EMPORIA, Kan. -- Quarterback Brent Wilson tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kavaski Ervin with 2:06 to play in the game to lift No. 18 Emporia State University to a 46-42 victory over No. 13 Pittsburg State University in a high scoring contest Saturday (Oct. 10) at Welch Stadium.
The Hornets (6-0, 6-0 MIAA) trailed 14-0 early in the contest to the Gorillas (4-2, 4-2 MIAA) and Pitt State took a final lead, 42-39, with 4:44 remaining in the contest on John Roderique, Jr.'s two-yard run.
Wilson completed 26 of 43 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 10 times for a game-high 108 yards, including a 36-yard TD scamper that put the Hornets up 39-35 with 10:41 to play in the game.
Following Wilson's TD run, ESU recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and had a chance to take a two-possession lead, but the Gorillas stopped the Hornets on a 4th-and-goal play from the PSU 1. Wilson fumbled the ball into the end zone on the play and the Gorillas Zach Bessette recovered the ball with 8:15 remaining.
Roderique then led Pitt State 80 yards in 11 plays. He converted an eight-yard pass to Marquise Cushon on a 4th-and-6 play from the ESU 26 to set up the go-ahead score.
Roderique completed 16 of 31 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in the game, but he also was intercepted four times. Running back Jeff Seybold carried the ball 19 times for a team-leading 80 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a 32-yard TD pass from Roderique.
Roderique rushed the ball 13 times for 72 yards and two scores.
Deron Washington made a team-leading 12 tackles for the Gorillas, while Quad Ware and Spencer Brown added nine stops apiece.
The Gorillas will return to Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium to face unbeaten and third-ranked Northwest Missouri State University next Saturday (Oct. 17).
