It won’t be home for the Missouri Southern Lions, but Tjeerdsma Field and Maryville aren’t unfamiliar territory for their head coach.

Bart Tatum, in his second year leading the Lions football program, helped Northwest Missouri State to two national titles as an assistant under Bearcats’ head coach Mel Tjeerdsma. Now, he comes back to roam the other sideline.

“I’m very pleased to get to go and looking forward to the competition because I think we’ve got competitive guys now,” Tatum said. “I think our guys are confident and competitive and are going to show up and give everything they’ve got and I don’t think they will be intimidated.”

Tatum and his team know they will have to score points against a perennial national power like Northwest. Last year, despite racking up yardage, the Lions only mustered seven points against the Bearcats in a 24-7 loss at Hughes Stadium.

“On the offensive side, we are significantly better than we were a year ago,” Tatum said. “We are third in the MIAA in total offense statistically.

“We are not the third best offense in the MIAA, but we are clearly making strides.”

Tatum said preparation for the season finale will be business as usual for Southern.

“The only difference is that it is a better football team,” he said. “A very good team, but we are just trying to go and be competitive. We have done that all year – 10 games.

“Going into game 11 last year, we couldn’t say that. But this year is a different story.”

The close margins of victory by the Bearcats aren’t a reason to think Northwest is having a down year, Tatum said.

“All I see is an undefeated conference record,” he said. “All they are doing is winning, so what difference does it make?

“All they’re doing is winning.”

And Tatum said this Bearcat team is very much like the national-title contending units of the past.

“Mike Peterson – you couldn’t find a better tight end anywhere in the country,” he said. “Xavier Oman is hands down one of the very best running backs in the country. I think he could play for most anybody at any level.”

Tatum is returning to a town that gave him great professional success, where he met his wife and where his children were born. He wouldn’t end the season any other way.

“Our guys are very excited about the challenge and look forward to the game,” he said. “It is a good way to see where we’re at. It’s a good way to finish the year.

“We have the winning record secure and now we just go play the best in the country.”

LAST WEEK

Senior wide receiver Colin Bado caught six passes for 112 yards and had 241 yards of total offense with two touchdowns, helping to lead Southern to a 55-24 win over Truman State at Senior Day at Hughes Stadium Nov. 3.

Southern (6-4, 4-4 MIAA) secured the program’s first winning season since 1996 when the team went 6-4. Quarterback Adam Hinspeter also became the all-time leading passer in Southern history. With his 180 yards through the air, the junior now has 6,975 yards, passing Matt Cook, who held the record with 6,830. Hinspeter also moves up to sixth on the MIAA all-time list in that category. His 6,941 yards of total offense in his career ranks third at Southern, just behind Cook.

The Lions’ defense was led by sophomore linebacker Jared Brawner. The Kirksville native had 12 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss of 13 yards, an interception and a quarterback hurry. Kellen Anderson had eight tackles, while Corderial Collier had five tackles and an interception. Elbert Johnson had five tackles, a sack, an interception return for a touchdown and a pass break up, while Jordan Patton added an interception of his own.

The Lions defensive backfield now has 21 interceptions on the season, the most since the school record of 28 was set in 1975 and the second most all-time.