Northwest shuts out Harding in first round win

Minus its two leading rushers, fourth-seeded Northwest Missouri State had little trouble extending its decade-old home playoff game win streak with a 35-0 victory over fifth-seeded Harding Saturday at Bearcat Stadium.

Scoring on every other first half drive, the Bearcats (10-2) took a 21-0 lead to the half and finished off the Bison with two fourth quarter touchdowns.

Harding (9-2) became Northwest's first shutout victim of the season despite rushing for over 300 yards.

The Bearcats advanced to play top-seeded Minnesota St.-Mankato in the regional semifinals Saturday.

This was Northwest's 13th consecutive home playoff win and 15th in a row after a loss.

Filling in for injured starters Jordan Simmons and James Franklin III, senior Billy Creason rushed for a season-high 113 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown.

Senior receiver Tyler Shaw caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Trevor Adams was 17-25 passing with 212 yards and two scores.

Harding totaled 304 yards on the ground, but only completed three passes for -3 yards.

Northwest picked two of Harding's nine total passing attempts, both in the second half.

Creason started the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown on Northwest's opening possession. In the second quarter, a 14-yard touchdown pass from Adams to John Hinchey and a 6-yard scoring run by Kohlman Adema-Schulte made it 21-0.

Harding crossed midfield on three of its five first half possessions, but came away with no points.

The Bison lost a fumble on Northwest's 6-yard line, tried a fake field goal on fourth and four that got stuffed and had a 55-yard touchdown run called back.

Northwest added to its lead in the fourth quarter with a 26-yard touchdown from Adams and to Shaw.

Back-up quarterback Brady Bolles capped the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown at the 2:55 mark of the fourth quarter.