BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats jumped on the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers early and rolled to a 50-20 victory to pick up their first win of the season.

The Bearcats (1-4) scored on a 35-yard run from Thad Everson to grab an early 7-0 lead. Later in the first quarter, after a Brock Jolly punt was downed at the one yard line, Kyle Swallows tackled KWC's Thomas Gordon in the endzone for a safety. Following the free kick by the Panthers, Steve Gachette raced 51 yards for a touchdown to give the Bearcats a 16-0 at the end of the first period.

Kentucky Wesleyan (0-4) opened the second quarter scoring with a touchdown on a screen pass from Vincent Lalonde to DaMarcus Ganaway from 31 yards out. SBU would score at the nine minute mark on a 16 yard strike from Gachette to Derrick Foster to push the Bearcat lead back to sixteen points. SBU would tack on another touchdown at the 4:42 mark, this time on a 12-yard pass from Gachette to John Austin. Brock Jolly would close out the first half scoring with a 37-yard field goal, making the halftime score 33-7.

Just 40 seconds into the third quarter, Gachette would throw his third touchdown pass of the game, this time from 46 yards to Johnnie King. The Bearcats would get a "pick six" midway through the third, when Willie Johnson intercepted a pass and returned it 60 yards for a score.

KWC would add scores in the fourth quarter on a three-yard run by Lalonde and a TD pass from Lalonde to Tim Davis. SBU would also get a second field goal of the day from Jolly, this time from 32 yards away, to cap off the scoring.

"I was proud of our kids. They competed all game," said head coach Keith Allen. "We were able to get some young guys in the game in the second half and see what they could do. Steve (Gachette) did a great job making decisions and I was happy that we gave up no sacks. CJ (Charles Johnson) has really matured and is stepping up in recent weeks. We still need to work on kickoff coverage, as well as fundamentals defensively. We also had too many stopped drives in the first half due to mistakes, but I was happy to get the win."

Gachette was 19 of 25 for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 61 yards and one score. Johnson was again the leading receiver for the 'Cats with six catches for 101 yards. Everson rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries. Henry Ogunjimi led the defense with nine combined tackles including seven solos.

The Bearcats hit the road next Saturday and travel to Edmond, Okla., to take on the Central Oklahoma Bronchos. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.