Area college roundup: Pittsburg State wins third straight, Benedictine scores 70

After losing their first two games of the season, the Pittsburg State Gorillas have won three straight. Northwest Missouri State, Central Missouri and Fort Hays State also won MIAA games over the weekend.

Here are some of this week’s area college football highlights:

Western Kentucky 27, Missouri State 22: The Bears scored a touchdown with about 4 minutes left in the game to get within a score, but Western Kentucky was able to hold on for the win in Springfield, Missouri. The Bears dropped to 2-3 on the season, while Western Kentucky improved to 4-1. Shomari Lawrence ran for 78 yards on 16 carries with a TD for Missouri State.

Pittsburg State 42, Emporia State 29: The Gorillas (3-2) grabbed their third straight victory, this one at Emporia State (1-3) in a showdown of the run vs. the pass. Pitt State rushed for 395 yards — 183 from Zahmari Palode-Gary (two TDs) and 169 yards from Cleo Chandler Jr. (two TDs). Meanwhile, Emporia State quarterback Ben Harris completed 40 of 60 passes for 453 yards with two TDs. The Hornets actually outgained the Gorillas overall: 603 yards to 509.

Central Missouri 62, Missouri Southern 10: The Mules rushed for 325 yards, including 114 by Latravious Boyd (nine carries) on the way to their second straight victory, this one at home in Warrensburg. Boyd scored two touchdowns, including a 63-yarder in the second quarter that put Central Missouri up 21-7. Both teams are 2-2, but Central Missouri is 2-0 in MIAA play, while Missouri Southern is 0-2 in the MIAA. Dmitri Lloyd had three receptions for 47 yards for the Lions.

Nebraska-Kearney 31, Washburn 24: The Ichabods had a 24-17 lead at the end of the third quarter in Topeka, but two touchdowns by Nebraska-Kearney in the fourth quarter led to Washburn’s fourth straight loss. Washburn is 1-4. Nebraska-Kearney improved to 4-1. The Ichabods’ Chase Allen-Jackman caught three passes, two of them for touchdowns, in the loss.

Fort Hays State 31, Missouri Western 23: Fort Hays State scored two fourth-quarter TDs in pulling out the home victory in MIAA action. The Tigers pushed their record to 3-2. The Griffons fell to 1-3. Fort Hays State QB Caleb Heavner passed for 171 yards with two touchdowns. Griffons QB Kane Donovan completed 30 of 45 passes for 314 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.

Northwest Missouri State 38, Central Oklahoma 16: Bearcats QB Chris Ruhnke threw for 194 yards with two touchdowns and rushed for 58 yards in the blowout home win in Maryville, Missouri. The bulk of Ruhnke’s rushing yards came on a 54-yard TD run that put Northwest Missouri up 7-0 in the first quarter. The Bearcats are 4-1 and 3-0 in the MIAA. The Bronchos dropped to 2-2, 2-1 in MIAA.

Benedictine 70 vs. Peru State (Neb.) 30: The Ravens rolled to six rushing touchdowns and four passing scores in the blowout in Atchison, Kansas. Ravens QB Jackson Dooley finished with 359 yards passing with the four TDs. Benedictine’s Tanner Zimmerman scored on a 79-yard pass play and totaled 134 yards receiving on five catches. Titan Osburn caught three balls for 109 yards with two TDs, including a 53-yarder for the Ravens.

Upper Iowa 31, Lincoln 10: The Lincoln Blue Tigers had a tough time keeping up with the Peacocks in Fayette, Iowa, and lost their second straight. Lincoln is 2-2. Quarterback Jaylen Thomas connected with Armani Turner for an 89-yard pass play for the Blue Tigers’ touchdown in the game.

McKendree (Illinois) 40, William Jewell 24: The loss at McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois, was the Cardinals’ second straight on the season. Quarterback Tyler Kubat completed 24 of 37 passes for 313 yards with two TDs and an interception for William Jewell (2-2). McKendree improved to 1-3.

Baker 38, Missouri Valley 28: The Wildcats’ Gabe Martin rushed for 87 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns as Baker (1-3) won at Marshall, Missouri, for its first win of the season. Baker’s Zac Kramer was in on 11 tackles, including seven solo.

Bethel 38, St. Mary 37: It was a heartbreaking home loss for the St. Mary Spires in Leavenworth. Down 37-30, Bethel scored a touchdown with 6 seconds left and then converted a two-point conversion for the victory. Spires’ receiver Michael Gazzana had another big game. Gazzana caught eight passes for 139 yards. His score on a 75-yard pass play from quarterback Erick Covington tied it 7-7 in the first quarter.

McPherson 70, Ottawa 28: Jayden Johnson had eight receptions for 123 yards, but the Braves could not keep up in the loss at McPherson, Kansas. Ottawa is 2-3 after its second straight loss.

MidAmerica Nazarene 41, Missouri Baptist 39: The Pioneers built a 24-10 halftime lead and held on in Olathe to improve to 4-1. Samuel Gonzalez had eight catches for 148 yards, with a 50-yard TD for MidAmerica Nazarene. Pioneers’ Zane Hall pulled in seven passes for 119 yards with a touchdown.

Sterling 29, Avila 17: Avila dropped to 0-5 on the season in a battle between 0-4 teams coming in at Sterling, Kansas. Quentin Curtis rushed for 83 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown for Avila.

This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 10:05 PM.