Northwest Fights Back To Down Scottsbluff In Overtime, 44-37

(Scottsbluff, NE) - In a roller coaster ride of a game, Friday night Northwest would end up on top, defeating the Scottsbluff Bearcats, 44-37, in overtime. 

Northwest would find themselves down 10 points several times throughout the night. First, the Vikings would be down 10-0 right away in the first quarter after two turnovers. The Vikings would then score two touchdowns to take a lead of 14-10. Blake Wissing would hit Gavin Burt on a 73-yard touchdown pass. Wissing would then get a 1-yard touchdown run for the second Vikings score of the night. 

The Bearcats would punch back with two more touchdowns to lead 24-14 at the halftime break. Scottsbluff would make it 21 straight points, scoring again in the third quarter with 9:48 remaining in the period to go up 31-14. Northwest would then start to rally, scoring a 22-yard touchdown run from Blake Wissing. Northwest would then trail 31-21. Scottsbluff answered yet again with a 3-yard touchdown run, making it 37-21. 

Northwest would get a 3-yard touchdown run from Zane Harb and try for the two points and would be denied and Northwest would again be down 10 points, 37-27. Scottsbluff would fumble the ball at the Scottsbluff 20-yard line, giving Northwest the short field to see the Vikings score on a 19-yard hook-and-ladder pass play to Gavin Burt, then flip to Andrew Wingett. Northwest would then trail by 3 points, 37-34. 

After a Scottsbluff, Northwest would drive down and tie the game with 4:05 left in the game and get a Bryson Walker 46-yard field goal to make it 37-37. Scottsbluff came up empty on their next possession, having to punt again. Northwest would turn over the ball on a Wissing-thrown interception, giving Scottsbluff a chance in regulation to possibly win the game, but in the end the Bearcats came up empty after Northwest blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt. 

In overtime, Northwest got the first possession as Northwest would get a first-play touchdown run of 10 yards from Zane Harb to take a 44- 37 lead after a Walker PAT. Northwest would then stuff Scottsbluff on a 4th-and-goal attempt as the Bearcats would get stuffed at the 2-yard line. 

The Bearcats suffer their first loss of the season and are now 8-1. Northwest is now 7-2 on the season. Both teams anticipate hosting a first-round playoff game on Friday, October 30th.