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Senior quarterback Blake Christopher’s 21-yard completion to Jake Soy on third and 11 in Northwest Missouri State’s first drive of the game set the tone early.

The Bearcats then capitalized on four turnovers in the second quarter to retain “The Ol’ Hickory Stick” against the Truman Bulldogs 65-3 at Stokes Stadium on Thursday night.

With the Bearcats backed up and the fifth year senior making his first start,

Christopher zipped a seem pass in tight coverage that Soy snagged for a big first down and gave the Bearcats the confidence it needed in the rivalry game. 

 It was the 47th straight conference win for Northwest and 10th against their long-time MIAA foe.

The Bulldogs did stop that first Northwest drive as Christopher’s handoff fell to the turf and Patrick Blackwell recovered for Truman at their own 28.

Penalties haunted the ‘Dogs early as three false start flags in the first two drives killed any momentum.

Following the second straight tipped punt by Bearcat Cody Matthewson to set Northwest up at midfield,

 Christopher found Jordan Simmons for an 18-yard reception on another third down to move the ball to the 12.

 James Franklin took it the rest of the way on two plays to stake Northwest to the 7-0 lead.

From there, things went from bad to worse for the Bulldogs.

 Northwest would score touchdowns in their next six possessions including a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown by Jerry Key to start the second quarter, a 49-yard pass to Tyler Shaw after the Bulldog quarterback J.B. Clark was picked in the endzone and a 22-yard fumble recovery for a TD by Nate DeJong.

Truman would get their only points on a Derek Koon 30-yard field goal with 6:47 left in the half after Clark completed his longest pass of the night of 31-yards to Michael Mayszak.

Clark finished 14-of-30 with two interceptions and 115 yards in his Bulldog debut while Harnish Ayora gained a team high 64 yards on eight carries with a long of 49. 

 Anthony Brown caught seven passes for 58 yards.

Christopher finished with 247 yards passing on 12-of-17 completions  with Shaw leading the receiving corp with 114 yards.

Northwest outgained the Bulldogs 525 to 258.

Truman will host Fort Hays State next Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

Courtesy Truman State University