FINAL STATS (PDF)

JOPLIN, Missouri – The No. 7-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football team tied a school record by intercepting six passes and rolled to a 66-34 victory at Missouri Southern Saturday at Hughes Field.
 
Northwest (3-0 overall) tied a school record for interceptions set Oct. 27, 2012, at Washburn. Missouri Southern quarterback Jacob Park threw the ball 66 times and completed 29 passes for 442 yards.
 
However, Northwest stepped in front six of his passes including two returned for touchdowns. Jerrell Green intercepted two passes in the first half – one that was returned 11 yards for a touchdown. Braden Dey turned in a pick six from 17 yards out in the second half. Drew Dostal, Trey Washington and Jackson Barnes all added an interception as well.
 
The Bearcats also got their offense rolling with 274 yards on the ground and 359 yards through the air. For the second straight week, quarterback Braden Wright set a career-high with 289 yards passing and three touchdowns. Quarterback Mike Hohensee also did some damage to the Lions by going 2-for-2 passing for 70 yards, including a 45-yard scoring strike to Imoni Donadelle. Hohensee also rushed for a 50-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and accounted for 72 total rushing yards.
 
Donadelle had quite a day as well with six receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Donadelle's scoring plays went for 68 yards and 45 yards.
 
Running back Justin Rankin continues to impress with 208 all-purpose yards – including his second 100-plus rushing performance. Rankin rushed 23 times for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 58 yards.
 
The two teams combined for 100 points and 1,091 yards in the game. The Bearcats notched 25 first downs, and the Lions secured 26 first downs.
 
The Bearcats return home for Family Weekend next Saturday. Northwest will play host to the Central Oklahoma Bronchos at 1:30 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.
 
NOTES: Northwest has defeated Missouri Southern 25 straight times … Northwest leads the all-time series, 27-4 … Rankin registered his fourth 100-yard rushing game as a collegian and second as a Bearcat … head coach Rich Wright moved to 6-1 in night games since taking over the program in 2016 … junior wide receiver Alec Tatum, whose father, Bart, served as Missouri Southern head coach from 2006-2011, caught a 20-yard touchdown pass in the first half … the Bearcats tallied 13 pass breakups, including a team-high three from Drew Dostal … Blake Bayer was the Bearcats's leading tackler with nine stops … Zach Howard and Sam Roberts each had a sack … Dustin Piper and Noah Williams combined for another sack … Spencer Phillips had a team-best 2.5 tackles-for-loss.