MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Northwest Missouri State University football team used a complete team effort to post a 34-7 road win over the Washburn Ichabods at Yager Stadium.
 
Northwest improved to 1-1 on the year. It marked the first win as a Bearcat for head coach John McMenamin.
 
The Bearcats produced 27 first downs and 495 yards of total offense. The Northwest defense stifled the Ichabods. Washburn gained six total first downs and rushed for minus-19 yards. Washburn gained 143 yards of total offense on 51 plays. Washburn went 1-of-14 on third-down conversions. The Ichabods did not take an offensive snap on the Northwest side of the field.
 
The Northwest defense racked up seven sacks, including a team-high three from Jordan Pigram.
 
Northwest began the day's scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Chris Ruhnke to Jackson Miller with 8:19 left in the first quarter. However, kicker Mo Alwaely missed the extra point wide right to lead Northwest on top, 6-0.
 
Northwest extended its lead to 13-0 when Ruhnke hit Dominic Myers on an 18-yard touchdown strike with 2:07 left in the first quarter. After punting on its first possession with a three-and-out that resulted in one yard of offense, Northwest racked up 117 yards of total offense that resulted in a pair of touchdowns drives.
 
Northwest's Parker Bowen gave the Bearcats a short field when he tallied an interception at the 22-yard line. The Bearcats could not turn the miscue into points as Ruhnke was intercepted in the end zone as he looked to connect with Maddix Morris.
 
Washburn did not gain a first down until its eighth offensive possession of the game.
 
The Bearcat defense limited Washburn to 14 yards of offense in the first half and only one first down. Washburn rushed for minus-19 yards in the opening 30 minutes. Northwest tallied 211 total yards and 13 first downs in the first half.
 
Northwest back Dominic Myers accounted for 44 yards and scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 13-yard carry with 7:31 left in the third quarter. Myers nabbed a 33-yard reception to set the ball up at the 11-yard line before he sped around the right side for the rushing score. Myers's touchdown gave Northwest a 20-0 advantage.
 
Bearcat defensive back Jackson Torry forced a fumble and it was recovered by Michael Harrison at the 23-yard line with 1:05 to play in the third quarter. Zechariah Owens hit Gannon Gragert for a 17-yard touchdown pass with Northwest facing and fourth-and-4 on the opening play of the fourth quarter. It was Gragert's first touchdown reception as a Bearcat. The Owens to Gragert connection gave Northwest a 27-0 cushion with 14:53 left in the game.
 
The Ichabods ended the shutout attempt by the Bearcats when Washburn quarterback Justin Lewis hit D.J. Bell for a 69-yard touchdown pass with 14:03 remaining in the contest. The Washburn score cut the Northwest lead to 27-7.
 
Northwest tacked on its final score of the game when Quincy Torry carried it in from a yard out for a 34-7 lead with 3:57 left in the game. Torry's first collegiate touchdown capped a 13-play, 77-yard drive that consumed 6:28 of the fourth quarter.
 
After playing its first two games on the road, Northwest will play its first home contest of the season next Saturday. Northwest will play host to the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas in a non-conference game at Bearcat Stadium. Kick is set for 1:30 p.m.
 
NOTES: Northwest quarterbacks completed passes to 15 different Bearcat receivers … Dominic Myers nabbed a team-best 61 receiving yards … Myers also rushed for 50 yards and returned five punts for 25 yards … Myers accounted for a team-high 136 all-purpose yards … Zechariah Owens rushed for a team-high 71 yards on 12 carries … Chris Ruhnke went 17-of-27 passing for 190 yards and a touchdown … Owens threw for 59 yards on 9-of-12 passing and two touchdowns … Northwest had 10 tackles-for-loss with Jordan Pigram adding three and Carter Edwards notching two … Jackson Torry forced a fumble … Michael Harrison recovered a fumble … Northwest owns a 36-7 lead in the all-time series with Washburn … Northwest is 17-5 vs. Washburn in games played in Topeka … Northwest has won 19 of the last 20 matchups between the two schools … Northwest has won 85 consecutive games when leading at the half ... Northwest ran 19 first-quarter plays for 118 yards, while Washburn ran 12 plays for three yards of total offense in the first quarter … linebacker Carter Edwards recorded Northwest's first sack of the season in the first quarter … Edwards has posted four career quarterback sacks.