CFB: Northwest dominates UCM, Mizzou battles Bama, MoWest struggles on road

By MATT PIKE

Bearcats stay perfect in MIAA, take sole possession of first place

Northwest Missouri State University  stayed perfect in MIAA play with a 49-32 road triumph over the University of Central Missouri Mules.

Northwest produced 501 total yards and 358 on the ground and Zechariah Owens accounted for six touchdowns as the Bearcats took over sole possession of first place in the league standings.  The victory marked Northwest’s fifth consecutive win, their longest streak since a six-game run in the 2022 season. 

After Northwest deferred the kickoff, to the second half to start the game, putting the UCM offense on the field first, the Mules capitalized on an early drive, concluding with a two yard touchdown run by Keyon Butler to take the early lead.  After an interception thrown by Bearcat quarterback Chris Ruhnke, UCM extended their lead with a 24 yard passing touchdown to Hogan Wasson from Donovyn Omolo.

However, the Bearcats regained momentum as Zechariah Owens engineered a successful drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Luke Mathews, closing the quarter down by just one score.  The second quarter began with Northwest capitalizing on a turnover forced by Zac McLeay, leading to a drive starting at the Mules’ 21-yard line. Owens capped the possession with a one yard touchdown rush to tie up the game.

The Bearcats continued to press, as Te’Shaun Porter’s effective ground game helped advance the ball into scoring position once again on their next drive, before Owens completed the drive with another short touchdown run giving Northwest the lead.  The defense held strong, but UCM managed a late 31-yard field goal by Will Peacock as the second quarter ended with Northwest leading 21-17 at the halftime break.

The Bearcats opened the third period with a significant momentum shift, capitalizing on their possession. Quincy Torry’s 55-yard touchdown run extended their lead over Central Missouri.  Shortly after, Northwest’s defense secured a crucial turnover, with Carter Edwards forcing a fumble recovered by Parker Bowen. This turnover was converted into another scoring drive, as Owens rushed for an eight yard touchdown late in the quarter pushing the Bearcats lead to 35-17 going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter began and the Mules narrowing the gap with an eight yard touchdown pass from Omolo to Marlon Lindsey. But, the Bearcats responded assertively, as Owens led a pivotal drive that culminated in a seven yard touchdown pass to Mathews to extend the Northwest lead again to three possessions.

Northwest’s offense continued to press forward with Owens capitalizing on a vital 44-yard rushing touchdown. The Mules added another score late, with Omolo rushing in from 12 yards out, but Northwest’s strategic ground game allowed them to control possession and run out the clock, securing the victory.

Owens led the offensive charge going 7-of-14  through the air for 80 yardss with two touchdowns, and adding 124 rushing yards on 11 attempts, scoring four touchdown. Mathews contributed significantly to the receiving corps with nine catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns. 

With six total touchdowns, Owens is now tied with Trevor Adams, Kyle Zimmerman, Zach Martin, and Mike Hohensee for the second-most touchdowns accounted for in a game for a Bearcat. 

Northwest (5-1, 4-0 MIAA) is now set to face Fort Hays State in Maryville on Saturday. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m

Late turnovers end MoWest’s fight in loss against Nebraska-Kearney

Missouri Western State University battled hard for more than three quarters, trailing by just six points with 12 minutes to go, but three second half turnovers cost the Griffons in a 27-7 loss at Nebraska-Kearney on their homecoming.

UNK struck first on a 78-yard touchdown strike from Daron Bryden to Dae’vonn Hall, but the point-after was blocked by MoWest’s Kameron Neal, making it 6-0 with 10:10 remaining in the first quarter. which is where the score remained through the remainder of the first half.

The Griffons got the ball to start the second half, but on the third play of the series, Dylan Jordan stripped a ball from Brandon Hall and recovered the fumble at the Griffon 44-yard line. The Lopers scored four plays later as Byden found Jaden Jude for a 20 yard touchdown pass.  This time kicker Kyle Failing converted the extra poing putting UNK ahead 13-0.

Trailing by two possessions, MoWest sent in quarterback Branden Berwald, who led an eight-play, 75-yard drive down the field, ending in a 20-yard touchdown throw to Crew Myers, to finally get the Griffons on the board with their only score.  The Griffon defense, who forced UNK to punt seven times and also forced a turnover-on-downs, forced the Lopers into three consecutive drives that ended in punt in the second half, eventually giving MoWest 1st-and-10 on their own six-yard-line, down by six points, with 11:41 to play.

It’s about then, however, when things turned permanently in favor of UNK. On a 3rd-and-8, Berwald threw an interception to Ja’Mareion Gipson, which the Lopers scored a touchdown on two plays later as Bryden connected with Jude again for a 21 yard strike.  Trailing again by three possessions, Kane Donovan re-entered the game at quarterback and threw a 34-yard pick-six to Gipson on a third down play, making it 27-7.

Donovan completed 20-of-27 passes for 99 yards. Berwald accounted for 67 all-purpose yards and the passing TD. Brandon Hall rushed seven times for 71 yards.  Myers finished with career-highs in receptions with (seven), yards (71) and the touchdown grab was the first of his college career.

MoWest (1-5, 0-4 MIAA) is back home on Saturday to face #15 Pittsburg State. Kickoff in the annual Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame game is set for 6 p.m.

#14 Missouri punches up, but falls short against #8 Alabama

Ty Simpson threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns, including the clincher on fourth down to Daniel Hill with 3:16 to go, and #8 Alabama held off #14 Missouri 27-24 to give the Crimson Tide their fifth consecutive win.

Jam Miller added 85 yards rushing before leaving with a concussion in the fourth quarter, and Kevin Riley and Isaiah Horton also had touchdown catches for Alabama, which has won seven straight over Missouri dating to Sept. 8, 1975.

Beau Pribula kept punching for the Tigers, too, hitting Donovan Olugbode for a touchdown with 1:39 left. And after the Crimson Tide pounced on the onside kick, Missouri forced a quick punt to get the ball back with 1:17 still on the clock.  Pribula connected with Olugbode again on fourth down to get close to midfield, but he followed with two incompletions. Then on third down, Pribula overshot his target and was picked off by Alabama defensive back Dijon Lee Jr. to put the game away.  The loss ended the Tigers’ 15-game home winning streak, the second-longest nationally.

Missouri got off to a good start, seemingly stunning Alabama on its opening drive. It took just six plays to march 78 yards, and Pribula threw a nifty lob to tight end Brett Norfleet down the sideline for a 26-yard touchdown.  Yet the Crimson Tide not only regained their composure, they regained control.

Simpson was nearly perfect on an answering touchdown drive, driving down and finding Kevin Riley for a six yard score to tie the game. And after Missouri went three-and-out, the junior quarterback drove the Crimson Tide downfield again, zipping a pass to Horton on third-and-long for a 16-yard touchdown pass that made it 14-7.

After each team added a field goal before halftime, 46 yards from Alabama’s Conor Talty and 35 yards from the Tigers Robert Meyer with no time left in the first half, going to the halftime break with the Crimson Tide leading 17-10, Missouri took advantage of Simpson’s fumble, his only big mistake, on the first play of the second half. Pribula juked his way into the end zone three plays later to tie the game.  The Tigers though were never able to regain the lead.

Conor Talty added a go-ahead field goal later in the third quarter for Alabama, and the Crimson Tide stopped Missouri on fourth down midway through the fourth quarter, shoving Jamal Roberts out of bounds just shy of the marker on a fake punt attempt.  Replays appeared to show the running back reaching the ball far enough for a first down, but the spot was upheld by the officials.

Alabama took over and, after Simpson converted on fourth-and-8 with a throw to freshman Lotzeir Brooks, the SEC’s top passer found Hill in the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the Missouri two yard line with just over three minutes remaining to put it out of reach.

Pribula finished with 167 yards passing going 16-for-28 through the air with two touchdowns and two interceptions.  He also was the Tigers’ most effective runner with 61 yards on 11 carries and another score. The nation’s leading rusher, Ahmad Hardy, was held to just 52 yards on 12 rushes.  Olugbode, the freshman, had three catches for 55 yards with a score while Norfleet had three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Next, Missouri (5-1, 1-1 SEC) finally hits the road for the first time this season playing Auburn on Saturday.  Kickoff will be at 6:45pm and the game will air on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

Kansas State dominates in all phases to score big win over TCU

Avery Johnson threw three touchdown passes , two to tight end Garrett Oakley, and Kansas State added two defensive touchdowns to defeat TCU 41-28. Des Purnell also had two interceptions, including a pick six, for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats and Horned Frogs traded blows in the second quarter after both teams were scoreless through the first.  Jeremy Payne scored on a one yard touchdown run for TCU to open the scoring, before Kansas State answered with Johnson’s first touchdown pass of the day to Oakley for 32 yards to tie the game.  Just before the two minute warning, the Kansas State defense gave the Wildcats the lead when Wesley Fair returned a fumble for a touchdown, giving Kansas State a 14-7 lead at the halftime break.

The Wildcats took a two-score lead early in the third quarter with its second defensive touchdown of the game. Purnell picked off Josh Hoover and raced 25 yards for the score.  Johnson then found Garrett Oakley for his second touchdown, this time from 17 yards out, to give the Wildcats a 28-7 lead with 3:57 left in the third quarter. With that touchdown, Oakley became the all-time leader in touchdown catches among K-State tight ends.

TCU used a seven-play, 75-yard drive in just 1:51 to draw within two scores late in the third quarter. Hoover found Chase Curtis on a two yard touchdown pass on fourth down.  But, on the ensuing drive, Johnson found Jarend Bradley for a 12-yard touchdown to give K-State a three touchdown lead.

Hoover connected with Eric McAlister for an 85-yard touchdown in just one play, but after a Kansas State punt gave the Horned Frogs the ball back on the next drive, Purnell’s second interception in TCU territory set up a Luis Rodriguez field goal from 19 yards away.  Rodriguez also hit a 36 yard field goal after a turnover on downs by TCU, before the Horned Frogs scored on their final drive in five plays with Hoover finding McAlister again for a 37 yard touchdown pass. 

Johnson finished 16-of-26 passing for 196 yards with three touchdown passes.  Joe Jackson rushed 27 times for 110 yards.  Oakley had four catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns, while Jaron Tibbs had three catches for 51 yards.

 Kansas State (3-4, 2-2 Big 12)  has a bye before its “Sunflower Showdown” game at Kansas Oct. 25.

Jayhawks can’t sustain momentum after injury to Tech’s Morton in loss

Cameron Dickey ran for a career-high 263 yards and two long touchdowns, Will Hammond scored twice after replacing injured quarterback Behren Morton and #9 Texas Tech beat Kansas 42-17.

Dickey sprinted 71 yards on the first offensive play for the Red Raiders and added a 55-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter. With co-lead back J’Koby Williams slowed by an injury, Dickey had 21 carries, another career best.  Texas Tech had 372 yards rushing and recovered from a malaise after Morton’s injury in the school’s first game as an AP top 10 team since 2013.

Following the opening score from Dickey, the Red Raiders added two more scores in the first quarter, capitalizing on a Jayhawks fumble and adding a touchdown on a 21 yard pass from Morton to Terrance Carter Jr., converting a two point conversion on a run by JohnCarlos Miller II.  Then after a Kansas punt putting up a 25 yard field goal from Upton Bellenfant, giving the Red Raiders a 18-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Stone Harrington hit a 40 yard field goal to put the Red Raiders up 21-0, but that Texas Tech lead was down to four points at the break when the Jayhawks scored on three of their first four possessions after Morton appeared to injure his lower right leg on a sack in the second quarter. He didn’t return.  Daniels threw touchdown passes to LeShon Williams and Boden Groen, of 10 and 24 yards respectively, before Laith Marjan hit a 55 yard field goal with no time remaining to make it 21-17 at the halftime break.

Hammond opened the scoring in the second half for Texas Tech as the Red Raiders went on to take all the momentum back, running 20 yards for a touchdown on the first drive of the second half.  Dickey’s second long touchdown put Texas Tech up 35-17, and Hammond’s 10-yard run finished the scoring.

Jalon Daniels threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas, which dropped to 1-12 in Lubbock and has lost 24 of 26 meetings with the Red Raiders.  Daniel Hishaw Jr ran eight times for 53 yards.  Groen had 13 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown, while Cam Pickett had six catches for 55 yards.

Kansas (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) is off next week before getting rival Kansas State at home Oct. 25.

Raiola overcomes turnovers to throw late TD for win over Maryland

Dylan Raiola threw a three yard touchdown pass to Dane Key with 1:08 remaining, and Nebraska edged Maryland 34-31. Raiola threw for 260 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions in a wild game in which the Cornhuskers squandered a 10-point lead. But after going 10-35 in its last 45 one-score games entering this season, Nebraska is 2-1 in those situations this year.

The Terrapins led 31-24 in the fourth quarter before Emmett Johnson’s 50-yard run gave Nebraska the ball at the Maryland 10. The shifty running back didn’t get the ball again on that drive, and a delay of game penalty on fourth down forced the Cornhuskers  to settle for a field goal and a four-point deficit.

Nebraska then got the ball back, and Raiola guided his team 81 yards in seven plays for the go-ahead TD. Maryland then drove back near midfield, but freshman Malik Washington was called for a disputed intentional grounding penalty that knocked the Terps back 14 yards.  Washington had a receiver open to the left on that play and perhaps would have seen him if he’d had more time. He eventually threw incomplete on fourth-and-4 from the Nebraska 49 to end Maryland’s chances.

The Cornhuskers  opened the scoring on an explosive 64-yard catch-and-run by Nyziah Hunter from Raila. An offensive pass interference penalty wiped out a touchdown later in the first quarter, and the Cornhuskers settled for a field goal which started the scoring in a back and forth second quarter.

Nolan Ray ran for a 28-yard touchdown for Maryland, and the Terps cashed in on Raiola’s first interception when Washington found Leon Haughton Jr. for a 21-yard touchdown pass to give the Terps a 14-10 lead.  An 85-yard kick return by Kenneth Williams set up Raiola’s seven yard touchdown pass to Luke Lindenmeyer, and after a Maryland punt his 12-yard TD throw to Hunter made it 24-14 for the Cornhuskers.

Raiola was picked off again toward the end of the half, and Maryland managed a field goal before halftime. The Terps took the opening drive of the third and tied the game on a oneyard scoring run by DeJuan Williams.   Dontay Joyner scored on a 67-yard interception return in the third quarter for Maryland to give the Terps the lead again 31-24.

Johnson ran for 176 yards for Nebraska.  Hunter had five catches for 125 yards with two touchdowns, while Key had four catches for 43 yards with a score.

Next, Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) plays at Minnesota on Friday night. Kickoff is at 7pm and the game will air on Fox.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.