Box score | Season stats | Highlights (KSPR)

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- For the first time since September 1987, an SBU Bearcat football team has won four straight games. This year's Bearcats equaled the school-best streak with a 42-34 victory over the Northeastern State RiverHawks, to even their record at 4-4. Steve Gachette threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns including a school record three strikes to Charles Johnson. Gachette also rushed for 193 yards and ran for two scores.

The Bearcats scored on their first possession on a nine-yard run by Gachette, which capped a 14-play, 84 yard drive over the first four and a half minutes. Northeastern State (2-6, 2-4 LSC) responded later in the first quarter with a 20-yard field goal from Jared Homer and an 34-yard interception return for a touchdown by Troy Adams. After the 'Cats were pinned deep in their own territory, Gachette and Johnson would hook for the first of their touchdowns, an 89-yard bomb at the end of the first quarter which put SBU on top 14-10.

The RiverHawks got another field goal from Homer early in the second quarter to cut the lead to one point. Halfway through the second, Gachette would hit John Austin from 13 yards out, and then just before the break, Gachette would sneak in from one yard out, giving SBU a 28-13 halftime lead.

NSU cut into the lead on their first possession of the second half on an 11-yard run by quarterback Kenny Davis. With the Bearcats leading by eight points, the teams traded possessions for most of the third until Gachette and Johnson would hook up for the second time, on a six-yard TD pass with 2:15 left in the quarter.

Back came the RiverHawks in the fourth, on a three-yard pass from Davis to Austin Martin. A short kick by NSU and 20-yard return by Nathan Brown gave the Bearcats the ball at the fifty yard line. On a fourth and six from the NSU 29 yard line midway through the quarter, Gachette would connect with Johnson for the school record third time, this time from 29 yards out. Twenty-two previous times (including Johnson last week against Southern Nazarene) had an SBU player caught two touchdowns in a game.

But again the RiverHawks would rally, taking just two minutes to score on a four-yard run by Chris Davis. NSU would force a Bearcat punt and would try to tie, but Martin was stopped on fourth down catch, just short of the first down marker by SBU's Jordan Jackson to seal the victory.

"First and foremost, I'm happy we secured a victory in this type of game," said head coach Keith Allen. "Our kids are playing at a high level, but I still don't think we've played our best football yet. I was proud of our defense, especially in the first half when we held them to field goals. I was also proud of them when we held on the fourth down play late. When it mattered, we made a play, whether on offense or defense."

Allen added that the team could have folded things up after starting 0-4. "Our kids said it's time to fix this. They have done that by reducing mental mistakes and penalties."

Gachette accounted for 480 yards of total offense for the Bearcats -- 22 carries for an SBU season high 193 rushing yards and two scores and 19 of 33 passing for 287 yards with four TDs and one interception. Johnson had seven catches for an SBU season high 171 yards receiving. Jarred Schumpert led the defense with 11 total stops while Lavarus Rue had 10 total tackles including nine solos.

SBU is back on the road next weekend in Arkadelphia, Ark., when they visit the Ouachita Baptist Tigers. The game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. with the Bearcats looking for the school's first ever five-game winning streak.