Bearcats responsible for a pair of those defeats, both season-enders in the playoffs.
• ACU is the only team in the last 30 games to beat the Bearcats on their home field. 
• If I was NWMo fan, I'd be looking into motel reservations in Florence, Ala., the weekend of Dec. 12 for what should be a fifth straight appearance in the national title game.
• For all those fans who want to see a series of playoffs end the annual speculation over which team is the best in the nation, be careful what you wish for and remember that in Playoff Land, only one team in the country goes home a winner at the end of the year. How many sports talk radio stations would that put out of business? Enjoy all those upcoming bowl games for teams with five or less losses while you still can.

Fourth Quarter Review: ACU vs. NWMo

Morgan Lineberry missed his second FG of the game, a 48-yarder early in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats responded with a 9-play drive, capped by a 23-yard TD pass from Bolles to LaRon Council. ACU QB Zach Stewart led the Wildcats on a 6-play scoring drive, with RB Daryl Richardson running for a 1-yard TD with 02:01 left. NWMo ran out the clock for a 35-10 win and a spot in the national quarterfinals against either Central Washington or Tarleton State.

Third Quarter Review: ACU vs. NWMo

RB Reggie Brown fumbled on the first play of the second half, with the Bearcats recovering on the ACU 17.  LaRon Council's 1-yard TD run gave NWMo a 21-3 lead with just under 14 minutes left in the third quarter. The Bearcats committed their third turnover of the game when Bolles fumbled, and ACU's Bryson Lewis recovered at the Wildcat 33. ACU gave it right back when Mitchell Gale fumbled at the Bearcat 46. NWMo took only four plays to score again, on another 1-yard run by Council. ACU DB Tony Harp came up with another turnover, intercepting Bolles on the Bearcat 48. 

The third quarter ended with ACU down, 28-3. The Wildcats prevailed in first downs, 17 to 12, but trailed in total offense, 321 yards to 252. NWMo has only allowed opponents to score twice in the third quarter all season. They have sacked ACU QB Gale four times.

Halftime Thoughts: NWMo 14, ACU 3

Each team has 9 first downs. The Bearcats lead in total yards, 215 to 157, with Bolles' TD run accounting for half of their offense. NWMo has committed two turnovers, but ACU hasn't been able to capitalize on them with a big play. Bolles' 71-yard TD run makes him the game's leading rusher, followed by teammate LaRon Council with 48 and ACU's Reggie Brown with 30. Bolles is 10 of 13 for 109 yards passing; Gale is 13 of 19 for 100 yards. Edmund Gates has four catches for 33 yards to lead ACU, while Jake Soy 4 has catches for 59 yards.

ACU is just a couple of big plays short of evening the score. Gale showed off his strong arm twice, barely overthrowing Raymond Radway and Terrell Woodall on two deep pass plays that may give the Bearcats a reason to not overplay the running game. 

Overall, it's been an evenly played game. The Wildcats are not out of it, and have held the Bearcats in check, other than Bolles' long TD run. NWMo averages 44.8 points a game, second-best in the nation. Bolles is ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency, behind Midwestern State's Zack Eskridge. The Wildcat defense is doing its job again against the powerful offense of a nationally ranked opponent, and has two sacks already (by Casey Carr and Courtney Lane).

ACU gets the ball to start the second half.