An inability to capitalize on four Bearcat turnovers sealed the Wildcats’ fate in their 35-10 loss to Northwest Missouri in the second round of the playoffs.

Bearcat quarterback Blake Bolles threw a career-high three interceptions, and the Wildcats forced a fumble, but a failure to turn those mistakes into points ultimately cost them the game.

Mitchell Gale, red-shirt freshman quarterback, looks for an open receiver during the second quarter. JOZIE SANDS Chief Photographer

Each time the Wildcats forced a turnover, their ensuing possession ended poorly. They fumbled after forcing the first and third turnovers, and they missed field goals on their possessions following the second and fourth takeaways.

The Bearcats on the other hand exploited the ACU offense’s mistakes. Northwest scored touchdowns on two of three possessions following ACU fumbles.

The Wildcats’ turnover woes began when ACU defensive back Josh Wise intercepted Bolles’ pass on the Bearcats’ second drive. The Wildcats immediately marched down the field, poised to score a go-ahead touchdown, but Gale fumbled on the 1-yard line, giving the Bearcats the ball and momentum.

“It was a QB sneak, and I tried to do too much,” Gale said. “I tried to leap over the pile. It got knocked out of my hand.”

If Gale had been able to punch it in from the 1-yard line, the Wildcats would have taken a 10-7 lead, and the pressure would have been on NWMSU. Instead, the Bearcats got a mental boost and began to pull away from the Wildcats.

“That was a big play in the game,” said Head Coach Chris Thomsen. “We got a chance to go up 10-7. It was a big momerntum shift — the key play of the game at that point.”

The Wildcats trailed 14-3 at the half but had an opportunity to claw their way back at the start of the third quarter. The Wildcats had the ball to start the half, but Reggie Brown fumbled on the first play of the drive. Three plays later, LaRon Council was in the end zone again, and the Wildcats trailed 21-3.

“We were in that same situation last week,” Thomsen said. “We needed to come out and make something happen. It was a poor job of protecting the football. It put us into catch-up mode.”

The Bearcats certainly did not dominate the Wildcats as the final score suggests, but ACU’s turnovers and a failure to take advantage of Northwest’s turnovers cost them the game.