Gorillas go after another No. 1
Pittsburg State is bidding for history in its second-round NCAA Division II football playoff game.
The Gorillas travel to Mankato, Minn., and take on the nation’s top-ranked team, Minnesota State-Mankato, at 1 p.m. today.
Pitt State will try to become the first team since the playoff system began in 1975 to defeat two No. 1-ranked teams in the same season. The Gorillas beat Northwest Missouri State 35-17 on Oct. 17 in Maryville, Mo.
The seventh-ranked Gorillas opened NCAA play last week with a 59-42 victory over Harding, Ark. Quarterback Anthony Abenoja threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the come-from-behind victory. Two scoring passes went to wide receiver Austin Panko.
Today’s winner gets a trip to the national quarterfinals for a game against either Minnesota-Duluth or Ouachita Bapitst, who also play today.
The Division II championship game is Dec. 20 at Sporting Park.
▪ Missouri Valley visits Morningside, Iowa, in the NAIA quarterfinals. Kickoff today is 1 p.m. The Vikings defeated Northwestern, Iowa, 20-17 last week when Daniel Mouro booted a game-winning 35-yard field goal.
This story was originally published November 28, 2014 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Gorillas go after another No. 1."