By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Northwest Missouri State controlled the tempo from the outset Saturday at Yager Stadium, handing Washburn a 34-7 loss in the MIAA opener for both schools.
Washburn junior D.J. Bell scored the Ichabods' lone touchdown Saturday on a 69-yard pass from Justin Lewis. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn junior D.J. Bell (10) celebrates Saturday's 69-yard TD pass from Justin Lewis with teammate Teondre Carter. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Bearcats struck quickly in the first quarter with a pair of touchdown passes, building a 13-0 lead.
The Ichabod defense held strong in the second quarter, keeping Northwest off the board, but the visitors extended their advantage in the second half behind a balanced offensive attack that finished with nearly 500 total yards.
"It's a humbling loss, especially against a really good MIAA team,'' Washburn coach Zach Watkins said. "That's our entire season are games like that against quality opponents like that. We'll watch the film and we'll get better.
"This game does not define us. We'll be ready to go next week.''
Washburn's lone score came early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Justin Lewis connected with wide receiver D.J. Bell for a 69-yard touchdown strike down the sideline.
Aidan Battle tacked on the extra point to pull Washburn within 27-7.
The Ichabods finished with 143 yards of total offense, including 162 through the air as Lewis completed 14 of 30 passes.
Lewis was sacked five times, which contributed to Washburn's negative rushing total of minus-19 yards.
"We struggled the ball last week and again this week,'' Watkins said. "We've addressed it and we'll address it again. Coaching's never done, the improvements are never done and we've got to improve in a big way from Week 2 to Week 3 to be a good (Colorado School of Mines) team.''
Bell caught four passes for 86 yards and added four kickoff returns for 79 yards to finish the afternoon with 152 all-purpose yards.
Running back Ky Thomas contributed 10 yards on the ground and added a 6-yard reception.
Washburn faced a heavy workload as Northwest dominated possession, holding the football for nearly 40 minutes compared to the Ichabods' 20.
J.C. Heim led the Ichabods with a career-high 15 tackles, including seven solo stops, while L.J. Minner Jr.had 13 tackles.
The Bearcats finished with 495 total yards and converted 9 of 18 third-down attempts to sustain drives.
Jake Zeller's 10 punts were the most by an Ichabod since Ben Boswell had 10 against Pittsburg State on Oct. 11, 2003. The school high-water mark is 11.
The setback dropped Washburn to 1-1 on the season and 0-1 in MIAA play while Northwest improved to 1-1, 1-0.
Washburn will be on the road for the first time this season next Saturday, facing Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo.
