It’s been a friendly rivalry, but fortunately for Missouri Western the past three seasons and for Cameron High School two seasons before that, it was a lopsided one.

Saturday’s quarterback shootout between the Griffons and Central Missouri simply put another feather in Western quarterback Drew Newhart’s cap.

Newhart met Mules quarterback Eric Czerniewski back when the latter was a high school quarterback at Montgomery City, and on Saturday, Newhart made it four victories in a row against his friend, as the Griffons defeated the Mules 36-21 at Spratt Stadium.

“We’ve worked with the same quarterbacks coach throughout high school and college, so I know him through that,” Newhart said. “I’ll see him at every now and then at some summer camps.”

But when those two meet on the football field, Newhart always seems to come out on top.

It happened in 2005. Newhart’s Dragons outscored Montgomery City in the Class 2 state championship game as Newhart picked up his second offensive player of the year recognition.

It also happened in 2007, 2008 and now 2009. As a redshirt freshman in 2007, Newhart guided the Griffons to a 42-28 victory at Spratt Stadium. Then last year, he passed for 283 yards but needed some last-second help from place-kicker Dustin Strickler, who nailed a 30-yard field goal to give Western a 42-41 victory at home.

On Saturday, Newhart made it look easy. He completed 13 of his first 16 passes, finding seven different receivers and completing touchdowns to Cedric Houston, Ferrell McGhee, Thomas Hodges and Kip Peters in a 246-yard, 18-for-25 performance marred only by one interception.

Newhart would have had plenty more yards, had the Griffons not enjoyed so much clock-eating success in the later stages with the running of Thomas Hodges and Michael Hill, who rushed for 117 and 92 yards, respectively.

Czerniewski, meanwhile, passed for 197 yards and no touchdowns in a 19-for-33 showing, although he still averages about five yards per game more than Newhart. Czerniewski was intercepted once and sacked once, while Newhart’s offensive line didn’t allow a sack all day.

Newhart, the No. 5 passer in the MIAA, will continue to lead the Griffons toward a Division II playoff berth this Saturday when Western hosts Missouri Southern in a 1:30 p.m. game.