Box Score
EMPORIA, Kan.-Northwest Missouri State quarterback Blake Bolles threw four touchdown passes for the third game in a row as the fifth-ranked Bearcats rolled past Emporia State 45-12 Saturday at Welch Stadium.
Bolles completed 21-of-36 passes for 278 yards in three quarters of play. His 25 touchdown passes this season are two shy of Northwest''s regular season record of 27 set by Greg Teale in 1995.
Bearcat wide out Jake Soy caught six passes for a career-best 148 yards. His 3-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter was his 15th on the year, moving him one behind Northwest''s and the MIAA''s single-season record of 16.
Emporia State (1-7, 0-6 MIAA) became the second team to hold a lead against Northwest this season after marching 73 yards on the opening possession of the game. Andre Sloan El hit Danny McEvoy with a 16-yard pass to cap the drive. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the Hornets led 6-0.
The Bearcat defense dominated from that point forward. Northwest (7-1, 6-0) allowed five first downs and 86 yards spanning the Hornets'' next 11 drives and into the fourth quarter. By then, Northwest had scored the game''s next 45 points and racked up 460 of their 514 yards of offense.
Bolles passed for 213 yards and three scores in the first half. Kyle Kilgore, Tyler Shaw and Brian Shannon were on the receiving end of those scores. The Bearcats took a 24-6 lead into the break.
LaRon Council carried 20 times for 126 yards including a 9-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. It''s the third time Council has reached the century mark in the last five games for the Bearcats.
Cornerback Justin Welch was one of the Bearcats'' top tacklers Saturday and helped forced two of the Hornets'' three turnovers. He picked off Sloan El in the middle of the second quarter, which led to a 9-yard touchdown pass from Bolles to Shaw and a 17-6 lead.
Later in the quarter on a blitz, he hit Sloan El as he released a pass and Chad Kilgore was there to make the interception. Sloan El finished 12-of-26 for 175 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Northwest has won 15 consecutive games against Emporia State dating back to 1995 and leads the all-time series 24-2. The Bearcats have won seven straight after dropping their season opener at Abilene Christian.
