MARYVILLE, Mo. - The Northwest Missouri State University football team put on a defensive show Saturday in guiding the Bearcats to a 14-9 win over No. 11-ranked Emporia State.

Northwest overcame seven turnovers on offense and held the ESU offense to 161 passing yards and 55 rushing yards (216 total yards). Northwest won its third straight game to move to 3-2 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play. ESU drops to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAA action.

The Bearcats scored the game's only points in the second half on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Chris Ruhnke to Luke Mathews with 11:05 to play in the fourth quarter. With Northwest facing a 3rd-and-10 at the 29-yard line, Ruhnke lofted a pass toward the uprights and Mathews adjusted to the throw and brought in the ball for the go-ahead touchdown. Mathews caught four passes for 96 yards on the day.

The Hornets took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Gunnar Gundy to Tyler Kahmann with 13:18 on the clock. The Hornets gained possession after Bearcat punt returner Dominic Myers mishandled an ESU punt at the 12-yard line. It proved to be the only scoring drive of the day for the Hornets as the Bearcat defense stiffened.

Northwest evened the game at 7-7 on a 4-yard quarterback draw from Henry Martin with 8:33 left in the first half. Martin's score capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive.

As halftime loomed, ESU punter Caden Dodson pinned the Bearcats on the 1-yard line with 1:58 to play before the break. On Northwest's first play of the drive, Tank Young was tackled in the end zone for a safety by ESU's Cade Stephenson to give the Hornets a 9-7 lead.

ESU threatened to build on its lead in the third quarter when a Hornet drive was stopped at the goal line by the Bearcat defense. ESU was stuffed on three plays at the goal line and would throw an incomplete pass on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs to the 'Cats.

The Bearcats looked to make use of the wind at the end of the third quarter when Cole Lammel lined up for a 55-yard field goal However, the three-pointer came up short and ESU held a 9-7 lead heading to the fourth quarter. 

Northwest forced a three-and-out on ESU's initial fourth-quarter drive and then marched eight plays and 86 yards, which led to the Ruhnke to Mathews go-ahead score with 11:05 remaining in the game.

ESU's next possession produced two first downs, but ended in a punt after 29 yards. Northwest was able to work 2:46 off the clock before punting it back to ESU. 

The Hornets began its next drive with 5:36 left and the ball on its own 21-yard line. The Hornets tallied one first down and reached the 47-yard line, but Clayton Power and Langden Kitchen combined on a sack to force an ESU punt with 2:42 to play in the contest.

Northwest ran three plays and forced a couple of timeouts from the Hornets, but the Bearcats could not get a first down and had to punt the ball back to the visitors. Lammel's sixth punt of the game went 27 yards and went out of bounds at the Northwest 42-yard line setting up the Hornets with a short field and no timeouts.

Backup quarterback Chase Ricke gained 14 yards on a scramble on ESU's first play of the drive to put the ball at the 28-yard line. Ricke completed a nine-yard pass on first down and eventually converted a first down on a 3rd-and-1 at the 19-yard line.

Ricke's first-down pass went into the end zone intended for Trenden Collins, but it was broken up by Mayes Doggan. After another incompletion, the Bearcat defense was able to sack ESU third-string quarterback Mason Dennis when Clayton Power tracked him down at the 16-yard line. On ESU's final play, Ricke's pass for Kahmann was broken up by Shane Fredrickson and the Bearcats claimed the 14-9 triumph.

Tank Young rushed for a team-best 62 yards on 14 carries. Mathews and Jake Weber tied for team-high honors with four catches. Ruhnke threw for 244 yards on 20-of-36 passing and four interceptions.

Fredrickson led the Bearcat defense with nine tackles and a pass breakup. Carter Olesen picked up an interception for ESU's only turnover of the contest. Northwest registered five sacks with Clayton Power leading the charge with 1.5 sacks.

Northwest will hit the road next to take on the Washburn Ichabods. Kick is set for 3 p.m. at Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kan.

NOTES: Northwest holds a 37-3 lead in the all-time series vs. Emporia State ... Northwest is 13-9 in one-score games under head coach Rich Wright ... Northwest is 45-5 when holding the opposition to 19 points or less under coach Wright ... today marked the 23rd comeback win for the Bearcats under coach Wright ... Ruhnke completed passes to 10 different Bearcat receivers.