By KLINT SPILLER

The Hays Daily News

For the second week in a row, the Fort Hays State University football team played in a game where it scored 40 or more points. And for the second week in a row, Fort Hays finished with a double-digit loss.

No. 3 Northwest Missouri State University improved 9-1 overall and 8-0 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association with a 66-40 win over Fort Hays on Saturday at Lewis Field Stadium.

The Bearcats, national runner-up four straight years, extended their conference winning streak to 36 games and clinched the MIAA title.

"Coming in, I wasn't nervous, but I was a little shaky," Fort Hays senior quarterback Mike Garrison said.

"They have a big offense and a big defense. They are the powerhouse of the MIAA."

After losing 59-41 last Saturday at Pittsburg State University, junior wide receiver Cordarol Scales said it has been frustrating that the offense has had production but couldn't walk away with the win.

"It is (depressing), but there is nothing you can do. It happens," Scales said.

In the offensive shootout, the two teams combined for 1,125 total yards with Fort Hays gaining 489 yards and Northwest Missouri gaining 636 yards.

However, neither defense was at full strength. Fort Hays was missing five starters, while Northwest Missouri was missing three of its top cornerbacks and two of its defensive ends, who left the game in the first half.

"Everything is not in place," Tiger freshman linebacker Layton Hickel said. "We have a lot of nicks here and there. We know our offense can score points. It is just about getting off the field and making plays when we've got to. That is something that we are struggling with right now."

Northwest Missouri State dominated the game from the start, scoring on all of its first-half possessions, and led 45-19 at halftime.

After a lopsided first half, Fort Hays battled back in the second half and got within three scores with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers recovered an onside kick, but Garrison failed to convert a fourth-and-9 opportunity on Northwest Missouri State's 32-yard line.

Northwest Missouri State then marched down the field on its next drive, consuming 4:11 off the clock and capping the drive with a 12-yard scoring run by Bearcat senior running back LaRon Council to put the game away.

"I thought they didn't give up, and they kept plugging away throughout the day," Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo said.

It was a record day for both teams.

For the Bearcats, sophomore wide receiver Jake Soy broke the MIAA record for receiving touchdowns in a season after scoring four against the Tigers. Senior running back LaRon Council posted his first career 200-yard game, and junior quarterback Blake Bolles broke Northwest Missouri's regular season record for passing touchdowns.

"The offensive line does a great job," Bolles said. "When you have running back like LaRon Council and the receivers that we do, it is pretty easy to do my job."

For the Tigers, they posted more yards and more points against Northwest Missouri than any team the Bearcats have played this season.

However, Verdugo said it doesn't mean much in the end.

"Those are all hollow things that we teach our kids to not pay attention to," Verdugo said. "The bottom line is you either win or you lose, and we lost today. Trying to get some warm fuzzies ... just doesn't get it done."

Garrison completed 31-of-46 passes for 381 yards, with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Garrison said he was proud of his offense's performance against the Bearcats, a perennial national power.

"Putting up these kinds of numbers is an accomplishment," Garrison said. "Not too many people do this every week playing these guys."

Senior running back Jacobb Irvin led the Tigers in rushing, accounting for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Five Tigers finished the game with four or more receptions.

Junior wide receiver Anthony Smith led the team with seven receptions for 88 yards, junior wide receiver O.J. Murdock caught six passes for 71 yards, senior tight end Beau Gadwood caught six passes for 55 yards and a touchdown and Scales caught four passes for 85 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

"The offense is improving and getting better and better every week," Scales said.

Council finished with 208 yards rushing and three TDs for the Bearcats. Quarterback Blake Bolles completed 23-of-32 passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns. Wideout Jake Soy had eight catches for 156 yards and four TDs.

On Saturday, the Tigers will travel to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern State University with a winning record on the line -- something Fort Hays has not obtained since 2004.

"We haven't had one around here for a long time," Verdugo said.

"We haven't ever had one in the MIAA. It is a huge step for our program."