The #11 Northwest Missouri football team scored 35 unanswered points on the way to a 52-14 blowout of #8 Emporia State on Halloween at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Mo. on Saturday. Each team came up empty early as Northwest Missouri kicked a field goal to take the early lead. Later in the first, an Ethan Schultze fumble in the Hornets’ own end zone was recovered for a Bearcat touchdown. E-State got the score back on a 44-yard touchdown pass by Jamison Sarver to Trenden Collins, but the ‘Cats scored again to retake a two-possession lead and help the Big Green start to pull away. Less than a minute later, a pass to Schultze was upheld following a Hornet challenge to be a catch, fumble, and return for a 33-yard Northwest score. Northwest scored again with three minutes to go in the first half to lead 31-7 at the break. Early in the second, a pass to Malik O’Atis was simultaneously caught and the Northwest defender ripped the ball away and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. Northwest eventually led 45-7 and never looked back. Head coach Garin Higgins said the team has to move on quickly.
Clem McCullough, who had six solo tackles and an interception, said the mentality to begin next week shouldn’t be any different than if the Hornets had won.
Jamison Sarver finished 30 of 47 passing for 240 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Bearcats ran for 321 yards on 46 carries and outgained the Hornets 502 yards to 376. Trenden Collins finished with 10 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown while Ethan Schultze also caught a touchdown. The 9-0 start for the Hornets would have been a first in program history. ESU had been +11 on turnovers over the previous four games but Northwest turned four turnovers on Saturday directly in to 21 points without an offensive snap. ESU (8-1, 6-1 MIAA) returns home to battle Washburn in the Turnpike Tussle on Senior Day on Saturday, November 7. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
