By David Boyce

MARYVILLE, Mo. - All winning streaks end at some point. Sadly, for the Bearcats, they saw theirs end on a beautiful Saturday afternoon on Homecoming against rival Pittsburg State.
 
Northwest Missouri State was outplayed in all three phases in front of a record-setting crowd of 11,002 fans at Bearcat Stadium. They fell for the first time in 22 games. The way Northwest lost 35-17 was more shocking than the loss itself.
 
"I thought Pittsburg State played a really good game today," Northwest head coach Adam Dorrel said. "They had a great game plan and they came out ready to play.
 
"From us, I was a little bit disappointed. I felt like we were lethargic early in the game in all phases again. We had some catastrophic breakdowns that you can't have when you are playing a great football team."
 
The only bright spot for the No. 1 ranked Bearcats was the three interceptions by senior safety Jared Fox, who won the Don Black award given to the MVP in the Homecoming game.
 
"It is obviously an honor. There are some great players who got the award before me," Fox said. "Honestly, the football came my way and I was able to make a play. Our other defensive guys would have done the same thing."
 
It was doubtful the Bearcats were going to experience a second straight undefeated season. To go 15-0 and win a national championship is rare in NCAA Division II.
 
But who in the country would have thought that Northwest would face a 28-0 deficit with 10:51 left in the second quarter. And the Gorillas only led 7-0 after one quarter.
 
What transpired in the first 4 minutes of the second quarter is practically unexplainable.
 
From the start, it was obvious Northwest was going to have trouble moving the ball against Pitt's defense. The Bearcats managed a couple of first downs in their first couple of drives, but nothing significant.
 
"They had a good game plan," Northwest junior quarterback Brady Bolles said. "They applied pressure and were ready to go."
 
The Bearcats forced Pitt to punt in the Gorillas' first drive. All indications pointed to an old-fashion defensive battle.
 
Everything changed with just under 5 minutes left in the first quarter. Pitt senior quarterback Anthony Abenoja tossed a perfect pass to Andre Sanders for a 41-yard scoring streak that gave the Gorillas a 7-0 lead.
 
It was the type of play that had the potential to shake the Northwest offense out of its doldrums. It didn't. The Bearcats moved the ball 12 yards and had to punt from their 20 in their next drive.
 
The Gorillas needed eight plays to go 60 yards, scoring on a 25-yard pass from back-up quarterback Ramsey Hamilton to Cushion Marquise with 13:33 left in the second quarter.
 
The game was about to get very ugly for the Bearcats. On the kickoff, the Gorillas kicked it high and very short and recovered. It took them 38 seconds to go 37 yards for another touchdown, making it 21-0.
 
Surely, the Bearcats' kickoff team would be ready for another short kickoff. Northwest was not and the Gorillas recovered again on Northwest's side of the field.
 
"Obviously, the sky kick to the right, when it happens one time you give them credit," Dorrel said. "It happens a second time, a third time then that is poor on our part. Those are things we will get addressed."
 
The Gorillas went 46 yards in five plays and scored on an 11-yard pass from Abenoja to Gavin Lutman, making it 28-0 with 10:51 remaining in the second quarter.
 
Pittsburg State won the national championship in 2011 but has missed the playoffs the next two seasons. The Gorillas came into Saturday's game with a loss. They were fighting hard to return to the playoffs. They weren't going to surrender a four-touchdown lead.
 
"They came in here with their backs against the wall a little bit," Dorrel said. "They played well. They played to win."
 
The Bearcats finally showed some life on their next drive. They moved 48 yards in nine plays and settled for a 33-yard field goal by Simon Mathiesen to get on the scoreboard with 6:53 remaining in the second quarter.
 
"The momentum swung their way and we couldn't totally get it swung back in our direction," Dorrel said.
 
About a minute after the field goal, Fox got his first interception and that eventually led to a 5-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Brady Bolles. The score gave the Bearcats a bit of hope. They trailed 28-10 with 4:22 left in the second quarter.
 
Fox picked off another pass in the Gorillas' next drive. But Northwest was unable to generate a threat with 1:33 left in the half.
 
"We never think we are out of any game," Fox said. "We kept playing."
 
The Bearcats have comeback from deficits of this size before. But this Saturday was not their day. It became clear with 9:17 left in the third quarter when Deaven Jensen recovered a fumble and raced 45 yards for a touchdown, making it 35-10.
 
Northwest is now in the position that Pitt faced Saturday. The Bearcats can't afford another loss if they want to make the playoffs.
 
"We have to adopt their mentality," Bolles said. "Our backs are against the wall. We have to restart, shake this one off and prepare well and get ready for Fort Hays next week."