Regular-season finales rule the day. Here’s Saturday’s area college football scoreboard
The Missouri State Bears added a positive note to their 2023 football season on Saturday, beating Northern Iowa 35-16 at Plaster Stadium in Springfield.
The Bears (4-6) were in control of this one throughout, playing to a 21-3 lead by halftime.
Missouri State quarterback Jordan Pachot passed for four touchdowns. He was sacked three times and intercepted once. Raylen Sharpe totaled 11 catches for 160 yards and two TDs.
The Bears wrap up their season against South Dakota State next Saturday in Brookings, S.D.
In other Saturday games:
Missouri Southern 47, Missouri Western 41, 2OT: Playing for pride, the MSSU Lions drove 81 yards in 29 seconds at the end of regulation, scoring the TD and 2-point conversion they needed to force overtime. Then they prevailed in two OT periods, eventually winning on a short TD run by Anthodius Ashley.
Missouri Western’s Seth Cromwell ruled for most of the game at Hughes Stadium in Joplin. The redshirt freshman Griffons running back rumbled for 162 yards and 3 TDs on 30 carries during regulation, finishing with 170 yards on 32 touches. MSSU improved to 5-6, while Missouri Western dropped to 8-3.
Emporia State 45, Fort Hays State 42: The Hornets outlasted the host Tigers in a regular-season-ending slugfest on Senior Day in Hays, Kan. ESU (8-3) led 31-20 at halftime, but FHSU (7-4) battled back. Emporia’s Braden Gleason passed for 6 touchdowns, three to Tyler Kahmann.
Pittsburg State 20, Central Oklahoma 10: The Gorillas had this physical game at Carnie Smith Stadium all but wrapped by halftime, then scored the only points of the second half on a field goal. Ty Pennington passed for one TD and Cleo Chandler Jr. rushed for another for Pitt State, which improved to 10-1. UCO fell to 5-6.
Central Missouri 63, Lincoln 27: The Mules finished their regular season with a burst of scoring against the winless Blue Tigers at Reed Stadium in Jefferson City. Zach Zebrowski passed for 3 TDs and Marcellous Hawkins and Weston Bridges each rushed for 2 for UCM (10-1). Lincoln finishes the season 0-11.
Northwest Missouri State 56, Nebraska-Kearney 7: The Bearcats (7-4) made easy work of the Lopers (3-8), with QB Mike Hohensee throwing for 4 TDs and Jay Harris rushing for 2. Harris finished with 132 yards on 24 carries. Northwest’s Keegan Sturdy had a pair of TD catches.
Washburn 45, Northeastern State 14: Sam Van Dyne passed for 3 TDs as the Ichabods (2-9) ended their regular season with a win on Senior Day at Yager Stadium in Topeka. The RiverHawks fell to 1-10.
McKendree 35, William Jewell 14: The Cardinals fell to McKendree (5-5) in their season finale at Lebanon, Illinois. Keaundre McCullough rushed for 131 yards and a TD on 17 carries for Jewell (2-8).
MidAmerica Nazarene 38, Benedictine 31: This instant classic was tied at 31 with less than half a minute remaining. That’s when Adrian Parsons hit Myles Hymes for the game-winning 13-yard TD pass. Parsons finished with 4 TDs in all, on 491 passing yards, for MNU (9-2). Jackson Dooley had 4 TD passes for Benedictine (8-3).
Avila 48, Saint Mary 21: The Eagles rolled up 549 yards of offense in their regular-season finale at Leavenworth. Eli Williams passed for 323 yards and 4 TDs for Avila (4-7). Jahkese Watkins rushed for 135 yards and 3 TDs. Saint Mary fell to 3-8.
Baker 48, Missouri Valley 14: The visiting Wildcats spoiled Missouri Valley’s Senior Day festivities in Marshall, Mo. Truman Juelsgaard passed for 2 TDs and rushed for 3 as Baker improved to 8-2. Missouri Valley fell to 5-5.
Tabor 31, Ottawa 28: Trailing 28-14 entering the final quarter, host Ottawa (6-5) would score twice but draw no closer. William Green passed for 2 TDs for Tabor (3-8).
This story was originally published November 11, 2023 at 4:22 PM.