No. 3 Northwest Missouri State 28, Missouri Western 24

MARYVILLE, Mo. —Third-ranked Northwest Missouri State rallied from a 17-0 halftime deficit to beat Missouri Western 28-24 Saturday in a first round NCAA playoff game at Bearcat Stadium.
Northwest (10-1) scored touchdowns on four of its six second-half possessions to make its largest comeback in postseason history. Bearcat tight end Josh Baker scored two touchdowns and running back Kelvin Austin darted into the end zone from nine yards away with eight minutes remaining in what proved to be the game-winning score.

Missouri Western quarterback Drew Newhart threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, including a 39-yard touchdown toss to Terrell Downing late in the third quarter that extended the Griffons’ lead to 24-14. He began the final drive of the game from his own 21 with 2:56 to play and moved to the Bearcats’ 42 with 1:19 remaining. An 11-yard sack by Kyle Sunderman and Matthew Meinert on second down helped seal the Griffons’ fate.

Northwest got the ball first in the second half and later faced 4th-and-8 from the Griffons’ 46. In punt formation, Baker took a direct snap from center as the up man, broke a tackle while breaking the line of scrimmage and went untouched the rest of the way for the Bearcats’ first score. It’s the second fake punt Baker has scored on this season.

A 30-yard completion from Blake Bolles to Taylor Pierce – his first catch of the season – set up a Jordan Simmons 2-yard run and the Bearcats’ second score. Baker’s 5-yard touchdown catch with 12:56 remaining in the fourth quarter made it 24-21.

Marciele Surrell picked off his first pass of the season on the ensuing Griffon possession. Nine plays later, Austin was the in the end zone for Northwest’s go-ahead score.

Baker finished with eight catches for 74 yards and has scored 10 touchdowns this season. Bolles threw for 242 yards and was Northwest’s leading rusher with 48. He improved to 24-2 as a starter and has thrown a touchdown pass in all 26 starts.

Missouri Western (8-4) had 77 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 77 yards rushing for the game. Three Northwest sacks totaling 29 yards in the second half helped stall the tally. Michael Hill carried 13 times and was the game’s leading rusher with 50 yards.

The Bearcats advance to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-1) next Saturday in Texas in a rematch of both team’s season opener. It will be a noon start from Javelina Stadium.