Northwest's win over ACU not a shocker

A surprise, but not a shock.
Many of those who saw Abilene Christian play this season thought the Wildcats could go to the national championship game. Unstoppable offense, good defense, great placekicker.
But this is the playoffs and things are different.
ACU trounced Northwest Missouri by 17 points in Maryville, Mo., in the season opener. The Bearcats were had some holes to fill, most notably at running back, where Xavier Omon left after four 1,000-yard seasons for the NFL. The Wildcats were locked and loaded on offense and the edge went to ACU, which put up 44 points.
ACU scored only 36, its season low in the rematch with the playoff-season Bearcats. This is the team that has played in three straight national title games and won back-to-back championships in the late 1990s, all under coach Mel Tjeerdsma.
The playoff experience likely had a lot to do with Saturday's game in Abilene. Northwest proved to be a team even the Wildcats didn't want to play twice.