It was a battle to the very end, but the Gorillas were able to top the Central Missouri Mules this week, winning 48-35 to keep Pitt State’s winning streak alive. Pitt State had a 45-21 lead at one point early in the fourth quarter. A couple of quick scores by the Mules made it dangerous, but it was too little too late for the Mules.
The game would start slow as both teams traded possessions via punting. Central Missouri got the first big play of the game when they recovered a fumble by senior quarterback Jackson Berry. The Gorillas defense held firm, and both teams would continue to punt the first quarter away, ending it tied and with the Gorillas on offense.
Berry would find redshirt sophomore tight end Luke Niggemann on just the second play of the second quarter, connecting for a six-yard touchdown pass. The lead would be short-lived, however, as the Mules were able to tie it on their ensuing possession. From this point forward, it would be a very different game, as Pitt State scored on a 15-yard rushing play by redshirt junior Zahmari Palode-Gary, followed by another matching score from the Mules.
Pitt State would get the ball back with just under two minutes left and the game tied at 14 apiece. Berry would connect on a pair of deep passes to give Pitt State the ball in the red zone, but the drive would stall out on a failed fourth down conversion, as both teams headed to halftime knotted up at 14.
The Gorillas would strike first in the second half, as redshirt safety Jordan Rogers would take an interception to the house on just the second play of the third quarter. This would not deter the Mules offense, who led a successful drive to tie it back up again.
It was all Gorillas the rest of the way, as they made back-to-back big plays on offense, starting with a 67-yard rushing touchdown by Palode-Gary on the first play of the Gorillas next drive. After the defense stood firm against the Mules, the Gorillas struck pay dirt immediately, as Berry connected with redshirt senior wide receiver TyJuan Atkins Jr. for a 71-yard touchdown pass to put the Gorillas up 35-21.
The game would continue to go in the Gorillas’ favor, as they scored a 30-yard field goal to make it 38-21 to start the fourth quarter, followed by a fumble recovery for a touchdown to put the Gorillas up 45-21. The Mules were determined to not go down without a fight, scoring back-to-back touchdowns to make it 35-45 with five minutes left in the game. Pitt State would chew up clock while adding some insurance points with a late field goal. That would be the last points of the game, as the Mules were intercepted on their last drive, with the game ending on kneel down by Pitt State.
The Gorillas now turn their eyes to the most important game of their season, when they travel to Kansas City to play the #22 Northwest Missouri Bearcats in the Sporting KC stadium. This will be the Gorillas’ last chance to impress the playoff committee, as a win could mean the difference between playing at home or on the road. On top of that, if the Gorillas can defeat the Bearcats, they would be crowned MIAA Co-Champions, while if the Bearcats win, they are in sole possession of the championship. It will be a showdown and test for both teams.