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Nov. 18, 2017Game | Football

Northwest 18, Ashland 21

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Northwest Missouri State's football season came to a close Saturday with a 21-18 loss to Ashland University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

The Bearcats cap the year with a 9-3 record, and fall short of the national championship gamefor the first time since 2014.

Battling the rain for much of the day, Northwest's offense struggled to find a rhythm throughout the game. The 'Cats finished with just 153 yards of total offense -- their lowest output of the season.

The Eagles (11-1) received great field position on their lone scoring drive of the first quarter. A mishandled snap on a punt attempt by Northwest allowed Ashland to start at the Bearcats' 13-yardline, and it led to a Travis Tarnowski touchdown pass to open a 7-0 AU advantage.

The Bearcats answered with 10 consecutive points in the second quarter, including a three-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jonathan Baker to put Northwest in front 10-7. Ashland was able to jump back in front with a touchdown pass late in the half, then opened it up to 21-10 with another Tarnowski score in the third quarter.

Northwest got back within three thanks to a 35-yard strike from Zach Martin to Jordan Grove, but the 'Cats couldn't complete the comeback.

The Bearcat defense forced five turnovers on the day -- three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Najeem Hosein pulled in one interception, while freshman Chance Hall, playing in just his third game of the season, picked off two Tarnowski passes.