Bearcats Scratch Out Win
BOLIVAR, MO. --- Northeastern State's second-half rally fell short in the final minute of play as Southwest Baptist University took a 42-34 non-conference victory over the RiverHawks at Plaster Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The RiverHawks are now 2-6 for the season and the Bearcats improve to 4-4, as Northeastern State returns to Lone Star Conference North Division play next Saturday. The RiverHawks will play Southeastern State in a homecoming clash at Doc Wadley Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m.
Southwest Baptist quarterback Steven Gachette proved to be too much for the RiverHawks as the junior signal caller passed for four touchdowns of 89, 13, 6, and 29 yards, while running for two more on 9 and one yard.
Gachette was 19-of-33 for 287 yards and one interception. He ran for another 193 yards on 22 carries. Gachette accounted for 480 of the Bearcats' 549 yards of total offense.
The RiverHawks totaled 368 yards in total offense, with Kenny Davis connecting on 24-of-45 passes with an interception for 267 yards. Davis was Northeastern State's leading ground gainer with 69 yards on 16 carries.
The Bearcats led 28-13 at the half following a 9-yard run by Gachette at 4:21 of the first quarter, before the RiverHawks' Jared Homer kicked his first of two field goals, a 20-yarder at 3:13 in the first and 23-yards at the 11:49 mark of the second quarter cutting SW Baptist's lead to 14-13.
Northeastern State's only lead was 10-7 at 5:14 of the opening period when defensive back Troy Adams intercepted a Gachette pass and returned it 34 yards for the score. Homer tacked on the point-after for the 10-7 RiverHawk lead.
Southwest Baptist regained the lead for good when Gachette hooked up with wide receiver Charles Johnson on an 89-yard scoring play with 26 seconds left in the first quarter for a 14-10 Bearcats lead.
Homer then booted his second field goal of the day, making it 14-13, the closest the RiverHawks would come the rest of the way.
The Bearcats increased its first half lead to 28-13 on a 13-play 80-yard drive to end zone capped by a Gachette to John Austin pass covering 13 yards. Gachette then score on a 1-yard run to cap a 6-play, 55 yard scoring drive.
However, Northeastern scored on its opening drive of the second half, marching 632 yards in 11 plays with Kenny Davis scoring on an 11-yard run, cutting the Bearcats' deficit to 28-20 following Homer's PAT.
Southwest Baptist increased its margin to 35-20 when Gachette connected on his third touchdown pass a 6-yarder to Charles Johnson with 2:15 left in the third period. The drive covered 70 yards in eight plays.
Entering the final period of play, the RiverHawks moved to within eight points of the Bearcats when Austin Martin took a 3-yard scoring pass from Kenny Davis to make it 35-27 with 9:13 left in the game. Northeastern State's scoring drive covered 66 yards in eight plays.
But the Bearcats came right back to score. It was Gachette once again, tossing a 29-yard pass to Charles Johnson with 7:24 left, making it 42-27 following Jolly Brock's sixth point-after-attempt.
Northeastern State mounted another scoring drive, this one covering 49 yards on seven plays, with Chris Davis scoring from 4-yards out with two-minutes remaining, making it a 42-34 Southwest Baptist advantage.
The Northeastern State defense then held the Bearcats' offense with a three and out, giving the RiverHawks an opportunity to tie the ball game. However, Northeastern State's drive from the 15 to the Bearcats' 38-yard line ended on downs with 53 seconds remaining following a 2-yard pass from Kenny Davis to Austin Martin that was a yard short of a first down on a fourth down attempt.
