Defending champion Northwest Missouri drops 4th straight season opener

MARYVILLE, Missouri - Defending Division II champion and top-ranked Northwest Missouri lost their fourth consecutive season opener, falling 16-7 to No. 11 Texas A&M Kingsville Thursday night in Maryville. Box Score

The Bearcats jumped out 7-0 in the first quarter on a 10-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Blake Bolles to junior Jake Soy in the corner of the end zone.

But Kingsville, ranked 11th in this week's D2Football.com poll and 14th in the AFCA coaches' poll , answered with 10 points in the 2nd quarter on a 42-yard field goal and a 26-yard touchdown pass to star running back Fred Winborn, who made a great catch near the front pylon with just over three minutes to play in the first half.

Northwest's Jordan Simmons returned the opening kick of the second half for a touchdown that would have given the Bearcats a 14-10 lead, but it was called back on a penalty.

Bolles was able to get into the Kingsville red zone with 5 completions and a 26-yard run, but fumbled the snap on 4th-and-1 at the 14 to turn the ball over on downs.

The ensuing 16-play, 7:12 minute drive would prove all Kingsville needed as quarterback Nate Poppell snuck into the end zone on an option on 4th and goal from the 1.

Though it marks the fourth straight loss in an opener for Northwest Missouri, the Bearcats have gone on to win every regular season game in each of the previous three seasons and have played in a D2 record five consecutive national championship games. NW Game Recap

The Bearcats couldn’t find a solid replacement for Kansas City native LaRon Council at running back. Council, the MIAA Player of the Year in 2009, was one of 14 seniors from a year ago who presented the national championship trophy to the team before the game.

Running backs Jordan Simmons, Billy Creason and Kelvin Austin rushed the ball 15 times and could only muster 63 yards.

Also joining the Bearcats for the pregame celebration was Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who helped deliver the 2009 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year trophy to legendary Northwest Missouri coach Mel Tjeerdsma.

The Bearcats now have a week off before opening up MIAA play Sept. 18 at Nebraska-Omaha.

Elsewhere in MIAA play Thursday, Central Missouri lost at FCS opponent Illinois State 55-54 and Missouri Western beat fellow D2 foe Mesa State 36-3 in St. Joseph. MIAA Scoreboard