Seventh-ranked Northwest Missouri State led 20-0 after the first quarter and rolled to a 30-10 win against fourth-ranked Pittsburg State Saturday in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead Stadium VIII. It was the 29th straight MIAA win for the Bearcats, who’ve won six straight against the Gorillas.

Northwest intercepted Pittsburg State quarterback John McCoy twice in the first quarter and three times in the game. Aldwin Foster-Rettig had two interceptions. His first set up a 33-yard touchdown drive for the game’s first score.

Bearcat safety Marcus Martin had a pick and a 38-yard touchdown return that put Northwest in front 20-0 in the final minute of the second quarter. It was the second interception in as many games for Martin and his first collegiate score.

The Bearcats (2-1, 1-0 MIAA) tacked on a 32-yard field goal midway through the second quarter that moved the lead to 23. Pittsburg State got on the board right before halftime. McCoy accounted for 67 yards during a 13-play, 79-yard drive he capped with an 11-yard touchdown run.

McCoy finished 7-of-18 for 142 yards and carried 17 times for 64. Terrance Isaac led the Gorillas with 76 yards rushing.

Pittsburg State (2-1, 0-1 MIAA) opted for a 20-yard field goal with 11 minutes remaining that cut the lead to 23-10. Northwest answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Blake Bolles to Brian Shannon on 4th-and-9 for the game’s final score.

Bolles passed for 193 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice in the second half. Both occurred on Pittsburg State’s side of the field and only the second resulted in three points for the Gorillas.

LaRon Council carried 19 times and finished with 99 yards rushing for the second straight game. He ran in from 1-yard out for the game’s first score. He also caught three passes for 32 yards.

Northwest sophomore linebacker Chad Kilgore earned his first collegiate start and recorded a career-best 13 tackles. Myles Burnsides added nine for the Bearcats. Sean Paddock got his 23rd career sack, moving him one behind Ryan Waters for the most in program history.

The game lasted less than two-and-a-half hours and had just one penalty – a five-yard procedure call against Pittsburg State in the first half.

Story courtesy of Bearcats athletics .