SEARCY, Ark. — The No. 2-ranked Harding University Bisons ended the 2025 football season for the No. 14-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats in the first round of the NCAA Div. II Playoffs.

Harding moved to 12-0 and Northwest finished at 9-3.

Despite the setback, Northwest Mo. St. managed a 75-yard rushing touchdown by Quincy Torry and a 66-yard scoring gallop from Te'Shaun Porter. Northwest had nine rushing touchdowns of 40 yards or more in the 2025 season.

Northwest Missouri State began the game with possession after receiving the opening kickoff. Quincy Torry started the drive with a 4-yard rush, but the drive stalled after two incomplete passes by Chris Ruhnke. Tommy Warner punted 36 yards, and the Bisons took over on their 35-yard line. The first drive for Northwest Missouri State resulted in no points as they punted the ball away.

Harding capitalized on their first possession, moving 65 yards downfield and concluding the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run by Braden Jay, followed by a successful extra point. Northwest Missouri State's subsequent drive showed promise with Ruhnke gaining 20 yards on a rush to Harding's 46-yard line. However, the momentum shifted as Ruhnke's pass was intercepted by Jordan Mays, who returned it 12 yards to the Bisons' 46-yard line.

Harding extended their lead with a 25-yard field goal by Magnus Lepak after a series of runs moved them into scoring position. Northwest Missouri State's final drive of the period ended with a punt after a short three-play series. The quarter concluded with Harding leading 10-0.

The second quarter began with Harding extending their lead, capitalizing on a series of rushing plays from Andrew Miller and Jay, culminating in a touchdown drive that pushed the score to 17-0. Northwest Missouri State quickly responded with a standout 75-yard touchdown run by Quincy Torry, narrowing the gap to 17-7 after Mo Alwaely's successful extra point.

The Bisons regained control with another rushing touchdown, pushing the lead to 24-7. Northwest Missouri State mounted a late-quarter drive, with Ruhnke connecting on several key passes to advance downfield. The drive concluded with a 19-yard field goal by Alwaely as time expired in the quarter, sending the teams to the locker room with Harding leading 24-10.

The third quarter began with Northwest Mo. St. kicking off to Harding, who quickly moved down the field. Benjamin Einess and Carter Edwards made key tackles, but Harding completed a scoring drive with a touchdown, increasing their lead to 31-10. Harding's 38 points were the most given up by a Bearcat team in the playoffs since Ferris State scored 41 in 2021.

Northwest Mo. St. responded with a determined drive, as Torry and Zechariah Owens each rushed for first downs, gaining significant yardage. However, the drive stalled after a sack and a turnover on downs, allowing Harding to regain control. The quarter ended with Harding maintaining their lead, 31-10.

The fourth quarter began with a significant turnover for Northwest Missouri State, as Shane Fredrickson forced a fumble from Harding's Andrew Miller, which was recovered by O'Shea Davis at the Northwest 20-yard line. This defensive play set the stage for a promising offensive drive, beginning with a 12-yard rush by Madixx Morris. Northwest continued to move the chains, highlighted by a 19-yard rush from Te'Shaun Porter, but the drive ultimately stalled following a sack.

Harding capitalized on the turnover on downs by executing a series of successful rushes, culminating in a 23-yard touchdown run by Miller, extending their lead to 38-10. Northwest responded with a burst of offensive energy, as Porter broke free for a 66-yard touchdown run, narrowing the gap to 38-16. This was Porter's longest rush of the season. Despite the effort, the subsequent onside kick was unsuccessful, allowing Harding to maintain possession and run down the clock, securing the victory. The game concluded with a final score of Harding 38, Northwest Missouri State 16.

Porter rushed for 106 yards on five carries, including one touchdown, demonstrating his impact on the ground. Torry contributed significantly with 116 rushing yards on eight attempts, adding a touchdown to his performance. Alwaely converted a field goal from 19 yards and successfully made a PAT, contributing to the team's scoring efforts. On defense, Fredrickson led the team with 31 total tackles and forced a fumble, showcasing his defensive presence by setting a school record with his tackle count. The previous school record of 23 was set by Aaron Crowe against Pittsburg State on Oct. 25, 1997.
 

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Northwest Missouri State University senior safety Shane Fredrickson set the NCAA Div. II record for tackles in a game (31) Saturday against No. 2-ranked Harding.
 
Fredrickson recorded 13 solo tackles and 18 assisted tackles as the Bisons rushed the ball 70 times against the Bearcats.

The previous NCAA Div. II record for tackles in a game was 30 set by Minnesota-Morris's Shaun Maloney vs. MSU Moorhead on Oct. 27, 2001.
 
The old NCAA Div. II playoff record for tackles was 21 set by Texas A&M-Commerce's Garrett Blubaugh against Tarleton State on Nov. 24, 2018.
 
The previous MIAA record for tackles in a game was 27 set on multiple times, but last by Central Missouri's Matt Ament against Missouri Western on Oct. 28, 1995.

Northwest's school record for tackles in a game was set by Aaron Crowe with 23 tackles against Pittsburg State on Oct. 25, 1997.
 
Fredrickson capped his Bearcat career with 264 total tackles, including 189 solo stops, five interceptions and 21 passes defended.