Box Score
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – A slow second quarter spelled an end to a
nine-game winning streak as the 3rd-ranked Northwest Missouri State Bearcats
fell to Central Missouri 31-21 Saturday at Walton Stadium.
It was the first time since 2003 the Bearcats have lost to
the Mules, which was also the last time Northwest started the season 0-1 in
league play as the Bearcats would go on to claim the MIAA Championship. Overall
Northwest moves its record to 1-1 while Central Missouri improves to 1-1
overall and 1-1 in MIAA play as well.
The Mules jumped out to an early 7-0 lead as Ian Colter
found LaVance Taylor in the flat. Taylor made one move and then raced 62-yards
for the game's first score. Colter would go on to throw for 317 yards and four
touchdowns in the UCM win.
Northwest would even the score as a James Franklin leap over
the line on 4th-and-1 evened the score at 7-7. The Bearcats were held under 100
yards rushing as a team for the first time since a 2010 win over the Mules in
the National Quarterfinals. Franklin led Northwest with 51 yards on 18 carries
and a touchdown.
The second quarter would spell doom for the Bearcats as the
Mules would score 17 unanswered points to extend its lead to 24-7.
Northwest would miss a 39-yard field goal attempt on its
first possession of the second half. From there the Bearcats would try to
recover, but the Mules would march 78 yards in 10 plays to extend the lead to
31-7 after missed field goal.
The Bearcats would scramble for two touchdowns in the fourth
quarter; however the deficit proved too large.
Trevor Adams found Jordan Simmons across the middle for a
42-yard touchdown pass with 13:54 left in the game. A successful two-point
conversion attempt for the Bearcats made the score 31-15.
The final score for Northwest would come after a Brandon
Dixon interception set up a 34-yard touchdown pass from Adams to Bryce Young.
Northwest would again go for two, however it would be unsuccessful.
Adams finished the day 28-of-49 for 335 yards, his third
highest total since becoming the starter last year. He added two touchdowns
with the second going to Young late in the fourth quarter to make the score
31-21.
Adams targeted Young 11 times for 163 yards and one
touchdown in the loss.
Northwest returns home next Saturday to face Fort Hays State
as they host Military Appreciation Day at Bearcat Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1
p.m.
