MARYVILLE, Mo. – Seventeenth-ranked Pittsburg State University raced out to a 28-0 first half lead and rode that momentum to a 35-17 road victory over top-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Saturday (Oct. 18).
 
The Gorillas (6-1, 6-1 MIAA) snapped the defending NCAA Division II National Chamipion Bearcats (6-1, 6-1 MIAA) 21-game winning streak in front of a school record 11,002 Homecoming fans at Mel Tjeerdsma Field at Bearcat Stadium.
 
Quarterback Anthony Abenoja passed for 190 yards and three touchdowns in the first half and reserve QB Ramsey Hamilton added a second quarter scoring pass in the first-half flurry.
 
The Gorillas recovered a pair of onside kick attempts and continued to put pressure on the Bearcats through the air, while the Pitt State defense limited Northwest's high-powered offense to 103 total yards in the first half.
 
Deron Washington also returned a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown to give Pitt State a 35-10 edge with 9:17 to play in the third quarter; and the Gorillas defense continued to stifle the Bearcats down the stretch. Northwest punched in a Brady Bolles to T.J. Schieber six-yard TD pass with 32 seconds remaining for the game's final score.
 
Abenoja completed 19 of 38 passes for 318 yards and three TDs in the game. Gavin Lutman and Marquise Cushon each caught touchdown passes and each eclipsed 100 receiving yards. Lutman had six grabs for a game-high 134 yards, while Cushon finished with six catches for 105 yards.
 
Bolles completed 20 of 40 passes for 161 yards. Phil Jackson II carried the ball 14 times for 82 yards.
 
Colby Hall made a career-best 18 tackles (two solo) with a forced fumble and an interception in the contest. Jason Peete added 10 stops.
 
The Gorillas claimed their most lopsided victory over the Bearcats since a 41-13 win in the NCAA-II quarterfinals in Pitt State's 2011 national championship run.
 
The Gorillas will return home to host MIAA rival University of Nebraska-Kearney next Saturday (Oct. 25).