The Gorillas were able to take the MIAA crown on Saturday, Nov. 15, as they faced the Northwest Missouri Bearcats at the Sporting Kansas City home stadium. It was a tough battle, but the Gorillas rode an early lead into the second half, as they kept the Bearcats at bay to win it. Pitt State was crowned co-champions along with Northwest Missouri, as they both share a 9-1 MIAA record.
The Gorillas were down 0-7 early, but the defense for Pitt State forced four turnovers, which the offense was able to convert into 21 unanswered points. Pitt State would continue to play a defensive game, holding the lead and running the clock to take the win.
Northwest would take the initiative in the game, going for a 65-yard run on their first play of the game, before scoring just a few plays later. Despite the early hole, the Gorillas were not discouraged. The Gorilla offense petered out, punting, but a turnover was created on the Bearcats next drive that Pitt State recovered. Pitt State would continue the momentum when senior quarterback Jackson Berry connected with graduate student wide receiver Jaelon Travis on a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie it up.
A first down sack-on by the Gorillas resulted in another fumble by the Bearcats, which Pitt State pounced on. Berry would make the Bearcats pay again, when he found senior wide receiver Tyjuan Atkins Jr. for a 78-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-7. Pitt State would take this lead into the second quarter.
Neither team could gain an advantage for the majority of the second quarter, as Northwest Missouri blocked a field goal, but was unable to find the scoreboard. The Bearcats looked primed to find the scoreboard later in the quarter as they entered just outside the redzone, but a fumble was recovered by Pitt State and returned 71-yards by freshman safety Quitin Kirby to make it 21-7 with four and a half minutes left. Pitt State would score once more, as they kicked a field goal to finish the half up 24-7.
Things would remain deadlocked throughout the third, as defense took over on both sides. Other than a fourth down stop by Pitt State, the game consisted solely of each team taking turns punting the ball back and forth. The quarter ended with the score still deadlocked at 24-7, fittingly with a punt.
The stalemate was finally broken in the fourth quarter after Northwest Missouri found the end zone towards the beginning of the fourth quarter to make it 14-24. The Gorillas were able to make the comeback impossible, as they engineered a long, time consuming drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal to make it 27-14, in what would be the last points of the game. The Bearcats would drive downfield, but very slowly, and got bogged down in the redzone before failing to convert the fourth down. Pitt State would kneel down to end the game.
The Gorillas are now preparing to host Chadron State in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. The Chadron State Eagles are from Chadron, Nebraska, and are ranked #22 nationally. They have gone 8-3 this season and will look to upset the Gorillas when they play at Pittsburg this Saturday.