MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University football team overcame an early 14-point deficit to turn in a 32-20 victory over the No. 25-ranked Fort Hays State University Tigers at Bearcat Stadium.

Northwest recorded its first win of the season behind an efficient passing game, a steady running attack and a full defensive performance against the Tigers.

Bearcat quarterback Chris Ruhnke completed 33 passes, which ranks tied of the second-most completions by a player in school history, to 12 different receivers. Ruhnke tossed a pair of touchdown passes and threw for 273 yards. Only Blake Bolles completed more passes (37) in a game than Ruhnke. Bolles hit on 37 passes vs. Washburn on Oct. 24, 2009. Josh Lamberson connected on 33 passes vs. Grand Valley State on Dec. 10, 2005 and John McMenamin completed 33 passes vs. Central Missouri on Oct. 27, 2001. 

Ruhnke is the 11th Bearcat passer to complete 80% of his throws in a game as he went 33-of-41 passing against the Tigers. His first touchdown throw of the game came with :05 left in the half when he found Jadon Brady all alone in the right flat to knot up the game at 17-17. Ruhnke's other touchdown toss came on a 2-yard strike to Wentric Williams III with 10:55 left in the game to account for the final points of the contest and give Northwest a 32-20 lead.

The much maligned Bearcat running game came into Saturday's contest ranked No. 156 of 156 NCAA Division II teams in the nation in rushing yards per game (7.5). The Bearcats flipped the script and rushed the ball 37 times for 138 yards and two scores. The Bearcats started redshirt freshman Te'Shaun Porter and he gained 11 yards on Northwest's first play from scrimmage. 

Tank Young found the end zone twice on the ground and he led the Bearcats with 57 rushing yards on 14 carries. Young's first touchdown came on a 4th-and-2 from the 10-yard line with Northwest already facing a 14-0 deficit to the Tigers. The Bearcats went with some extra beef on the offensive line on the play and it opened up a hole that Young sprang 10 yards for the touchdown

Young's second touchdown capped Northwest's opening second-half drive that went 75 yards in 14 plays and consumed 7:35 of the third quarter. Young scored on a four-yard run to give the Bearcats their first lead of the day at 24-17.

The Bearcat defense had already sprung into action to help Northwest keep the Tigers in check. FHSU began the game by converting its first six third-down conversions that helped the visitors open up leads of 14-0 and 17-7. After the second Young touchdown run, Northwest forced a safety when FHSU quarterback Jack Dawson was whistled for an intentional grounding penalty in his own end zone that resulted in a safety for the Bearcats with 6:30 left in the third quarter. Dawson was under pressure from Keaton Ricke on the play that gave the Bearcats a two-score advantage in the contest. FHSU finished the day 7-of-13 on third down conversions as Northwest locked in and forced them to go one for its last six on third-down tries.

Shane Fredrickson tallied an interception and Andrew Dumas recovered a fumble to give the Bearcat defense a pair of turnovers. FHSU managed seven first downs in the opening quarter and were limited to eight over the final 45 minutes.

Northwest will be on the road next weekend to take on the Missouri Southern Lions. Kick is set for 2 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.

NOTES: Rich Wright recorded his 60th career win to move his mark to 60-19 in seven seasons at the helm of the Bearcat program ... it is the 22nd career come-from-behind victory over coach Wright ... it's the fifth time the Bearcats have overcome a 10-point deficit or larger and won the game under the direction of coach Wright ... Northwest gained 411 yards of total offense, while holding FHSU to 245 total yards ... Northwest is 41-2 when gaining 400 or more yards of offense for coach Wright ... Jake Weber caught a team-high seven passes ... Luke Mathews tallied a team-best 62 receiving yards ... Tank Young produced a team-high 90 all-purpose yards ... Shane Fredrickson, Holden Zigmant and Carter Edwards tied for team-high honors in tackles with six each ... Fredrickson tallied his fourth career interception ... Northwest one a 23-15-1 lead in the all-time series with FHSU ... Northwest has won four of the last five meetings with FHSU.