Mavs prepare to take on No. 8 Bearcats

Caniglia field will host a battle of Top 10 teams Saturday. No. 5 ranked UNO (3-0, 2-0 MIAA) and No. 8 Northwest Missouri State (3-1, 2-0) meet in a key MIAA conference game at 1:30 p.m.

In the preseason coaches' poll, Northwest was picked to finish first in the MIAA with UNO second.

History favors UNO, though. Dating back to 1999, the two teams have faced off eight times (4-4) with the home team winning every game. The Bearcats haven't won in Omaha since 1996.

"I don't know if that trend really matters," quarterback Zach Miller said. "We still got to battle that out on the football field."

The last two meetings in Omaha have been decided by less than six points. Last year's game saw the Mavs come back from a 21-6 deficit in the fourth-quarter to win 25-21.

Northwest's lone loss this season was their season opener against No. 4 Abilene Christian (Texas).

UNO has rolled over Nebraska-Kearney, Emporia State and Missouri Southern by scoring at least 40 points each game this season.

Both teams have shown they can put up big numbers. Northwest ranks sixth nationally with 45.3 points per game and UNO ranks eighth with 43.3.

Northwest leads the MIAA and ranks 13th nationally in passing yards per game (307.2), while UNO leads the MIAA and ranks fourth nationally in rushing yards per game (283.0).



Miller was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Offensive Player of the Week for his play during last Saturday's 40-21 road win over Missouri Southern.

The senior from Weston, Neb., collected 338 yards of offense and five touchdowns, while rushing for 195 yards on 16 carries. He scored three times on runs of 5, 65, and 16 yards. The 65-yard run is UNO's longest run from scrimmage this season.

"That's a well-deserved honor," head coach Pat Behrns said. "Zach did mention Saturday night after the game that he had a pretty good effort out of the offensive line and the rest of the people out there to give him those opportunities."

Miller was 9 of 13 through the air for 143 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Miller is now third all-time at UNO in scoring with 234 points.

"It doesn't really change anything," Miller said of the award. "As long as we get wins as a team, that's all that matters.