FINAL STATS (PDF)

MARYVILLE, Missouri - The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football team outlasted the Washburn Ichabods Saturday at Bearcat Stadium, 38-17.

Washburn scored on its first possession on the strength of a 61-yard pass play from Mitch Schurig to Curtis Whitten that put the ball at the Northwest 14-yard line. Three plays later, Schurig hitt Collin Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown pass only 1:18 into the contest.

Northwest evened the score at 7-7 on a 27-yard juggling pass reception by Alec Tatum with 9:03 left in the second quarter. The Bearcat drive consisted of nine plays for 74 yards and consumed 4:09.

Washburn went 87 yards in 11 plays and took a 14-7 lead with 3:50 left in the half. Schurig hit James Letcher Jr. for a 43-yard touchdown pass to give the Ichabods a 14-7 advantage.

Bearcat sophomore quarterback Braden Wright spearheaded a game-tying touchdown drive with 19 rushing yards and 56 passing yards. Wright connected with junior wideout Kaden Davis for a 39-yard touchdown strike to even the score at 14-14 with 2:02 left before the intermission.

The Bearcats used the half to regroup and would outscore the Ichabods in the second half, 24-3.

Washburn's only second-half score came on a 21-yard field goal by Kameron Lake with 6:43 left in the third quarter. Lake's field goal gave Washburn a 17-14 lead.

Northwest was able to take its first lead of the game on a 41-yard touchdown burst by senior running back Justin Rankin. Prior to that touchdown drive, Rankin had been held to 18 yards on seven carries. Rankin's score gave Northwest a 21-17 lead with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Junior kicker Parker Sampson drilled a 33-yard field goal to push the Bearcat lead to 24-17 with 0:33 left in the third. Northwest gained possession of the ball at the 35-yard line after a bad snap on a punt that led to a failed fourth down conversion by Washburn. 

Junior J'Ravien Anderson picked off a Schurig pass on Washburn's first possession of the fourth quarter. Northwest cashed in on the intercept. The Bearcats went 60 yards in four plays to take a 31-17 lead on a Rankin 2-yard touchdown plunge. Senior tight end Marqus Andrews covered 43 of the yards on a completion from Wright that put the ball on the 2-yard line.

Northwest added an insurance touchdown when Braden Wright found paydirt from five yards out with 4:46 to play. Wright's second rushing touchdown of the year gave the Bearcats a 38-17 lead over Washburn.

The Bearcats will return to action next Saturday at Missouri Southern. Kick is set for 6 p.m. in Joplin, Missouri.

NOTES: Justin Rankin rushed for a team-best 93 yards on 17 carries ... Rankin scored two touchdowns ... Wright passed for a career-high 278 yards and two touchdowns as he went 20-of-29 passing with an interception ... Alec Tatum had a team-best four receptions for 45 yards ... Marqus Andrews posted a team-best 72 receiving yards ... Jackson Barnes totaled a team-high nine tackles ... Mike Ehlke and Zach Howard each tallied a quarterback sack ... Sam Phillips was credited with a fumble recovery ... Northwest has defeated Washburn 15 straight times ... Northwest defeated Washburn by the score of 38-17 in back to back years ... Northwest owns a 33-6 all-time series lead vs. Washburn ... Northwest forced two turnovers giving the Bearcats a streak of 10 consecutive games with at least two turnovers from the defense.