Winning was the only thing on Adel-Desoto-Minburn graduate Jordan Grove’s mind when he decided to take his athletic talents to Missouri in the fall of 2013. Grove walked onto the Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats football team, a Division II institution 127 miles southwest of Adel in the town of Maryville. The Bearcat football program had won three National Championships before Grove attended college.

The Raccoon Valley Radio Network was on hand for Grove’s senior day football game for the Bearcats last Saturday, and he discussed his desire to play for a winning program. “That’s what we do a lot down here, and I wanted to be a part of a championship-caliber program, and that came true,” Grove said, “It’s been a heck of a ride being apart of three championship teams. This one’s not over yet, so we can hope for another one.”

Since Grove stepped foot on campus, the Northwest Missouri State Bearcat football team has compiled a record of 63-4, winning the 2003, 2015, and 2016 National Championships along the way. Grove redshirted during Northwest’s 2013 title but shares his memories of playing in the previous two title games. “2015 was a very special one because it was my first and it was one of the best games of my career. I had two touchdowns, and just the atmosphere at Sporting KC Park was loud because 90 percent of the crowd was Bearcat fans.” Grove said, “In 2016, the championship game was in a blizzard so that’s something I’ll never forget. Those were crazy playing conditions.”

Grove’s made the most of his two championship game appearances. He’s accounted for 265 all-purpose yards and found the end zone three times. Grove plays his final regular-season football game Saturday as the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats travel to St Joseph for a matchup with MIAA rival Missouri Western at Spratt Stadium.