CFB: Bearcats claim MIAA crown, Ravens shutdown Baker, Mizzou playoff hopes crushed

By MATT PIKE

Bearcats crush Griffons in rivalry matchup to claim MIAA

#14 Northwest Missouri State University clinched its 32nd MIAA regular season title with a 38-7 manhandling of the Missouri Western State University Griffons at Bearcat Stadium, marking Northwest’s 12th consecutive win over Missouri Western and its ninth straight win this season.

After the Bearcats began the game by deferring possession, allowing the Griffons to start with the ball, MoWest capitalized on its opening drive, advancing 75 yards on seven plays, ending with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Kane Donovan to Damir Abdullah.  Northwest responded with a methodical 12-play drive spanning 55 yards, but managed only a 38-yard field goal by Mo Alwaely to cut the deficit to 7-3. 

With the Bearcats holding possession to open the second quarter Northwest extended its lead. Chris Ruhnke connected with Dominic Myers for a six yard touchdown pass to give the Bearcats the lead. Momentum continued after Northwest forced a MoWest punt, as Jackson Miller capped a drive with his first career rushing touchdown, a 10-yard run, pushing the lead to 17-7. 

The Bearcats defense made a pivotal stop, with Jordan Pigram intercepting a pass for his first career interception, setting up another scoring opportunity. The takeaway led to Luke Mathews securing a five yard touchdown reception from Ruhnke to continue pushing the lead even more. The defense maintained pressure, ending the period with a sack by Clayton Power, ensuring a strong finish to the first half, leading 24-7 at the break.  Northwest has won 93 consecutive games when leading at the half. Head coach John McMenamin is 15-0 when leading at the half, including a 9-0 mark at Northwest.

To start the third quarter, Northwest extended its lead once again with a 75-yard drive that culminated in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Ruhnke to Gatlin Samuel.  The Bearcats capitalized on strong defensive plays, including a sack by Power that pushed MoWest back, leading to a punt. Northwest added their final score of the game in the quarter with Ruhnke’s  two yard touchdown run.

Ruhnke completed 20 of 39 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for a career-high 63 yards and one touchdown on eight carries. Miller contributed 71 rushing yards on 13 attempts and added a touchdown. Myers rushed 11 times for 80 yards.  Samuel had a single reception for 19 yards, resulting in a touchdown.  Erwin Nash had three catches for 45 yards while T.J Williams-Bey had four catches for 35 yards.

Donovan completed 6-of-15 passes for 95 yards and an interception. Brendan Berwald completed 5-of-10 passes for 45 yards. He rushed for 10 yards as well.  Abdullah finished with 59 yards receiving and the score on two catches. Crew Myers had a team-best four catches for 34 yards. Brandon Hall rushed 12 times for 25 yards.

Up next, Northwest Missouri State (9-1, 8-0 MIAA) will face Pittsburg State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Children’s Mercy Park.  Meanwhile, Missouri Western (3-7, 2-6 MIAA) returns home to face Central Oklahoma on Senior Day. Kickoff on Saturday is set for 2 p.m.

Zollers overwhelmed by Aggies defense as Mizzou playoff hopes dim

Marcel Reed threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns, Texas A&M’s hounding defense made for a forgettable first start for Missouri quarterback Matt Zollers, and the #3Aggies beat the #22 Tigers 38-17 to remain undefeated.

Rueben Owens II added 102 yards rushing and a pair of clinching touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, as the Aggies continued their best start since 1992 with their third consecutive victory over Missouri.

Missouri had been in every game this season, including close losses to #4 Alabama and #15 Vanderbilt. But losing Beau Pribula to a season-ending injury against the Commodores left the 19-year-old Matt Zollers to make his first start against the Aggies.  It was a predictably tough task.

The first true freshman to start for Missouri since Drew Lock a decade ago, Zollers spent most of the game simply trying to stay upright. And on the rare occasion that he had time to throw, Zollers either overshot hits targets or threw it into the turf, resulting in a humbling halftime line: 3 of 11 for 31 yards, two sacks and a fumble that was nearly returned for a touchdown.

In fact, Zollers’ fumble late in the first half may have been the tipping point in the game.  Texas A&M led 7-0 after a four yard touchdown catch by Ashton Bethel-Roman from Reed late in the first quarter, and was trying to force a punt before the break. Zollers was blitzed by Daymion Sanford, who knocked the ball out of his hands and into the arms of safety Dalton Brooks, whose return set up EJ Smith’s one yard touchdown plunge two plays later, putting Texas A&M up 14-0 at the halftime break.

The Aggies kept the momentum going after halftime. Missouri quickly went three-and-out, and Reed zipped a screen pass to KC Concepcion, who took advantage of the space vacated by a blitzing safety to run nearly untouched 48 yards for the score.  The Tigers tried to make it a game in the third quarter, when Jamal Roberts finally reached the end zone on a four yard touchdown run. But after forcing the Aggies into fourth down near midfield, they executed a perfect punt fake, leading to a field goal and a 24-7 lead, which they carried into the final quarter

Owens eventually put the game away for Texas A&M with his two touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, the first coming in response to a 49 yard field goal by Oliver Robbins, a 57 yard run.  Ahmad Hardy did answer with a 45 yard rushing touchdown of his own, but Owens second touchdown from one yard out put the game away.

Zollers was just 7 of 22 for 77 yards, despite getting plenty of help from his rushing attack.  Roberts ran for 110 yards and a touchdown, and Hardy added 109 yards and another score, as the Tigers piled up 207 yards on the ground.  True freshman Donovan Olugbode had three catches for 74 yards to be the leading receiver.

Next, Missouri (6-3, 2-3 SEC) hosts Mississippi State on Saturday.  Kickoff is at 6:45 pm with pregame coverage starting at 5:45 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

Ravens use strong ground game, defensive effort in road win over Baker

The #3 Benedictine Ravens picked up a big road win on Saturday, being both strong on the ground and defensively, winning 31-10 at the (RV) Baker University Wildcats.

After Baker started the scoring late in the first quarter on a one yard rushing touchdown by Gabe Martin, Benedictine answered in the second quarter first with a 44 yard field goal by Christian Klobe early, and then near the end of the first half eventually taking the lead on a two yard touchdown pass from Jackson Dooley to Tanner Zimmerman, giving the Ravens a 10-7 lead at the halftime break.

Benedictine turned a three point halftime lead into a 24-point lead on the strength of long scoring drives in the second half. Dalton Witherspoon’s one yard plunge late in the third quarter put the Ravens up 17-7, which capped off a 92-yard drive.  Then, in the fourth quarter, the Ravens put together a 13-play, 97-yard drive that milked 8:20 off the clock and was punctuated with a five yard Xavier Ugorji touchdown run.

The Wildcats answered with a field goal two minutes later, but the Ravens offense salted away the game with another Ugorji touchdown run, this time from 19 yards away, eating all but 46 seconds off the clock to close out the Ravens 21-point win.

Ugorji finished the game with 196 yards on the ground and Witherspoon added another 96 yards as the Ravens rushed for 306 yards as a team. Jackson Dooley added 119 yards through the air, on 8-of-17 passing with a touchdown, with Titan Osburn catching four passes for 52 yards.

Benedictine (9-1, 5-0 Heart South) will take on (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene University at 1 p.m. on Saturday at home with a chance to claim an outright conference championship.

Arizona rally hands Kansas shocking last second loss on the road

Quincy Craig scored his second touchdown of the game on a 24-yard run with 39 seconds left in regulation and Arizona rallied to beat Kansas 24-20.  Coming off a blowout win over Colorado, the Wildcats had a hard time moving the ball against a Jayhawks defense that entered the game ranked 12th in the Big 12.

Noah Fifita threw an early touchdown pass, a 16 yard pass to Sam Olson for the opening score of the game, but was sacked five times and nearly had three passes intercepted before rallying Arizona to become bowl eligible.

Jalon Daniels took his two-way turn on Kansas’ next two drives. Daniels first scored on a one yard keeper set up by a 14-yard run, then, after a Wildcats punt, hit Emmanuel Henderson Jr. in stride for a 24-yard touchdown pass to give the Jayhawks the lead.  That lead was extended by midway through the second quarter when Laith Marjan hit a 46 yard field goal giving Kansas a two score lead.

The Jayhawks appeared to be headed to a 24-7 halftime lead when Leroy Harris III returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown. Instead, it came back when cornerback Jalen Todd was called for holding away from the play.  Craig scored on an eight yard touchdown two plays later by reaching the ball to the pylon, pulling Arizona within 17-14 at the halftime break.

The defenses took over in the second half.  Kansas had one interception overturned upon review and Syeed Gibbs had another potential pick pass through his hands. Both teams exchanged field goals in the third quarter, Arizona’s Michael Salgado-Medina hitting 41 yard field goal which Marjan answered with a 50 yard field goal. 

Then, late in the fourth quarter, after Marjan pushed a 30-yard field goal wide right, his first miss in 15 attempts this season, the Wildcats took over at their own 20 with 2:39 left. Arizona moved quickly down the field and Craig burst through a big hole up the middle for the go-ahead score.

 Daniels threw for 199 yards and a touchdown, going 15-of-29 through the air, adding 74 yards and another score rushing. His desperation attempt bounded out of the end zone as time expired.  Daniel Hishaw Jr rushed 18 times for 67 yards.  Henderson Jr. had five catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.

Next, Kansas (5-5, 3-4 Big 12) plays at Iowa State on Nov. 22.

Lateef’s impressive start for injured Raiola leads Nebraska to win

TJ Lateef was 13 for 15 for 205 yards and three touchdown passes in his first collegiate start, Emmett Johnson went over 100 yards rushing and receiving, and Nebraska defeated UCLA 28-21 for its first win in Pasadena since 1993.

Playing at the Rose Bowl 25 miles from his hometown of Compton, Lateef took over from Dylan Raiola, who is out for the rest of the season with a lower right leg injury he sustained in a 21-17 loss to Southern California last week. Lateef played the final four possessions against the Trojans.

As the first true freshman to start for Nebraska since 1950, Lateef directed the Cornhuskers to scores on their first four possessions for a 27-7 lead.  Jacory Barney Jr. caught Lateef’s two yard pass on the right side pylon, which bent over, for Nebraska’s first touchdown after a video review.

The Bruins answered the score with a one yard touchdown run by Jalen Berger, but Lateef hit Johnson with a pass at the Nebraska 41 and Johnson rumbled 56 yards down the left sideline past his own bench for the score on the very next drive to retake the lead. Johnson’s one yard touchdown run capped the Cornhuskers’ scoring in the first half for a 21-7 lead at the halftime break.

Out of the halftime break, Nebraska extended its lead to open the third on Johnson’s 40-yard catch from Lateef for his second long touchdown reception of the game.  Nico Iamaleava hit Anthony Woods with a 45-yard touchdown pass that helped UCLA cut into the Corhuskers lead in the third. The Bruins closed the game to one score on Iamaleava’s nine yard scoring pass to Anthony Frias II with 4:54 remaining in the game on a drive that began at their  three yard line.

Already the first 1,000-yard rusher at Nebraska since 2018, Johnson had 28 carries for 129 yards and ran for one TD. He had three catches for 103 yards and two TDs.  Dane Key had three catches for 46 yards, Nyziah Hunter had three catches for 37 yards, and Barney Jr had three catches for 19 yards with a score.

Next, Nebraska (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) has a bye week before visiting Penn State on Nov. 22 in Rhule’s return to his alma mater.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.