TOPEKA, Kan. - The Northwest Missouri State University football team ran its winning streak to four in a row with a 51-34 road win over the Washburn University Ichabods at Yager Stadium.

Northwest (4-2 overall, 4-1 MIAA) surpassed the 50-point mark for the second time this season and put up a season-high 201 rushing yards in knocking off Washburn (1-4 overall, 1-3 MIAA).

Running back Tank Young rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns, while linebacker Carter Edwards snared a pair of interceptions as Northwest won for the 18th time in 19 tries against Washburn.
 
Northwest took advantage of a 20 mile-per hour south wind to score a pair of first-quarter touchdowns.
 
The Bearcats rushed for 48 yards on the opening drive of the game and took a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Henry Martin to Zach Atkins with 8:26 left in the first quarter..
 
Northwest struck paydirt again on its second drive of the game when Ruhnke hit Andrew Bradley on a slant in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown. The score gave Northwest a 14-0 lead with 3:44 left in the first quarter.
 
The Bearcat defense was locked in early in the contest. Washburn tallied eight yards on its first nine offensive plays of the game.
 
Washburn missed a 43-yard field goal after getting set up with a short field by an interception.
 
Northwest flipped the field on Washburn's next possession, when reigning MIAA defensive player of the week Carter Edwards tallied an interception on a pass deflection caused by Holden Zigmant. Carter returned the pick to the 19-yard line to set up a Bearcat scoring opportunity. Northwest converted the turnover into a 26-yard field goal by Noah Guastella. Guastella's three-pointer gave Northwest a 17-0 lead with 7:05 left in the half.
 
Mayes Doggan knocked the ball loose from Washburn running back Lucas Oitker to give the ball back to Northwest deep in Ichabod territory. Northwest cashed in the short field with a 24-yard field goal from Guastella. Guastella's second field goal of the second quarter gave Northwest a 20-0 lead with 5:17 until halftime.
 
Washburn got on the board with 1:50 left in the half on a 13-yard touchdown pass play from Sam Van Dyne to Maury Sullivan. The Ichabod score cut the Bearcat lead to 20-7.
 
Northwest looked to answer back when Ruhnke connected with Eric Richardson for a 44-yard catch and run to set the ball up at the Washburn 31-yard line. However, Ruhnke was sacked on the next play and Washburn's J.C. Heim scooped up the loose ball and returned it to the two-yard line, where he was run down by John Giagiari.
 
Two plays later, Washburn quarterback Keller Hurla called his own number on a roll out to the right and scored a five-yard touchdown with :34 left in the first half. The Ichabod touchdown trimmed the Bearcat lead to 20-14 at the break.
 
9:28 left in the third quarter, Wentric Williams III bulled across the goal line from a yard out to give Northwest a 27-14 lead
 
Tank Young broke free from a tackle and scampered 23 yards for a rushing touchdown with 8:42 left in the third quarter. Northwest benefited from a Washburn fumble on the kickoff to set up in the Ichabod end of the field to begin the drive.
 
Washburn answered back quickly with an 85-yard touchdown pass from #5 to #x. The Ichabod score sliced the Bearcat lead to 34-21 with 8:28 left in the third quarter.
 
Washburn clawed to within one score at 34-28 a nine-yard touchdown pass from Van Dyne to Sullivan with 1:54 left in the third quarter.
 
Te'Shaun Porter scored his first collegiate touchdown from two yards out with 12:20 left in the fourth quarter. The score was set up after Luke Mathews hung on to a 24-yard pass from Ruhnke to give the Bearcats first and goal. Porter's touchdown gave Northwest a 41-28 advantage.
 
Holden Zigmant was credited with his first collegiate interception with 10:14 to play in the game to slow down the Ichabod comeback. Northwest looked to add its third field goal of the game with 8:26 left, but Guastella's 28-yard attempt missed wide to the right and the lead remained 41-28 in favor of the Bearcats.
 
The Bearcat defense put the ball back in its offense's hand after stopping Washburn on a fourth down. Northwest converted the short field into Guastella's third field goal of the day – this one a 38-yard field goal. Guastella's three-pointer gave Northwest a 44-28 advantage with 5:14 left in the game.
 
Washburn scored its last points of the day on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Van Dyne to Tre Richardson with 4:16 left in the fourth quarter. The two-point try failed as a pass was lofted toward the right corner but fell incomplete. The Washburn score cut the Northwest lead to 44-34.
 
After a failed on-side kick, Northwest scored on its first play – a 45-yard touchdown run by Young that put him over 100 rushing yards. Young's score made the final, 51-34.
 
Northwest will be back in action next Saturday on the road at Central Oklahoma. Kick is set for 1 p.m. in Edmond, Okla.
 
NOTES: Northwest leads the all-time series with Washburn, 35-7 … Northwest has won 28 of the last 30 games in the series … it is the 17th time the Bearcats have scored 50 or more points under head coach Rich Wright … Northwest has produced 61 games of 50 or more points in program history … Northwest is 54-0 when leading at the half for Coach Wright … Northwest has won 82 straight games when leading at the break … Ruhnke passed for 219 yards and one touchdown on 16-of-27 passing … Mathews caught a team-high four passes for 94 yards … Guastella connected on three field goals (26, 24, 38) … Young amassed a team-high 141 all-purpose yards … Shane Fredrickson had a team-high eight tackles and a fumble recovery … Jake Fisher collected 1.5 quarterback sacks and a pass breakup … Tre'on Jones had a fumble recovery … Northwest intercepted three Washburn passes ... Young gained his second career 100-yard rushing game and both have come against Washburn ... Young rushed for 109 yards in Topeka last season (Oct. 28, 2023) and 134 yards at Washburn today.