MIAA football teams played their season openers Thursday evening. Here are the scores

Football teams across the Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association played their season openers around Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma on Thursday evening.

Here are the results from those games:

Northwest Missouri State 31, Missouri Southern 24: It was deadlocked at 24 through three quarters in Joplin, but Jay Harris’ short rushing touchdown and ensuing Northwest PAT put the Bearcats ahead for good in the season opener for both teams. Harris finished with two TDs and 131 rushing yards on 27 carries. He also caught four passes for 22 yards.

Pittsburg State 34, Washburn 7: The Gorillas had their way with the Ichabods in Thursday’s season opener for both squads. Pitt State scored a trio of touchdowns on the ground and held Washburn to 217 total yards with a staunch defensive effort.

Central Missouri 45, Missouri Western 38: Mules quarterback Zach Zebrowski threw five touchdown passes to five different receivers in leading UCM past the host Griffons at Spratt Memorial Stadium in St. Joseph. Zebrowski passed for 385 yards (29 of 39) and rushed for 40 more as the Mules won a high-scoring curtain-raiser for both teams.

Fort Hays State 56, Northeastern State 0: The Tigers had no trouble with Northeastern State in the season opener for both teams at Tahlequah, Okla. Fort Hays State led 35-0 at halftime en route to the shutout.

Emporia State 56, Lincoln 10: The Hornets opened their season with a resounding victory. ESU rolled up 632 yards of offense, with QB Braden Gleason throwing for 442 yards and five TDs — four to Tyler Kahmann, who finished with nine catches for 107 yards. Gleason was accurate, too, completing 42 of his 49 pass attempts.

Central Oklahoma 24, Nebraska Kearney 21: UCO held off a late rally by UNK at Edmond, Okla. Trevon Woolfolk paced the Central Oklahoma offense with 104 yards rushing and a TD on a dozen carries.