Northwest Missouri survives against Central Missouri

National rankings have nothing on rivalries when it comes to football in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

No. 3 Northwest Missouri likely knew that heading into Saturday’s game against Central Missouri. If not, the Bearcats know it now.

Northwest scored the final 14 points of the game — the last coming on Brady Bolles’ 7-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds to play — and escaped with a 34-30 victory at Warresnburg. The Bearcats covered 73 yards in five plays for the winning score and improved to 3-0 on the season.

Bolles threw for 287 yards and two scores in addition to his game-winning scamper. Shawn Bane had 105 receiving yards and a touchdown for the Bearcats.

Central Missouri, 1-2, was led by quarterback Garrett Fugate, who threw for 280 yards and three scores.

DIVISION II

▪ At SAINT JOSEPH’S 34, WILLIAM JEWELL 9: William Jewell got as close as 13-9 with a late third quarter touchdown, but St. Joseph’s dominated the final quarter. Nick West threw for 219 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

▪ AT QUINCY 42, LINCOLN 37: Lincoln scored 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for the comeback. Miles Drummond ran for 119 yards and a touchdown for Lincoln, while Owen Jordan threw for 283 yards and two scores.

▪ EMPORIA STATE 38, AT CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 28: Emporia State improved to 3-0 with a road victory. Quarterback Brent Wilson threw for 316 yards and a touchdown for Emporia State, and Landon Nault rushed for 69 yards and two scores. Kavaski Ervin caught eight passes for 106 yards for the Hornets.

▪ MISSOURI WESTERN 24, AT NORTHEASTERN STATE (OKLA.) 17: The Missouri Western Griffons scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and pulled away for the win. Donte Watkins returned a fumble 14 yards for the game-winning score. Raphael Spencer ran for 145 yards and a touchdown for the Griffons, and quarterback Skyler Windmiller threw for 301 yards and a score.

NAIA

▪ AT NO. 21 MIDAMERICA NAZARENE 41, NO. 18 BENEDICTINE 17: Mid-America Nazarene will be rising in the next NAIA rankings, thanks in large part to running back Javon Taylor. Taylor ran for 197 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. The Pioneers ran for 397 yards in the game. Benedictine quarterback Jacob Koester threw for 197 yards in the loss.

▪ NO. 10 GRAND VIEW (IOWA) 77, AT AVILA 7: Calvin Jacobson connected with JJ Russell for an 8-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Avila had seven turnovers.

▪ PERU STATE (NEB.) 39, AT NO. 13 MISSOURI VALLEY 34: Missouri Valley let a 21-point lead in the second quarter evaporate in a loss. Peru State scored 32 straight points. Missouri Valley was doomed by five turnovers. Missourui Valley’s Joseph Muriel threw for 425 yards and four touchdowns, but also two interceptions. Dorian Stanard had 105 receiving yards and two scores for Missouri Valley.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Northwest Missouri survives against Central Missouri."