The 1938 Maryville Bearcats football team, also known as the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, was an American football team that represented Maryville State Teachers College (later renamed as Northwest Missouri State University) at Maryville, Missouri, as a member of the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1938 college football season. In their second season under head coach Ryland Milner, the Bearcats compiled a perfect 9–0 record (5–0 against MIAA opponents), shut out six of nine opponents, outscored all opponents by a total of 221 to 26, and won the MIAA championship. Wilbur Stalcup was the assistant coach.[1][2] The 1938 season was the start of a 21-game winning streak that ended in October 1940.

1938 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football
MIAA champion
ConferenceMissouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record9–0 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach
CaptainBill Bernau
Seasons
← 1937
1939 →
1938 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
Maryville (MO) $ 5 0 0 9 0 0
Rolla 3 2 0 4 4 0
Springfield (MO) 2 2 1 5 2 2
Kirksville 2 3 0 3 5 0
Warrensburg 1 3 1 2 5 1
Cape Girardeau 1 4 0 3 5 0
  • $ – Conference champion

Bearcat quarterback and co-captain Bill Bernau led the MIAA with 91 points scored and was rated as the conference's best player. Five Bearcats received first-team honors on the 1938 MIAA all-star team: Bernau at quarterback; Stanley Pelc at fullback; B. McLaughlin at halfback; Marion Rogers at guard; and Ed Molitoris at tackle.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 23at Peru State*Peru, NEW 33–0[4]
September 30Midland*Maryville, MOW 20–7[5][6]
October 7at Nebraska Wesleyan*Lincoln, NEW 21–12[7][8]
October 14Missouri Mines
  • Maryville Teachers College Field
  • Maryville, MO
W 21–0[9]
October 21at Springfield (MO)Springfield, MOW 7–0[10]
October 28at Kirksville StateKirksville, MOW 26–7
November 4WarrensburgMaryville, MOW 13–0[11]
November 11Cape GirardeauMaryville, MOW 15–0
November 18Sioux Falls*Maryville, MOW 65–0[12]
  • *Non-conference game

References

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  1. ^ "Only Four Regulars Will Be Lost from 1938 Bearcat Team". The St. Joseph News-Press. November 19, 1938. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "The Undefeated Bearcats of Maryville". The Stanberry Headlight. December 8, 1938. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Five Bearcats Get Positions On MIAA All-Star Grid Team: Bernau Conceded As Best in Loop by Grid Coaches". The Maryville Daily Forum. November 28, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Bearcats Smash Peru 33 to 0: Bearcats Resort To End Runs and Forward Passes". The Maryville Daily Forum. September 24, 1938. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Opening College Game Friday: Bearcat Gridders To Play Midland On Lighted Field". The Maryville Daily Forum. September 29, 1938. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bearcats Crush Midland 20 to 7 In Night Game: Local Teachers Use Sheer Power to March to Three Touchdowns". The Maryville Daily Forum. October 1, 1938. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Maryville Turns in 21-12 Triumph Over Wesleyan Gridders". Nebraska State Journal. October 8, 1938. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Bearcats Beat Wesleyan 21-12: Teachers Continue to Use Power Plays to Win Football Games". The Maryville Daily Forum. October 8, 1938. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Bearcats Show Power in 21-0 Win Over Rolla: By Smashing Drives, Deception and Aerial Attack Teachers Win". The Maryville Daily Forum. October 15, 1938. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Teachers Surprise Followers By Holding Maryville to 7-0". Springfield Leader and Press. October 22, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bearcats Beat Central Mules On Soggy Field: Maryville Teachers Win 13 to 0 to Stay in Undefeated Class". The Maryville Daily Forum. November 5, 1938. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Easy Maryville Victory: Bearcats Turn Back Sioux Falls in 65 to 0 Rout". The St. Joseph News-Press. November 19, 1938. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.