Box Score

Box Score | Season Statistics

PITTSBURG — Jay McDowell rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a third score to lead Missouri Southern State University to a 35-21 road win over No. 6 Pittsburg State University Saturday (Nov. 16) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.

The Lions (7-3, 5-3 MIAA) defeated the Gorillas (9-2, 7-2 MIAA) for the first time in 20 years, snapping a 19-game losing streak in the series and likely dashing Pitt State's bid for a return trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Southern built a 14-0 lead before Pitt State scored with 10 seconds remaining in the first half on a 10-yard pass from Tony Abenoja to Marquise Cushon. The Lions outgained the Gorillas 179-79 in the first half, and MSSU finished the game with 415 yards of total offense compared to 229 for Pitt State.

The Lions rushed the ball 68 times for 372 yards in the contest, averaging 5.5 yards per carry against the Pitt State defense.

Pitt State trailed just 21-14 with 3:04 to play in the third quarter after Abenoja scored on a four-yard run, but MSSU countered with a score of its own three plays later and McDowell iced the game with a one-yard run and a 35-14 margin with 2:22 to go.

Jeff Seybold, who rushed for a team-leading 80 yards for the Gorillas, scored on a six-yard run with 1:33 to play in the game, but the Lions recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the victory.

Abenoja completed 12 of 28 passes for 134 yards in the contest. Cushon caught a team-leading four passes for 53 yards.

Nate Dreiling tied the MIAA record for career tackles in the contest. Dreiling made a game-high 14 stops to reach 489 tackles and tie Truman's Marti Rave, who accumulated the same total between 1977-79.

Tyler Disney and Isaac Maselera added 12 and 11 tackles for the Gorillas.