The Gorillas took their sixth win in a row in dominant fashion last Saturday, defeating the Washburn Ichabods 34-10. Both defense and offense contributed greatly in the win, with the Gorilla defense holding Washburn to just 26 rushing yards, while the offense rushed for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns on the road.
“We just stop the run, and they can’t do anything against Pitt,” redshirt senior linebacker Steven Ward said after the game.
The Gorillas got off to a quick lead, scoring a 42-yard field goal on their first drive after holding the Ichabods on the first drive of the game. The Gorillas forced another quick three and out, and then marched down the field, culminating the drive in a 17-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Jackson Berry.
“We knew we were getting a good football player, but unfortunately, he missed most of spring ball with that knee. Fall camp was really his first rep in there, and I think just over the last couple of weeks seeing him get comfortable in the offense,” Anthony said about Berry.
Washburn would answer quickly, scoring at the beginning of the second quarter off of an 8-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7, but this was as close as the Ichabods would get. Berry would find pay dirt a second time, running from 19 yards out to make it 17-10. Both teams would trade possessions before half, with Pitt State ending up with the ball with just 16 seconds remaining. Instead of kneeling and taking the lead into halftime, the Gorillas dialed up a 75-yard touchdown pass from Berry to grad student wide receiver Jaelon Travis, putting the Gorillas up 24-10.
“I felt like we could attack the sideline a bit, get Austin in position to kick a long field goal. They called a great play and executed it at a really high level. It was huge scoring that touchdown right before halftime and then getting the ball right back after half,” said Anthony.
Neither team could make much headway in the third, as both offenses struggled to find their footing. A pair of fumbles on the Gorillas’ only two possessions of the third quarter ended promising drives, giving the ball back to Washburn to start the fourth.
Washburn would capitalize with their final points of the day at the beginning of the fourth, scoring a 34-yard field goal to make it 10-24. Pitt State would eat time off the clock, scoring a 33-yard field goal, before the Gorilla defense would create an interception, which Pitt State was able to turn into the last points of the game. Fourth and goal from eight yards out, the Gorillas lined up in kicking formation to attempt a field goal, but junior kicker Austin Schmitt instead caught the ball and ran right, scoring his first ever career touchdown at any level.
“Late in the season it comes down to who’s healthy and who has the best special teams. With our special teams, we are going to get the job done no matter the score,” Schmitt said.
Pitt State will take their 34-10 win into next week, when they go on the road to play Missouri Western Saturday night at 6 p.m.