The 1944 Maryville Bearcats football team was an American football team that represented Maryville State Teachers College (also known as Northwest Missouri 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 1944 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Ryland Milner,[1] the Bearcats compiled a perfect 7–0 record (1–0 against MIAA opponents), shut out four of seven opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 209 to 21.[2][3] They were ranked at No. 86 among the nation's college and military service teams in the final 1944 Litkenhous Ratings.[4]

1944 Maryville Bearcats football
MIAA champion
ConferenceMissouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record7–0 (1–0 MIAA)
Head coach
Seasons
← 1943
1946 →

The team was led by halfback George W. Campbell who coach Miller called "the classiest back throughout the midwest" and "the best brokenfield runner I've ever seen here."[5]

The season ended on October 13 as coach Milner's efforts to schedule an additional opponent were unsuccessful.[6]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultSource
September 1WashburnMaryville, MOW 27–0[7]
September 8at Missouri ValleyMarshall, MOW 38–0[8]
September 15at Pittsburg StatePittsburg, KSW 26–13[9]
September 22Central Missouri StateMaryville, MOW 28–6[10]
September 29at Peru StatePeru, NEW 29–0[11]
October 6at WashburnW 25–0[12]
October 13Pittsburg StateMaryville, MOW 33–2[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Only a Losing Milner Team Would Make News". The St. Joseph-News. October 26, 1944. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Bearcats Go Undefeated". St. Joseph Gazette. October 17, 1944. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Paper in England Prints Story About the Bearcats". The Maryville Daily Forum. November 6, 1944. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 17, 1944). "Army, Randolph Field One-Two in Final Litkenhouse Ratings". Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph. p. II-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Campbell Speeds Young 'Cat Club To High Honors". The Maryville Daily Forum. October 19, 1944. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Bearcats Seek a Game For Home Field Oct. 20". The Maryville Daily Forum. October 10, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bearcats Defeat Washburn 27-0: Maryville Takes Opening Football Game in Easy Fashion". The Maryville Daily Forum. September 2, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Bearcats Crush Valley 38 to 0". The Maryville Daily Forum. September 9, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Maryville Beats Pittsburg, 26-13". The Wichita Eagle. September 16, 1944. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Bearcats Roar From Behind to Beat the Mules". The Maryville Daily Forum. September 23, 1944. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bearcats Beat Peru Teachers". The Maryville Daily Forum. September 30, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Bearcats Defeat Washburn Teachers For the 2nd Time". October 7, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Bearcats Defeat Pittsburg 33-2 For Seventh Win". The Maryville Daily Forum. October 14, 1944. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.