On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Stadium, Northwest Missouri State football team matched the weather with a near-perfect performance against Northeastern State.

After giving up a touchdown on the first drive of the game, the Bearcats played flawless in coming away with an impressive 66-6 victory on “Family Weekend” at Northwest.

“I was very proud of our team today,” Northwest coach Adam Dorrel said. “We’ve been talking about trying to put a complete game together. I thought we did that today.”

The Bearcats improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA. The loss dropped Northeastern State to 0-5 overall and in conference.

Northeastern State’s record is a bit deceiving. Three of its first five opponents were ranked in the NCAA Division II top 25. The RiverHawks entered the game scoring 20 points in three contests and 21 in the other.

Initially, it appeared Northeastern State was going to give the Bearcats a tough game. The RiverHawks took the opening kickoff and marched 88 yards in 11 plays and took 6 minutes, 25 seconds to score a touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Johnny Deaton.

The rest of the game belonged to the Bearcats.

It started when Northwest blocked the extra point.

On the next play, Tyler Shaw returned the kickoff 64 yards to the Northeastern 16.

“We talked about being special on special teams,” Dorrel said. “We blocked that PAT and then we turn around and get that kick return. It was huge. It just ignited our sideline.

“Just the energy that came out of that blocked PAT and that kick return was just awesome and it was fun to see the kids flying around.”

The Bearcats needed only three plays and 1:03 to score on a 2-yard run by Jordan Simmons.

Northwest defense, which has played well all season, quickly stuffed the RiverHawks and put the ball back in the Bearcat hands. They knew what to do with it.

In just under 2 minutes, Northwest went 58 yards in five plays and scored on a 25-yard run by Simmons, who received a nice block from quarterback Trevor Adams on the play.

Yes, Adams, who missed the previous two games because of an injury, was willing to put his body on the line to help a teammate score.

Northwest went into the second quarter ahead 14-6. The blowout was just beginning. The Bearcats scored 24 points in the second quarter for a commanding 38-6 halftime lead.

There was no let up at the start of the third quarter. Northwest scored two touchdowns in the first three minutes of the second half for a 52-6 lead.

“I thought offensively we did a really good job,” Adams said. “Being out for two weeks, I was just so excited to be back on the field. I thank God for the humbling experience he put me through. It made me really appreciate what we have here as a family.

“I was super excited to get back out there. I thought our O-line did awesome today. Our backs ran super hard. Holding anybody to six points no matter who you are playing is awesome.”

In all, the Bearcats scored on their first eight possessions. The final statistics were eye popping. Northwest finished 654 total yards, rushing for 352 and passing for 308.

Perhaps the best news was Adams played well after being out for two weeks. He finished the game 19 for 27 for 272 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. For the game, Northwest had no turnovers while forcing four.

“I was very proud of Trevor in what he’s been dealing with the last couple of weeks with the injuries, and the way he came back today says a lot about his character as a student-athlete,” Dorrel said.

The defense was equally impressive, allowing only 271 yards of total offense.

“We had a really good week of preparation,” said Northwest junior defensive end Ricky Bailey. “We’ve been preaching all week to get to the quarterback. After the first series, we did a good job of that.”

It was the perfect game for the Bearcats to springboard into an October in which they will play no games at Bearcat Stadium.

“I thought it was very important to play like this going into the next four weeks on the road,” Dorrel said. “I certainly feel a lot better where we are right now because we played a complete game.”

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Central Oklahoma’s Joshua Birmingham, Lindenwood’s Pierre Desir and Northwest Missouri’s Todd Adolf have earned the MIAA Football Athlete of the Week Awards for week four.

MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week

Joshua Birmingham, RB, Central Oklahoma

Birmingham rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries to help lead Central Oklahoma to their first ever MIAA win in an upset of #9 Washburn. He had nine carries for 94 yards in the fourth quarter alone as the Bronchos pushed a 20-14 lead to 35-14. His 40-yard scamper helped set up a one yard TD run by Christian Bobo and Birmingham made it a 35-14 game with an eight yard score himself. He becomes the first non-quarterback this season to win the award as he is averaging 103.2 yards per game on the ground. The 5-9 running back is a native of Luther, Okla. where he competed at Luther High School.

MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week

Pierre Desir, DB, Lindenwood

Desir helped the Lindenwood defense seal the victory in a 28-24 come from behind win over Glenville State. After LWU took a 28-24 lead he made two tackles and intercepted a pass in what would prove to be the Pioneers final drive of the game. His interception came on 4th and 13 as the Pioneers tried to move the ball for a score. He finished the game with 11 tackles and had three tackles for a loss. The 6-2 defensive back is a native of St. Charles, Mo. and transferred to Lindenwood after playing at Washburn University after attending high school at Francis Howell Central.

MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week

Todd Adolf, K, Northwest Missouri

Adolf connected on three field goals for the Bearcats to help them conserve a 37-13 win on the road at Nebraska-Kearney. Adolf made two field goals from 40 plus yards as he connected from both 41 and 44 yards. He also hit a 27-yarder to end the first half. He is now six for eight on the season and is four of five from beyond 40 yards. The 6-1 senior kicker is a native of Omaha, Neb. where he competed at Millard North High School.

— MIAA Press Release —

A pair of first half turnovers helped set the tone for 12th-ranked Northwest Missouri State to pull away with a 37-13 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday at Cope Stadium in MIAA football action.

Northwest improved to 3-1 on the season and 2-1 in league play against one of the league’s newest members. Playing with a depleted lineup that saw even more players go down Saturday as UNK fell to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in its first season in the MIAA.

The Bearcat defense forced three turnovers against a quarterback getting his first collegiate start and making the move from wide receiver. Running an option attack the Lopers were held scoreless in the first half despite outgaining the Bearcats in total yards, 152-134.

Northwest jumped on the scoreboard first when senior linebacker Collin DeBuysere stripped UNK running back, Tommy Flanagan and raced 86 yards for the first score of the game. DeBuysere finished with seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss.

Both offenses would move the ball consistently in the first half, however neither could do damage as the Bearcats were held to a pair of Todd Adolf field goals. Adolf connected on field goals from 41-yards and 27-yards as Northwest took a 13-0 lead into the locker room.

After holding Northwest to a punt on its first series to start the second half, UNK would drive the ball 75-yards on 12 plays to make it a 13-7 game. The drive took nearly six minutes off the clock and looked like the Lopers would challenge the Bearcats.

However, going with the combination of Tyler Seals and Brady Bolles at quarterback, the Bearcats would score 17-unanswered points to build a 30-7 lead in the second half. Both quarterbacks would throw for over 100 yards in the win and toss one touchdown apiece.

Bolles would also lead the Bearcats in rushing for the second straight game as he carried the ball 14 times for 75 yards. The redshirt freshman also ran for a score late in the fourth quarter.

Offensively, Tyler Shaw finished with a career high 158 yards receiving with two touchdown catches. The first came on a 42-yard pass down the sideline from Seals to answer the Loper’s first score. After scrambling away from pressure, Bolles would also find Shaw deep, as he ran past the Loper secondary for the 78-yard pitch and catch.

Travis Chappelear led Northwest defensively with eight tackles and also blocked an extra point.

The Bearcats return home to face Northeastern State (Okla.) before a road trip during the month of October. The game will also be the MIAA TV Game of the Week with kickoff from Bearcat Stadium set for 2:30 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The No. 13 Northwest Missouri State football team bounced back Saturday to rout Fort Hays State 48-10 at Bearcat Stadium in MIAA football action.

Northwest (2-1, 1-1) rolled to 543 yards of total offense as Tyler Seals and Brady Bolles combined for 255 yards passing and 140 yards on the ground. The duo also added three touchdowns; two through the air from Seals and one rushing from Bolles.

Not to be outshined by the offense, the Northwest defense held Fort Hays State (0-3, 0-3) to only three points before a fourth quarter touchdown run. The Bearcat defensive line was impressive as well, sacking the Tigers twice and adding six quarterback hurries.

The Bearcats raced out to an early lead as Seals marched the Bearcats 59 yards in nine plays connecting with Jordan Simmons on a jet sweep for the game’s first score. Seals would finish 12-of-19 for 146 yards and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start.

After a Fort Hays State field goal the Bearcats would break the game wide open scoring five more times before the half to take a 34-3 lead into the locker room.

James Franklin scored from 9-yards out to complete a 14 play 83-yard drive just before the end of the first quarter. Franklin carried nine times for 77 yards, his highest total of the season.

Northwest scored again at the 12 minute mark in the second quarter, as Bolles raced 23-yards cutting across the field for his first collegiate touchdown. Bolles would give the Bearcats their first 100-yard rusher of the season as the redshirt freshman ran for 111 yards and threw for 109.

Todd Adolf added two second quarter field goals including a 48-yarder that tied his career high at the end of the first half.

The Northwest offense dialed back the play calling in the second half, but would get the first special teams touchdown of the season late in the third quarter. Brian Dixon recovered a blocked punt at the FHSU two-yard line extending the Northwest lead to 41-3.

The Bearcats still have not lost back-to-back games since 2001 as they bounced back from last week’s disappointing loss. The win also moves the Bearcats winning streak inside Bearcat Stadium to 12 games, which is tied for the fourth longest streak in Northwest history.

Northwest will travel to Nebraska-Kearney for the first time for the first of three consecutive meetings with new MIAA members. Kickoff from Kearney is set for 4 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —