In today’s stare-down between Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State one blink could mean the difference, because in a flash, Griffons senior Cedric Houston could be in the end zone.

“Don’t blink when Cedric’s out there, because you’re going to miss something,” Western coach Jerry Partridge said after Houston caught three touchdown passes against the Pittsburg State last Saturday in Western’s fifth straight victory leading up to today’s battle of first-place MIAA teams.

Partridge called Houston’s touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone to wrap up Western’s scoring “major clutch.” The two-time All-MIAA selection could have had a fourth touchdown catch, but he decided to high-step into the end zone after breaking a tackle and running free on a hitch route. In his theatrics he knocked the ball out of his own hands with his knee. But he recovered his fumble deep in Pittsburg State territory and the Griffons completed the scoring drive.

“It’s something all the time with that guy,” Partridge said. “But he’s fun. He’s a heck of a football player, no doubt about it.”

Northwest defensive coordinator Scott Bostwick wouldn’t classify defending Houston as “fun,” but he agrees that Houston is a gem on the football field.

In fact, Bostwick believes Houston could be the best player in the MIAA.

“He is making huge plays,” Bostwick said.

Houston has caught 21 passes, with 10 of them going for touchdowns. He has 546 receiving yards, plus four punt returns for 53 yards and nine kick returns for 162 yards. He currently leads the MIAA in scoring (12 points per game), touchdowns (10) and receiving yards per game (109.2), and his 159 all-purpose yards per game rank him atop the conference charts.

“About every three times he’s touching the ball he’s scoring,” Bostwick said. “That’s sort of scary.”

Houston has a history with Northwest. In last season’s game at Bearcat Stadium, the Kissimmee, Fla., native burned the Bearcats for 140 yards and two touchdowns en route to honorable mention status on the All-MIAA team. As a sophomore in 2007, Houston was a second-team pick, catching a career-high 38 passes for 717 yards and 11 touchdowns.

With 10 touchdown catches in 2009 already to his credit, Houston hopes to establish a new career high today in his game against the Bearcats. But the Griffons will have to solve the MIAA’s No. 2 pass defense in order to do so.

Northwest has allowed only four passing touchdowns all season — fewest in the conference — while holding its opponents to 175 yards per game through the air.