The oldest traveling trophy in Division II football will stay in Maryville.

(Courtesy of Bryan Boettcher of Northwest Missouri State)

Xavier Omon ran for 117 yards and scored a career-high five touchdowns to lead 10 th -ranked Northwest Missouri State to a 53-6 win over Truman Saturday at Bearcat Stadium.

It was the 13 th straight home opening win for the Bearcats (2-1, 2-0 MIAA). Northwest also maintained possession of the Old Hickory Stick, given annually to the winner of the Northwest-Truman game. The Bearcats will keep possession of the 30-inch piece of hickory for the sixth straight year.

Omon had four touchdowns by halftime and got his fifth on the opening possession of the second half. It was Omon’s final series of the game and it gave the Bearcats a 46-6 lead.

Omon also reached a pair of MIAA milestones. He became the fifth student-athlete in league history to rush for over 5,000 yards. He also moved up to fifth on the all-time scoring list after recording his 400 th career point. Omon has run for 5,088 yards in his career and scored 69 touchdowns.

Truman (2-2, 0-2) received the opening kick, but went three-and-out and was forced to punt. Kendall Wright took the short boot and scampered 47 yards for the score. It was Wright’s second career punt return for a touchdown and it gave the Bearcats a 7-0 lead.

It was 14-0 when Truman quarterback Matt Ticich sneaked his way for a 1-yard score. The extra point was blocked by Dallas Flynn and the score remained 14-6.

Following its scoring drive, the Bulldogs were limited to 103 yards of offense the rest of the way. The Bearcats got two sacks, recovered a fumble and even recorded two safeties.

Mickey Masucci had a punt slip through his hands and threw the back of the end zone for two points. Matt Robertson later sacked Ticich in the end zone for two more. The latter came with 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter and gave Northwest a 32-6 lead.

Omon scored on runs of 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- and 6-yards. His 2-yard dive was his fourth, and it gave the Bearcats a 39-6 lead just before halftime.

Eight different rushers combined for 245 yards rushing for Northwest. Phillip Davis, Truman’s back-up quarterback, carried three times for 23 yards late in the fourth quarter and was the Bulldogs’ leading rusher.

Joel Osborn threw the only touchdown pass of the game, a 15-yard strike to Kyle Kreifels, who carried three players across the goal line. It was the first career reception for Kreifels and it was the final score of the game. Kreifels finished with two catches for 44 yards.

Osborn was 7-for-7 for 115 yards. Northwest starter Josh Mathews was 10-of-16 for a game-high 120 yards.