MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University football team closed out its 2023 season with a thorough thrashing of the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at Bearcat Stadium, 56-7.

Northwest (7-4 overall) put up its third straight 50-point plus output for the first time since the 2011 season as the Bearcats forced seven turnovers and nearly tossed its second straight shutout.

Sophomore running back Jay Harris entered Bearcat history by becoming the first player to rush for 100 or more yards in every regular season game of a season. Harris had 24 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's win. Harris's final carry of the season was a 46-yard touchdown scamper that gave Northwest a 42-0 lead and put him over 100 yards for the game. Harris finished the 2023 season with 1,433 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns.

Quarterback Mike Hohensee finished off his career in style by tossing four touchdown passes on 17-of-27 passing. Hohensee hooked up with Keegan Sturdy for two of the scores on 3-yard and 12-yard touchdown passes. Hohensee hit Jackson Miller for a 28-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter, before he teamed up with Kashan Griffin for a 9-yard flick in the third quarter. Hohensee became only the fifth Bearcat quarterback in program history to throw at least 60 touchdown passes in his career with 63.

The Bearcat defense registered three interceptions on the day from Andrew Dumas, Rhett Jordon and Cole Elwood. Jordon's interception turned into a pick-six as he returned it 14 yards with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter to give Northwest a 49-0 lead.

Northwest defense and special teams recovered four fumbles as Nebraska-Kearney played as though it was in the Christmas season by giving away the football. Nile Schuett, Austin McKinney, Tre'on Jones and Will Berendzen all recovered fumbles in the win. 

The Bearcat defense also tallied four quarterback sacks on the day from Tucker Atwood, Kobe Clayborne, Jakob Forslund and Charles Gadie. Clayton Power and Clayborne were each credited with two tackles-for-loss as Northwest generated seven stops for loss of yardage vs. the Lopers.

The lone blemish in the win came when the Lopers returned a kickoff 81 yards for a score with 11:41 left in the game as Northwest was looking for its second straight shutout to close the season.

Running back Wentric Williams III scored the final touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run with 6:33 to go to give Northwest its 56-7 victory.

Northwest held UNK to 10 first downs in the game, while the Bearcats put up 28 first downs. UNK rushed for 77 yards and passed for 120 for 197 yards of total offense. Northwest generated 393 yards of total offense with 208 on the ground and 185 through the air.