Pittsburg State improves to 10-0 with victory at Washburn, secures MIAA title outright
Pittsburg State is a perfect 10-0.
The Gorillas won their showdown against the Washburn Ichabods 37-23 in Topeka Saturday to reach that lofty mark.
Pitt State’s victory and 10-0 record cemented the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association title with one regular-season game remaining.
It is Pitt State’s first outright MIAA championship since 2011. The Gorillas shared the title with Northwest Missouri State in 2014.
Ranked No. 5 in the Divi. II coaches’ poll, the Gorillas will close out their regular season at home next Saturday against Fort Hays State.
Against the Ichs, tight end Devin Garrison grabbed two touchdown passes from Gorillas QB Chad Dodson Jr. Dodson threw for three touchdowns but also tossed three interceptions.
Pitt State’s Caleb Lewis rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.
Washburn had four turnovers of its own: three fumbles and an interception by linebacker Alex Gaskill of QB Jared Taylor, who threw for 251 yards and two TDs.
Washburn, which fell to 6-4, closes out its regular season with a game at Missouri Southern next Saturday.
Other games
Northwest Missouri State 27, Missouri Southern 5: It was another dominant defensive performance from the Bearcats on Senior Day in Maryville. Northwest Missouri got pushed back early, trailing 2-0 on a safety, but then took care of business the rest of the way. Jadon Brady’s 52-yard TD run in the third quarter put the Bearcats firmly in control. Northwest Missouri improved to 8-2 and will close out the regular season next Saturday at Emporia State. Ja’Veon Marlow ran the ball eight times for 80 yards for Missouri Southern. Jamie Tago had the tackle for the safety in the first quarter.
Emporia State 35, Lincoln 24: Billy Ross Jr., carried the ball 26 times for 152 yards and a score as the Hornets improved to 8-2 with the victory in Jefferson City, Mo. Quarterback Braden Gleason also got things done for Emporia State, passing for 317 yards and four TDs against three interceptions. Gleason hooked up with Jaylen Varner for a 58-yard TD that put the Hornets up 7-3 in the first quarter. Emporia State will return home for a showdown with MIAA rival Northwest Missouri State next Saturday.
Central Missouri 40, Missouri Western 37, 2 OTs: Senior Day was doubly sweet for the Mules as they pulled out the double-overtime victory in Warrensburg. Cedric Case connected on 22 of 32 passes for 254 yards and three TDs, including the winning score — a 20-yard pass to Bo Reeves. Reeves caught five balls for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Missouri Western’s Jared Scott ran for 131 yards on 23 carries. Both teams are 4-6 now.
South Dakota 20, Missouri State 13: Missouri State scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, but a 20-3 hole was too much to overcome in Vermillion, South Dakota. Bears quarterback Jason Shelley completed 23 of 38 passes for 233 yards and a touchdown. Missouri State is 3-6.
Indianapolis 48, William Jewell 14: It was Senior Day in Liberty for the Cardinals, but William Jewell had the unenviable task of facing Div. II No. 15 Indianapolis. Jewell kept things close in the first half — the Cardinals were down just 20-14 at the break — but got outscored 28-0 in the second and lost its sixth game in a row. Adam Callahan, a sophomore linebacker from Gardner, Kansas, was in on 10 tackles for William Jewell, six of them solo.
Fort Hays State 27, Northeastern State 14: The Fort Hays State defense held Northeastern State to 158 total yards from scrimmage in picking up a Senior Day victory in Hays, Kan. The Tigers’ offense amassed 430 yards in a balanced attack of 176 yards rushing and 254 passing. Tigers quarterback Jack Dawson completed 22 of 36 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns and Adrian Soto rushed for 144 yards on 29 carries.
This story was originally published November 5, 2022 at 6:52 PM.