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Northwest Caps Off Another Perfect MIAA Season
By David Boyce
MARYVILLE, Mo. -- A complete team effort is the main reason why Northwest Missouri just finished its fourth straight 9-0 season in the MIAA.
But Saturday it was almost impossible not to get caught up in the individual play of junior quarterback Blake Bolles and sophomore wide receiver Jake Soy.
The two players hooked up for three touchdowns in Northwest Missouri's impressive 56-14 victory over Central Missouri at Bearcat Stadium on a gorgeous early November afternoon.
"We came out here and did a great job as a unit," Bolles said. "We were prepared. It's just fun to come out and play like this in this kind of weather in November."
Next for Northwest Missouri, 10-1 overall, is a date in the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Bearcats earned a first-round bye and will return to action Nov. 21 at home.
"That was our main goal the whole week," Soy said. "That week off was critical. We got a lot of guys that need that week, including myself."
Other than allowing a game-opening six-play, 76-yard touchdown drive to the Mules, Northwest Missouri was stellar on defense.
But the Bearcats' offense was sensational, scintillating and downright scary.
Bolles reacted to a brief 7-0 deficit by tossing a 66-yard pass to tight end Kyle Kilgore on Northwest Missouri's first play from scrimmage.
"It was just a little play action we put in this week," Bolles said. "We saw their safeties really crept up hard on play action. He was wide open and did a good job catching it and running with the football."
It took the Bearcats just four plays to go 75 yards in 1:30 to tie the game on an 11-yard pass from Bolles to Soy.
"They jumped offsides so I knew it was a free play," Soy said. "Those plays you are really relaxed. You have nothing to lose. I knew Bolles was going to throw it to me. It worked out. I went up and got it."
The offensive fireworks were just beginning. By the time the game ended, Soy finished with a career-high 157 yards and added three more touchdowns to his MIAA single-season touchdown record for wide receivers. It now stands at 22.
"He's a great kid," Bolles said. "Nobody deserves it more than him. He's worked very hard since he's been here. It's good to see him come out and play like he has been."
Bolles was just as spectacular, throwing for 421 yards, which was third most in the program's history. So far this season Bolles has thrown for 3,182 yards, 35 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.
Afterwards, Bolles was signing autographs for several children who came to him with posters.
"It's great. I love little kids. I have a bunch of little brothers and sisters," Bolles said. "It's fun for people to come up and ask for something like that."
Soy and Bolles delighted the 6,643 fans who showed up with many jaw-dropping plays. They were so good that it was almost a footnote that LaRon Council rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on only 15 carries.
The rout began late in the first quarter when Bolles ran for a 5-yard touchdown that gave the Bearcats a 14-7 lead with 5:28 left in the first quarter.
Northwest Missouri tacked on another touchdown three minutes later on a 37-yard pass from Bolles to Tyler Shaw.
The most impressive moment came late in the second quarter with the Bearcats already up 28-7. Northwest Missouri took the ball at its 8 with 3:03 left before halftime.
The Bearcats went 92 yards in eight plays and only took 1:53 to score on a 4-yard run by Council. Northwest Missouri led 35-7 and 1:10 was still remaining in the second quarter.
Central Missouri's playoff hopes were completely dashed. The Mules finished the regular season 8-3.
Meanwhile, the Bearcats can sit back and relax Sunday knowing they are in the playoffs again and they are going in clicking at an extremely high level. They have scored 122 points in the last two weeks.
"We got some weapons," Northwest Missouri defensive coordinator Scott Bostwick said. "We need to get some guys healthy on defense. We had some guys who played hurt today. Ryan Jones, Sean Paddock and E.J. Hawkins, those guys get the MVP badges. They weren't 100 percent today and they played."
Key play: The first offensive play from scrimmage for Northwest Missouri was a 66-yard completion from quarterback Blake Bolles to a wide open Kyle Kilgore over the middle. For Kilgore, a tight end, to get that open signified that Bolles was going to have a monster game.
Offensive star: Bolles was unbelievable in the first half. He completed 15 of 19 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns in the first two quarters.
Defensive star: Northwest Missouri senior free safety Myles Burnsides had an interception at the goal line that prevented Central Missouri from scoring. It was his fourth interception this season.
To reach David Boyce, contributing writer for the MIAA, e-mail dboyce@themiaa.com.
