Northwest Missouri State’s Resilient Performance Downs No. 25 Fort Hays State
By Calvin Silvers
On Saturday, as the sun set in Maryville, Missouri, Bearcat Stadium was lit by the stadium lights, shining down on an MIAA upset. The Northwest Missouri State Bearcats came into the contest against Fort Hays State at 0-2, hoping to avoid a 0-3 start for the first time since 1994.
FHSU is the only MIAA program to have scored two wins over Rich Wright-led Northwest squads in Bearcat Stadium, but Northwest overcame a 14-point deficit to clinch a 32-20 victory over the No. 25-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers.
Unable to establish a running game in the first two contests, the Bearcats created a foundation against the Tigers. Tank Young highlighted led the Bearcats’ ground game with 57 yards on 14 carries, reaching the endzone twice.
His first touchdown came on a critical 4th-and-2 play from the 10-yard line, trailing 14-0 after Fort Hays took a two-possession lead after Bearcat quarterback Chris Ruhnke threw an interception. Young’s second touchdown capped a 75-yard drive in the third quarter, which took 14 plays and 7:35 off the clock, which gave them their first lead at 24-17 on the contest.
It wasn’t smooth sailing for Young in the offense to start, however, as defensively, the Bearcats turned the game around after the Tigers converted their first six third-down attempts and built leads of 14-0 and 17-7. Tigers’ receiver Trevor Watts was reliable for FHSU on third downs, and running back Shane Watts punched it in for two touchdowns.
The defense was lights out right out of halftime, forcing a safety when FHSU quarterback Jack Dawson was penalized for intentional grounding in his own end zone Fort Hays State ended the day 7-of-13 on third-down conversions but struggled late, converting just one of their final six attempts.
Shane Fredrickson made a key interception in the fourth quarter, and Andrew Dumas recovered a fumble, contributing to a strong defensive effort.
Bearcat quarterback Chris Ruhnke, despite three interceptions, kept his play high, completing 33 passes to 12 different receivers for 273 yards. His 33 completions are the second-most in school history, tying with Josh Lamberson (2005) and John McMenamin (2001). Only Blake Bolles, with 37 completions in a game against Washburn in 2009, has more.
Ruhnke’s accuracy was also notable, completing 80% of his passes (33-of-41). His first touchdown came with just five seconds left in the first half, finding Savannah alum Jadon Brady wide open in the right flat to tie the score 17-17. Ruhnke’s second touchdown pass was a 2-yard connection to Wentric Williams with 10:55 remaining, securing the win and extending the lead to 32-20.
The Bearcats travel to face the Missouri Southern Lions on Sept. 21, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. in Joplin, Missouri.
