(Maryville, MO) — The No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri State University football team built a 28-point lead before holding off a second-half rally from Washburn for a 31-24 victory Saturday at Bearcat Stadium.
The win moved Northwest to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play, while extending the Bearcats’ home winning streak to six games. Washburn dropped to 1-1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Northwest struck first after Grant Berry’s third-down sack ended Washburn’s opening possession near midfield. The Bearcats then marched 76 yards on 11 plays, with Zechariah Owens connecting with Cooper Warren for 25 yards on third down before finding Andrew Waltke for five yards on fourth-and-5. Owens later hit Warren for a 15-yard touchdown with 7:06 left in the first quarter. Mo Alwaely added the extra point to give Northwest a 7-0 lead.
The Bearcat defense continued to control the opening quarter, forcing another Washburn punt after Zylen Saddler-Robinson hurried an incompletion and Jackson Torry broke up a third-down pass at the Northwest 42-yard line.
Washburn finally got on the scoreboard in the second quarter, reaching the Northwest 19 before the Bearcats forced three consecutive incompletions. The Ichabods settled for a 36-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-3.
Northwest’s defense answered with a series of disruptive plays on the next Washburn possession. Devin Wilson recorded a sack, David Jacquez made a tackle for loss and Eric Smith III added another sack to force a punt.
The Bearcats then broke the game open late in the half. Jaron Cannon Jr. raced 45 yards for a touchdown with 3:59 remaining, and Alwaely’s extra point pushed the lead to 14-3.
Just moments later, Patrick Martin intercepted Logan Madden at the Washburn 22 and returned it 18 yards to the 4-yard line. Northwest converted the turnover into three points when Alwaely connected on a 23-yard field goal, sending the Bearcats into halftime with a 17-3 advantage.
Northwest extended its lead early in the third quarter with a 75-yard scoring drive. Owens broke loose for a 64-yard run on third down before throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Jaidyn Doss. Alwaely’s extra point made it 24-3.
Washburn responded with two touchdown drives, cutting the deficit to 24-17 with 7:19 remaining in the quarter.
The Bearcats answered with perhaps their most important offensive possession of the game, driving 80 yards on 10 plays. Owens connected with Karsten Pate for 21 yards, found Erwin Nash for 13 yards on third down and hit Delton Davis for 18 yards to the Washburn 1-yard line. Quincy Torry finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Alwaely’s extra point restored Northwest’s two-score lead at 31-17.
Washburn continued to threaten in the fourth quarter, but the Northwest defense came up with crucial stops.
The Bearcats stopped a fourth-and-8 at their own 21-yard line when Jayden Welch broke up Madden’s pass and Smith hurried the Washburn quarterback. Later, a Northwest fumble gave the Ichabods another opportunity. Washburn drove 32 yards and scored when Madden connected with Tre Calhoun for a 3-yard touchdown, cutting the Northwest lead to 31-24.
After a Northwest punt, Washburn mounted one final 10-play drive that reached the Bearcats’ 11-yard line. With 1:19 remaining, however, the Ichabods turned the ball over on downs when Madden’s fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
Northwest then turned to its rushing attack to close out the victory. Quincy Torry broke runs of 4 and 18 yards, while Owens added a 6-yard first-down run as the Bearcats ran out the clock.
Owens finished 13-of-21 passing for 128 yards and two touchdowns while also leading Northwest with 89 rushing yards on eight carries. Warren caught three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown, while Cannon rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown on just two carries. Holden Zigmant led the Bearcats defensively with eight tackles.
Northwest returns to Bearcat Stadium next Saturday for Family Weekend, hosting Missouri Southern at 1:30 p.m.
