Box Score Box ScorePITTSBURG — Tony Abenoja completed 18 of 23 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score to lead ninth-ranked Pittsburg State University to a 37-0 season opening victory over Northeastern State University Saturday (Sept. 6) before a sellout crowd of 10,814 fans at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
The Pitt State defense limited the RiverHawks to 48 net rushing yards in the contest and 180 total yards in the game.
Connor Frazell booted three field goals in the game for the Gorillas, including a 26 yarder on the opening drive of the game.
Abenoja scored on a 19-yard scamper to give Pitt State a 10-0 lead midway through the first quarter. He added a 10-yard touchdown pass to running back Jeff Seybold, Jr. to push the Gorillas' margin to 24-0 with 14:15 remaining in the second quarter. Seybold added a nine-yard scoring run at the 2:47 mark of the first quarter as well.
Marquise Cushon caught four passes for a game-high 96 yards in the first half. He added three rushes for 26 yards.
Solomon Watkins also found the end zone for the Gorillas, scoring on a five-yard run with 1:36 remaining in the third quarter and pushing the Pitt State margin to 34-0.
NSU, which did not pick up a first down until its fouth possession of the game early in the second quarter, flirted with scoring twice but came up empty. The Gorillas held the RiverHawks on downs at the PSU 2 as time expired in the first half. NSU also drove to the Gorillas 6, but De'Vante Bausby intercepted a Kevin Pantastico pass in the end zone to thwart that drive.
The Gorillas intercepted a pair of passes and forced a fumble in the game.
Tyler Disney tied a career high with 13 tackles to lead the Pitt State defense. Bausby added seven tackles, 0.5 TFL, an interception and a pass break-up.
The Gorillas will return to action Thursday (Sept. 11) when they travel to St. Charles, Mo., to face MIAA rival Lindenwood University at 6 p.m. The Lions defeated Washburn University, 44-38, at Topeka Thursday (Sept. 4) in their season opener.
