HAYS, Kansas – The No. 4-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat football team scored its first win in 642 days with a 15-7 triumph over the Fort Hays State University Tigers in the 2021 season opener.
 
The Bearcats' first offensive drive of the season stalled at midfield after a couple of first downs. Mike Hohensee pinned the Tigers on the one-yard line following a 45-yard punt. Sam Phillips then dropped Keylan Chapman in the endzone on FHSU's first offensive play for a safety to give Northwest a 2-0 lead with 11:19 left on the first quarter clock.
 
Northwest led 2-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Bearcats gained 74 yards on 22 plays, while holding FHSU to 39 yards on 10 plays. Al McKeller accounted for 47 rushing yards in the opening 15 minutes. Hohensee punted three times (43.3 yards/punt) in the quarter and had all three punts downed inside the 11-yard line, including two at the one.
 
The Bearcats scored their first touchdown of the season with a ground-and-pound approach in the second quarter. Northwest ran the ball 13 straight times and marched 58 yards in 7:06 to take a 9-0 lead with 6:53 left in the half. The 3-yard rushing score came from Al McKeller, who tallied six of the carries for 26 yards on the drive.
 
The Northwest defensive effort was sublime in the opening 30 minutes by limiting FHSU to 54 total yards, including only eight rushing yards. FHSU tallied three first downs in the opening half. The Bearcat offense generated 159 total yards, including 116 on the ground. Northwest registered 12 first downs in the first half.
 
The Bearcat defense stymied a Tigers' drive in the third quarter. The Tiger drive went six plays for 58 yards that featured a 53-yard passing play from Chance Fuller to Monterio Burchfield. However, FHSU could not move the ball into the red zone and settled for a 39-yard field goal attempt from Fernando Avila-Castro. His kick sailed wide to the left and Northwest maintained its 9-0 lead with 10:02 to play in the third.
 
Northwest moved the ball to the FHSU 33-yard line and faced a 4^th-and-7. The Bearcats decided to punt and quarterback Braden Wright nailed a coffin corner kick out of bounds at the one-yard line. It was the third Northwest punt of the game to be downed at the one-yard line.
 
Fuller and Burchfield hooked up again for a 43-yard completion on the ensuing possession to put the ball on the FHSU half of the field. The Tigers struck for a touchdown on a 36-yard pass from Fuller to Adrian Soto on a 4^th-and-9 with 5:00 left in the third quarter. The FHSU drive covered 99 yards in seven plays. The FHSU score cut the Northwest lead to 9-7.
 
Bearcat senior Imoni Donadelle turned the field back into Northwest's favor with a 51-yard kick return. Donadelle set up the Bearcat offense at the 42-yard line. The Bearcats drove the ball to the six-yard line before McKeller was stripped and the Tigers recovered at the two to thwart the Northwest scoring attempt.
 
The Northwest defense rose to the occasion again when J'Ravien Anderson picked off a Fuller pass at the 38-yard line with 12:11 left in the fourth quarter. It was the third career interception for Anderson.
 
The Tigers looked to take the lead on a 50-yard field goal from Avila-Castro with 6:19 to play in the game. However, the kick was short and left, leaving the Bearcats clinging to a 9-7 advantage.
 
Northwest moved the ball down the field and pushed the lead to 15-7 on an 8-yard scoring strike from Braden Wright to Kaden Davis. The score capped a 12-play, 67-yard drive. The extra point was blocked, giving FHSU a glimmer of hope.
 
The Tigers took possession at the 24-yard line with 40 seconds to play needing a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie. The Tigers made the most of eight plays and marched the ball to the 34-yard line with :06 remaining. Northwest's Isaiah Nimmers intercepted Fuller's pass on the final play to clinch the triumph.
 
McKeller led the way with 161 rushing yards and a score. Davonte Green had 11 carries for 53 yards, including a game-high 23-yard scamper. Kaden Davis led the Bearcat receivers with three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown. Braden Wright passed for 96 yards on 13-of-23 passing.
 
Jackson Barnes notched a team-high seven tackles. Zach Howard recorded Northwest's only quarterback sack.
 
Hohensee punted seven times for a 41.4 average. He had four punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
Northwest will open its home schedule next Thursday at 6 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium against the Lincoln Blue Tigers.
 
NOTES: Northwest won its 10th straight season-opening game … Northwest went 642 days between victories – marking the third-longest streak in the program's history … it was the fourth straight game between Northwest and Fort Hays State decided by eight points or less …  the last time Northwest recorded a safety prior to tonight's stop by Sam Phillips was during the Bearcats' last visit to Fort Hays State on Nov. 9, 2019 and it was Spencer Phillips (Sam's brother) that posted the safety … McKeller's rushing score was the 43rd of his career – having scored 42 rushing touchdowns at UIndy before transferring to Northwest this season … McKeller notched his 18th career 100-plus rushing performance … Hohensee nailed a 73-yard punt in the third quarter – the longest punt since a 70-yard punt by Northwest's Michael Stadler vs. Valdosta State on Dec. 15, 2007 … Northwest had 20 first downs, while FHSU posted 15 … Northwest rushed for 240 yards and held FHSU to 48 yards on the ground … FHSU passed for 265 yards … Northwest out-gained FHSU, 336-313 … Northwest dominated the time of possession (39:06-20:54).