MIAA roundup: Northwest keeps streak intact with late touchdown against Central Missouri

Central Missouri nearly ended Northwest Missouri’s 35-game winning streak, but the Bearcats scored with seven seconds left to hand the Mules a 24-20 loss on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

UCM quarterback Brook Bolles found Kyrion Parker for a 4-yard touchdown with 34 seconds left to put the Mules in front, but Northwest (5-0) answered with a six-play, 68-yard drive capped off by a seven-yard touchdown pass from Zach Martin to Jordan Bishop. The TD was set up by a 47-yard catch by Shawn Bane.

Martin completed 17 of 39 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Bolles was 17 of 43 for 309 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for UCM, which dropped to 3-2.

CENTRAL OKLAHOMA 53, EMPORIA STATE 52 — At Edmond, Okla., Chas Stallard completed two touchdown passes to J.T. Luper in the final 31/2 minutes and Central Oklahoma converted a pair of two-point conversions to complete a rally that stunned Emporia State.

Stallard hit Luper for a 28-yard score at the 3:29 mark to pull UCO within 52-45 following Caleb Moss’ two-point conversion catch. Luper then hauled in a 13-yard TD pass with 20 seconds left to cut the Hornets’ lead to one, and Josh Crockett’s two-point rush gave the Bronchos the win, lifting their record to 2-3.

Stallard finished with 442 passing yards and six TDs, completing 32 of 49 attempts with no interceptions. Braxton Marstall was 27-of-42 passing for 429 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions for Emporia State (2-3).

FORT HAYS STATE 38, LINDENWOOD 35 — At St. Charles, Mo., Kolt Trashel’s pick-six with 3:34 left to play to helped keep Fort Hays State undefeated.

FHSU was protecting a three-point lead when Trashel’s 25-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the win for 5-0 Tigers.

Lindenwood scored with 1:03 left to cut the lead to three again, but FHSU recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. Fort Hays quarterback Jacob Mezera threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, Tigers’ receiver Monterio Burchfield caught five passes for 173 yards and three scores and FHSU running back Kenneth Iheme rushed for 174 yards and a TD.

MISSOURI WESTERN 65, NORTHEASTERN STATE 17 — At Tahlequah, Okla., Missouri Western scored on its first four possessions and continued to roll, improving to 3-2 while NSU dropped to 0-5.

Griffons’ running back Josh Caldwell rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown.

NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 16, MISSOURI SOUTHERN 6 — At Kearney, Neb., Lopers sophomore running back Thomas Russell rushed for a career-high 174 yards and two touchdowns to help UNK beat Missouri Southern for the first time since 2013.

UNK, which rebounded from a 60-28 loss to Washburn, moved to 2-3 while Missouri Southern fell to 0-5. Southern will play Washburn at 1 p.m. Saturday in Yager Stadium.