MARYVILLE, Mo. – No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State scored on each of its first five possessions, held Harding to only one first down in the first half, and the Bearcats defeated the Bisons 35-0 on Saturday in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
No. 5 Harding's best season in program history, and the last for head coach Ronnie Huckeba, came to an end with the Bisons finishing 13-1 overall. Harding also won its first outright conference championship and will likely finish ranked among the top 10 in Division II for the first time.
Northwest Missouri, the NCAA Division II defending national champion, improved to 13-0, winning its 28th consecutive game. The Bearcats will find out their semifinal opponent Saturday evening.
Bearcat junior Jordan Grove scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving, and senior Simon Mathiesen kicked a school-record five field goals.
Northwest went 88 yards on six plays on its first possession with Kyle Zimmerman completing a 58-yard touchdown pass to Grove. He scored a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter and a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth. Mathiesen kicked 22, 32 and 46-yard field goals in the first half and 39 and 21-yard field goals in the second half.
Northwest passed for 207 yards in the first quarter and 361 yards in the game. Zimmerman was 30-of-42 for 340 yards and one touchdown. He also threw only his third interception of the season to Harding defensive lineman De'Onte Garrett in the third quarter. Garrett also had a fumble recovery and became the first Harding player since DeAndre Baines against Southeastern Oklahoma to have an interception and a fumble recovery in the same game.
Harding, Division II's top rushing offense, had 119 rushing yards on 43 carries. Senior cornerback Corey Bassett was the Bisons' top rusher, gaining 36 yards on a reverse in the second half. That play led to Harding's best scoring opportunity. The Bisons moved to the Northwest 16, but Bearcat Collin Beavins blocked Tristan Parsley's 33-yard field goal attempt.
Harding did not complete a pass, had only four first downs and went 3-for-15 on third down.
The Bearcats had 361 total yards but only 57 on the ground. Harding senior linebacker Daylan Skidmore and junior safety Daylon Markham had 14 tackles each. Bassett had five tackles and blocked an extra point.
Northwest was Harding's opponent in 2012, the first time the Bisons made the Division II playoffs. The Bearcats won that game 35-0 also.
