MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University football team advanced to the second round of the 2021 NCAA Division II playoffs with a 50-21 triumph over Central Washington University at Bearcat Stadium.

Junior quarterback Braden Wright passed for three three touchdowns and rushed for another in accounting for four of Northwest's seven total touchdowns. Senior running back Al McKeller recorded his third straight 100-yard rushing game and eighth of the season with 130 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Imoni Donadelle caught a pair of scores and had 57 receiving yards. MIAA defensive player of the year Sam Roberts tallied 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks.

Northwest generated 472 yards of total offense. The Bearcats rushed for 217 yards and rushing scores. The Bearcats passed for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Northwest held Central Washington to 173 yards (82 rushing, 91 passing). CWU generated 86 yards of total offense in the fourth quarter after the Bearcats had a 50-7 lead. The Bearcats forced three turnovers (two interceptions, fumble recovery).

Northwest produced touchdowns on seven of its first eight drives of the game. The only drive of the eight that did not result in a touchdown was a fumbled flea flicker that CWU recovered and turned into points of its own. Northwest's ninth drive resulted in a field goal. The Bearcats only punt of the game came with 6:53 to play in the game.

Northwest will travel to Searcy, Ark., next Saturday to take on the Harding University Bisons at 1 p.m. Harding scored a 30-14 win over Washburn to advance to the second round and earn the right to play host to Northwest.

Northwest fans can access tickets to Saturday's game at Harding by visiting www.HardingTickets.com. Visitor adult general admission tickets are $10 and visitor student tickets are $5.

NOTES: Northwest moved its all-time playoff record to 50-18 ... Northwest won its 25th straight home playoff game ... Northwest is 32-3 all-time at home in the Div. II playoffs ... it's the seventh time Northwest has scored 50 or more points in a playoff game ... the 173 yards allowed by the Northwest defense is the fourth-fewest total yards allowed by a Bearcat defense in a playoff game ... Northwest went 7-of-11 on third-down conversions ... Northwest extended its home win streak to 12 in a row at Bearcat Stadium ... Northwest is 114-10 at Bearcat Stadium since 2001 ... Braden Wright has passed for 53 career touchdowns, which ranks No. 7 on Northwest's all-time touchdown passes list ... Wright surpassed Greg Teale on the list to move up to No. 7 ... Teale passed for 52 career touchdown passes from 1993-1996.