Missourian
mn December 9, 2010 | V86 | N14
SEMIFINAL SPECIAL EDITION
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4 Teams 1 Goal Tjeerdsma, seniors seek 6th consecutive national championship appearance BY TONY BOTTS Sports Editor It is difficult to argue with convincing evidence. Especially, the cases of evidence Northwest has compiled on the National stage. Five consecutive National Championship appearances is impressive. Six is unprecedented. Northwest, under the guidance of head coach Mel Tjeerdsma, is 7-0 in Semifinal games and holds the NCAA record with 32 playoff victories. However, the 33rd playoff victory will have to come against No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth, who has occupied the top spot since Nov. 1. Duluth enters the Semifinal showdown after defeating St. Cloud State 20-17 in the second round of the playoffs and dropping Augustana 24-13 in the Quarterfinals. Northwest’s journey to Saturday’s heavy-weight fight began in Maryville with a 28-24 win over Missouri Western, then on to Kingsville, Tex. where the Bearcats claimed a 35-31 rematch victory over the Javelinas. The win in Kingsville set up a third straight rematch, this time against a Central Missouri squad with a last second 17-16 loss to the ’Cats fresh on its mind. However, the Mules were downed 37-20. The last time the two teams faced off, was the 2008 National Championship game, which Duluth won 21-14. The ’Cats committed four turnovers and fumbled six times. “I think that the memory of how good they are is still good,” Tjeerdsma said. “I felt like, two years ago, we underestimated them a little bit. They’re good. They’re very solid. They’re really well coached; they’re not going to make mistakes. They’re patient with what they do; they believe in what they do.” While this year’s Duluth squad does not feature All-American running back Isaac Odim, who suffered See DULUTH on B2
LORI FRANKENFIELD | PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR