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By David Boyce  |  Facebook Photo Album

MARYVILLE, Mo. - Despite a second quarter lull, Northwest Missouri State once again turned in a performance worthy of its No. 1 ranking in NCAA Division II.
 
On their way to their 17^th straight victory, the Bearcats put together strong first and third quarters to power their way to a 41-7 win over Washburn Thursday evening in front of 7,501 fans at Bearcat Stadium.
 
"I thought we got complacent," Northwest coach Adam Dorrel said. "Guys thought it was going to come easy the whole game. I was proud of the guys because they went into halftime and reset."
 
The Bearcats gave Washburn a glimmer of hope at the start of the third quarter. Northwest led only 17-7 and was forced to punt in its first possession of the second half.
 
But Northwest stellar defense made sure the Ichabods weren't going to build any momentum. The Bearcats quickly forced a punt and gave their offense the ball at Washburn's 48.
 
"We are not nearly as good as we can be," said Edward Richey, who had an interception. "We have to continue to get better and that starts with practice. We have to practice hard and prepare every day like it is a game and that usually helps us play better in a game."
 
Like they did in the first quarter, the Bearcats turned favorable field position into points. Northwest increased its lead to 24-7 with 7 minutes, 30 seconds left in the third quarter on an 8-yard touchdown pass from senior Kyle Zimmerman to senior George Sehl.
 
"That first quarter we were hitting on all cylinders for a while," Zimmerman said. "Second quarter I missed some throws and missed some open guys and some plays we got to have.
 
"We talked about it at halftime, cleared our minds and started making those plays. We put together a couple of good drives in the third quarter and got that rhythm going again."
 
After Northwest forced another punt, the Bearcats put together their best drive of the game, going 75 yards in nine plays that Phil Jackson II finished with a 1-yard plunge up the middle.
 
With the game in control, the best highlight in the fourth quarter came with 14:09 left in the game when senior placekicker Simon Mathiesen booted a career-long 47-yard field goal that would have been good from 55 yards out.
 
"I really didn't focus too much how long the field goal was," Mathiesen said. "I approach every kick the same, and it was a good kick. My protection did a great job. Thank you TJ Schieber and the rest of the protection out there."
 
Holding a 27-point lead with a little over 10 minutes left, Northwest was able to play its backups on offense and they sparkled. In crisp fashion, they went 53 yards in seven plays and scored on 2-yard run by sophomore Chase White.
 
"I got to give a shout out to my O-line," White said. "It is really on them."
 
Northwest played a perfect first quarter, scoring on its first three possessions and stuffing the Ichabods on their first three drives. The total domination on both sides of the ball allowed the Bearcats to quickly build a 17-0 lead with 3:26 left in the first quarter.
 
"Anytime you can start the game with a good drive and put points on the board it is good and something we talk about before we come out," Zimmerman said.
 
Sometimes in football when a team gets a couple of quick scores without much resistance, the team starts to think the points are going to come easily.
 
Washburn made sure the Bearcats weren't headed to another blowout win. The Ichabods stiffened on defense and put together one good touchdown drive. At halftime, Northwest led only 17-7.
 
Statistically, the game was even closer. Northwest picked up six first downs compared to five for Washburn. The Ichabods even had the ball almost 3 minutes more than Northwest.
 
It certainly didn't look like it was going to be so close in the first quarter. Washburn opened the game with the ball and was stopped on three plays.
 
Northwest took over and went 53 yards in nine plays and scored on an 8-yard pass from Zimmerman to Dre Washington with 9:31 left in the first.
 
"We were just trying to establish our offense early and get on the scoreboard early and do what we do in practice," said Washington who caught his first career touchdown in the first quarter.
 
The Bearcats then forced another three-and-out and got the ball near midfield again. This time Northwest settled for a 41-yard field goal by Mathiesen, making it 10-0.
 
Northwest followed the same formula by stopping Washburn in three plays and getting the ball at Washburn's 41. On the second play of the drive, Zimmerman hit Jordan Grove on a 40-yard touchdown pass, increasing Northwest's lead to 17-0.
 
After the third score, Northwest failed to sustain a drive four different times. Those stops helped Washburn gain some momentum. The Ichabods finally put together a nice drive midway through the second quarter, going 59 yards in 10 plays and scoring on a 2-yard run by Mickeel Stewart.
 
Suddenly, the Bearcats held only a 10-point lead with 7:16 left in the second quarter.
 
But that was as close as Washburn was going to get. The Ichabods didn't score again.