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MARYVILLE

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News Brief

Aug. 1, 2018MARYVILLE, Mo.

Bearcats set the bar high for 2018

Senior linebacker Nick Hess and the Bearcats bring lofty expectations into 2018.

Less than a week before practice begins for colleges across the country, the MIAA placed a target on Northwest Missouri State once again.

The conference's coaches and media placed the Bearcats atop their preseason rankings. With four MIAA titles in the last five years, and nine in the last 12 years, it's a familiar spot for Northwest. And it's right where they want to be.

"People don't rise to low expectations," senior linebacker Nick Hess said. "We set them high because then we'll be able to achieve them."

Hess is set to anchor the Northwest defensive unit that receives national recognition every year. In 2017, the Bearcats led the country in total defense (212 yards allowed per game), scoring defense (9.3 points allowed per game), blocked punts (7), and third down defense (19.9-percent conversion rate).

To field another stout defense capable of winning the MIAA again this season, the Liberty native says Northwest will need to see younger players emerge.

"We have a lot of guys on this team that haven't had a national championship, haven't played in that kind of environment and they're hungry," Hess said. "We're getting younger at obviously the quarterback and other key positions. We need those guys to grow with us. As many people as you can get in the boat and going in the same direction, that's what you want and that's what we're trying to do right now."

A tough MIAA regular season schedule wraps up with Fort Hays State in week 10 and Central Missouri in week 11. The Tigers and Mules were picked to finish second and third, respectively, in both the conference coaches and media preseason polls.

Northwest starts the season on Thursday, August 30 against Missouri Western at Bearcat Stadium.