Football | 12/5/2015 5:24:20 PM
Maryville, Mo. – Top seeded Northwest Missouri racked up 474 yards of total offense as they claimed the Super Region 3 Championship 38-17 over seventh seed Emporia State in the NCAA Division II Football Playoff.
Northwest Missouri things going on their first drive which finished with a Simon Mathiesen 39-yard field goal. A three and out by the Hornets on their next drive gave NWMSU the ball at ESU 42 and the drive ended with a two-yard touchdown pass from Brady Bolles to Jordan Grove.
Cameron Wilcox would scored on the ground from two yards out with 9:23 to go in the second quarter. Brent Wilson would then answer for ESU running the ball in from 12-yards out with 7:40 to go in the half.
Bolles would answer for NWMSU late in the half as Bolles hit Jordan Bishop for nine yards to give his team the 24-7 lead. ESU would then drive late in the quarter in a 52-yard drive that took 45 seconds and culminated with a 42-yard Austin Morton field goal. That would make it 24-10 in favor of the bearcats heading into halftime.
NWMSU would get the scoring started in the second half as Phil Jackson ran the ball in from one yard out for the 31-10 lead. ESU would answer with 6;53 in the third as Wilson hit Morris Williams for a 68-yard strike to cut it to 31-17. NWMSU would grab some insurance as Bolles hit Jordan Grove for a 40-yard score with 5:09 to go in the third quarter.
For the Bearcats Bolles was 26 of 43 for 329 yards and three touchdowns hitting Grove for two scores. Clay Wilcox rushed for 63 yards and a score and Jackson finished with 58 yards and a touchdown.
On defense Jacob Vollestedt led the way with 18 tackles while Callin Bevins finished with 2.5 tackles for a loss.
For the Hornets Brent Wilson was 23 of 38 for 324 yards and a touchdown also rushing for a score. Morris Williams caught 10 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown on the day.
For the Hornets Jason Tetuan led the way on defense with 18 total tackles including two for a loss.
NWMSU will face off with West Georgia in the national semifinal on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. at home in Maryville, Mo.