Bearcats run over Mules

By Phil Cobb | October 10, 2026 |

ANTHONY CRANE/THE FORUM
Northwest Missouri State tight end Trevor Spady celebrates one of his two touchdowns Saturday afternoon at Bearcat Stadium.

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Two weeks can make a difference. For Northwest Missouri State, the time away from game action provided an opportunity to learn from the lone blemish on its record, get healthy and prepare for the stretch run.

The Bearcats looked fresh Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 42-20 win over Central Missouri at Bearcat Stadium.

“Neither one of our top two quarterbacks practiced all week so we wouldn’t have been able to play Saturday, so it was a great time for a bye,” Northwest coach John McMenamin said. “We had a few injuries and a new starting center and new number one receiver, and to get them guys some extra reps and get some time with them playing was great.”

Northwest’s defense held the MIAA’s second-highest-scoring offense in check for much of the first half, forcing a punt on Central Missouri’s opening possession after the Mules picked up one first down.

The game’s first three drives ended in punts before the Bearcats found their rhythm. Quarterback Zechariah Owens connected with Trevor Spady for a 25-yard completion along the Northwest sideline to help spark the offense.

“Their defense with Coach (Rich) Wright, they run the same defense that we do,” Spady said. “We knew what plays would exploit their zones and what plays we could run on them to attack their front, and the coaches did a great job of getting guys open.”

Northwest eventually faced fourth-and-1 at the Central Missouri 16-yard line. Sophomore running back Quincy Torry took the handoff and broke free around the right side for a 16-yard touchdown, giving the Bearcats a 7-0 lead.

The Northwest defense forced another punt, and the Bearcats capitalized on their next possession. Owens connected with Jaron Cannon Jr. for 13 yards before Te’Shaun Porter broke off a 15-yard run to the Central Missouri 14.

Three plays later, Torry lined up in the wildcat formation and fought his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the afternoon, extending Northwest’s lead to 14-0.

“After UCO, we all had a bad taste in our mouths and we knew we wanted to establish the run game,” Torry said. “It helps because we’ve been practicing against that defense every single day in the spring and summer, so that definitely helped.”

Central Missouri answered in the second quarter with a short scoring drive, covering seven yards in three plays. Jordan Pachot connected with Morgan Pearson for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 6:20 remaining in the half to cut the deficit to 14-7.

The Bearcats responded with their longest scoring drive of the first half, marching 75 yards in nine plays over 4 minutes and 37 seconds. Owens capped the possession by finding Spady for a 21-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, sending Northwest into the break with a 21-7 advantage.

“I thought when our defense got a stop early and our offense scored, that really helped our confidence,” McMenamin said. “We talk about three D’s a lot: Discipline, dedication, and doubt. We’re really young with just seven seniors and I don’t think the kids ever doubt what we’re doing or how we’re doing, but any time you lose, you have to find a way to overcome that. You have to keep fostering the belief that you’re going to be fine and do well and I think our kids did that.”

Northwest carried that momentum into the second half, opening the third quarter with an eight-play, 74-yard drive that took 3:41. Torry finished the possession with a 1-yard touchdown run to push the Bearcats’ lead to 28-7.

Central Missouri responded with its most productive scoring drive of the afternoon, covering 75 yards in 11 plays. Pachot connected with Marlon Lindsey Jr. for a 14-yard touchdown pass, cutting Northwest’s lead to 28-13.

The Bearcats answered early in the fourth quarter. Northwest moved 69 yards in seven plays before Owens found Spady for a 5-yard touchdown pass, extending the advantage to 35-13.

“It’s always that next man up mentality and everybody is ready to go make a play and block their butt off,” Spady said. “Specifically with the tight ends, we always know our job and go in giving 110 percent.”

Northwest’s defense delivered another blow moments later. Baruch Hasabu intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown with 13:17 remaining, stretching the Bearcats’ lead to 42-13.

“We talked all week about how (UCM) likes those in-breaking routes and the quarterback likes to show where he’s going early,” Hasabu said. “I saw three coming early, read the quarterback’s eyes and it just happened.”

Central Missouri added a late touchdown, but Northwest maintained control to secure the victory.

Owens completed 12-of-18 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Spady led the receiving corps with three catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns.

Torry paced the Bearcats’ rushing attack with 98 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. Porter added 71 yards on 10 carries, Owens rushed 12 times for 59 yards, and Cannon Jr. contributed 46 yards.

McMenamin said the team’s preparation throughout the week gave him confidence heading into Saturday’s game.

“(Mel Tjeerdsma) said that towards the end of his career that he could tell before the game was played who was going to win and lose kinda based on how you practiced,” McMenamin said. “I’m not at his level yet, he’s like a jedi and I’m a young padawan. But our guys practiced their butts off, were really focused all week, and I knew we would play well. I thought all our coaches had great game plans and put them in position to succeed, and the kids really executed it well.”

Northwest improved to 4-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAA play, remaining in second place in the conference standings. The Bearcats travel to Fort Hays State next Saturday before visiting Nebraska-Kearney the following week.