Pitt State tops Northwest Missouri State as the two share MIAA football crown
The MIAA football title so often comes down to a showdown between Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State.
The outstanding play of both teams this season rendered another such edition.
The Pitt State Gorillas got the best of the showdown this time, beating the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats 27-14 on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park.
With the victory, Pittsburg State earned a share of the MIAA championship with Northwest Missouri, as each team finished 8-1 in conference (and 9-2 overall).
The Gorillas, ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division II coaches poll, won their ninth straight game and ended the No. 12 Bearcats’ nine-game win streak.
Pittsburg State fell behind 7-0 on Saturday but scored the next 24 points in taking control.
The Gorillas benefitted from four fumbles by the Bearcats. One of those fumbles was scooped up by Pitt State safety Quintin Kirby and returned 71 yards for a touchdown that put Pittsburg State up 21-7. Gorillas linebacker Steven Ward II had gotten that ball loose from a Northwest Missouri State receiver.
Gorillas quarterback Jackson Berry passed for 228 yards in the game, with two touchdowns, including a 78-yarder to TyJuan Atkins Jr.
Each team will learn their postseason position in the NCAA D-II playoffs with the NCAA’s announcement of the bracket on Sunday.
Other KC area college games:
Missouri State 38, UTEP 24: The Bears built a 24-7 halftime lead on the way to their fifth straight victory, this one in Springfield on homecoming. Missouri State star quarterback Jacob Clark passed for four touchdowns, two to Jeron Askren. Clark was sacked five times. The Bears are 7-3 overall and 5-1 in CUSA. UTEP is 2-8, 1-5.
Benedictine 52, MidAmerica Nazarene 7: The Benedictine Ravens, ranked No. 3 in the NAIA coaches poll, finished off their regular season with a dominating performance at home against the Pioneers. The Ravens’ Titan Osburn caught seven passes for 147 yards, including one of Jackson Dooley’s two touchdown passes in the game. Dooley threw for 265 yards. Benedictine also produced 201 rushing yards.
The Ravens have won nine straight and are 10-1 on the season. The NAIA is set to announce its postseason football playoff bracket on Sunday.
Central Missouri 38, Nebraska Kearney 24: The first of Mules quarterback Donovyn Omolo’s three touchdown passes was a 79-yard score when he hooked up with Jake Weber in the first quarter for a 7-3 lead in Kearney, Nebraska. Central Missouri took off from there, and Omolo finished with 394 yards passing. Central Missouri finished the season with a 5-6 record, Nebraska Kearney 6-5.
Washburn 29, Missouri Southern 24: Ichabod QB Logan Madden found Henry Mohrmann for an 8-yard touchdown pass for what proved to be the winning score in the fourth quarter in Joplin, Missouri. The TD was the culmination of an 82-yard drive. Madden completed 21 of 26 passes for 186 yards in the game, and Mohrmann caught two passes, each for a TD. Washburn finished the season 3-8 with its lone road win. Nathan Glades rushed for 107 yards for the Lions, 3-8.
William Jewell 49, Lincoln 13: The Cardinals took off at home in Liberty with 28 first-quarter points. Jewell QB Tyler Kubat threw five TD passes for the game. He completed 15 of 17 throws overall for 253 yards. A 71-yard pass play from Kubat to Layne Cavanah went for a TD in the first quarter. William Jewell finished the season 3-8, Lincoln 2-9.
Fort Hays State 13, Emporia State 7: The Tigers’ 10 first-quarter points were enough in this MIAA game between Kansas rivals in Emporia. Koa McIntyre had one of Fort Hays State’s two interceptions. Emporia State outgained Fort Hays 316 yards to 188, but a minus-3 turnover margin was big. The Tigers finished the season 6-5, while the Hornets ended up 5-6 with the loss.
Baker 41, Graceland (Iowa) 38: Baker quarterback Truman Juelsgaard found Gaige Warren on a 36-yard pass play for the winning TD with 53 seconds left in Lamoni, Iowa. Juelsgaard passed for 175 yards with the TD and rushed for 135 yards with another touchdown. The Wildcats’ Gabe Martin added two rushing TDs. Baker finished the regular season 6-4.
Ottawa 52, Bethel 24: The Braves’ victory was their fourth straight, this one at home in the season finale that was filled with big plays by Ottawa: Hagan Johnson returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD that put Ottawa (6-5) up 23-3 in the first half. The Braves’ Jordan Clay ran for a 65-yard score as part of his 100 yards rushing. And Ethan Gardner had a 16-yard pick-six.
Friends 69, Saint Mary 3: Three Friends players gained over 100 yards each as part of the Falcons’ 642 rushing yards in Leavenworth. The Spires lost their final two games on the season and finished 3-8.
Central Oklahoma 54, Missouri Western 10: Brandon Hall rushed for 68 yards on 13 carries for the Missouri Western Griffons in the season finale in St. Joseph. Missouri Western finished with a record of 3-8.
Tabor 32, Avila 7: Avila quarterback Christian Neely connected with Seth Myers on a 22-yard pass for a TD that tied the score 7-7 in the first half at Avila. But the Eagles gave up 25 points in the second half and ended their season with a record of 1-10. Mecoast Vaughn hauled in eight catches for 88 yards for Avila in Saturday’s loss.
This story was originally published November 15, 2025 at 8:48 PM.