<table> </table> As much as Central Missouri wants to treat its home game Saturday against Northwest Missouri State as just the next game on the schedule, senior running back Glenn Milner knows differently.</p><p>&#8220;It means a little bit more,&#8221; Milner said.</p><p>Of course it does. Milner is aware Northwest Missouri sits alone in first place in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.</p><p>And probably a few people in Warrensburg, Mo., know the Bearcats have won 23 straight conference games.</p><p>A quick look at the standings reveals that Central Missouri is in position to knock the Bearcats off their lofty pedestal. Central Missouri, ranked No. 17 in NCAA Division II, is 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference and tied for second with Pittsburg State in the MIAA. No. 5 ranked Northwest Missouri is 5-1 and 4-0.</p><p>Having already won at Nebraska-Omaha and beaten Pittsburg State at Arrowhead Stadium, the Bearcats would be almost unstoppable if they defeat a third ranked team in three weeks.</p><p>But Central Missouri senior defensive back Steven Ehase said the Mules aren&#8217;t doing anything extra for Northwest Missouri.</p><p>&#8220;We focus on every opponent the same,&#8221; Ehase said. &#8220;We respect every opponent. We don&#8217;t prepare any differently for any team.&#8221;</p><p>Sounds good, but the Mules already faltered in their first big game of the season, a 49-28 loss at Pittsburg State on Sept. 27. The game was tied 14-14 in the second quarter, and then the Gorillas scored the next 28 points.</p><p>&#8220;We learned,&#8221; Milner said, &#8220;that we need to bring our &#8216;A&#8217; game every game and play the whole game.&#8221;</p><p>Central Missouri did exactly that the next week. Despite the loss of seven starters to injuries, the Mules thumped Emporia State 42-14.</p><p>&#8220;We got our confidence back,&#8221; Milner said. &#8220;We are ready for Northwest Missouri.&#8221;</p><p>Even Ehase concedes that Saturday&#8217;s game against the Bearcats is important. And really, Ehase added, every game the rest of the season is vital.</p><p>Central Missouri is in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a win over the Bearcats will only enhance it.</p><p>The Mules only have to look back to last year for added confidence. The Bearcats narrowly escaped with a 28-26 victory in Maryville, Mo., when Central Missouri failed to tie on a two-point conversion with a minute left.</p><p>&#8220;It was a really tight game,&#8221; Ehase said. &#8220;It came down to the last drive. It was a tough matchup.&#8221;</p><p>The Bearcats have been making life tough for all MIAA teams, but the Mules want to change that a little bit Saturday.</p><p>&#8220;The game is at home,&#8221; Milner said. &#8220;We are undefeated so far on our home turf. We&#8217;ve got to represent.&#8221;