(Maryville, MO) — Minnesota St. built a big lead against NW Missouri St. on Thursday night, the Bearcats furiously came back in the 2nd half to make it a one score game but the 12th ranked Mavericks were too much in a 36-22 win in the opener for both NCAA Division II teams.
The Mavericks dominated the first half building a 22-0 lead all on QB Hayden Ekern touchdowns from 6, 14 and 1 yard. Throw in a 2 point conversion and you have a three score lead. The Bearcats only had three first downs and 19 rushing yards. On their first possession in the 2nd half, Ekern would connect with Gable Hagen for a 31 yard touchdown pass to build the lead to 29-0.
It would take the defense to get the Bearcats on the board. After a four play drive, NW Missouri St.’s Cole Lammel uncorked a 55 yard punt that went out of bounds at the Minnesota St. 5 yard line. The Mavericks would be forced to punt and the ball went out of the end zone for a safety giving NW Missouri their first points of the season. It would energize the offense as starting QB Chris Ruhnke would complete a drive with a 43 yard TD to Andrew Bradley to cut the lead to 29-9.
Treon Jones would intercept an Ekern pass to get the Bearcats offense back on the field and Ruhnke hit Luke Matthews immediately with an 80 yard TD pass, the extra point no good and it was 29-15. Minnesota St. turned it over again on a fumble deep in their own territory and it was a one play drive as Ruhnke found Tank Young for a 13 yard score and the lead was cut to 29-22 with 10:47 left in the 4th quarter.
That’s as close as the Bearcats would get. Ekern would move Minnesota St. on an 11 play drive time consuming drive, converting a key 3rd and 12 and he ran up the middle for his 4th TD of the day from 13 yards to make it 36-22 with 3:46 left.
Ekern had 11 carries for 56 yards and 4 TD; Sam Backer added 16 carries for 104 yards. Ekern was 18-25 passing for 205 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. Ruhnke for NW Missouri St. was 15-24 for 268 yards and 3 TD. Luke Matthews had 5 receptions for 140 yards and a TD. NW Missouri St. was held to minus 17 yards rushing thanks to four quarterback sacks. First downs were 28-10 in favor of Minnesota St. Total offense: Minnesota St. 423, NW Missouri St. 251.
NW Missouri St. falls to 0-1, Minnesota St. is now 1-0. Next up for the Bearcats, they visit Nebraska-Kearney next Saturday, September 7.