KEARNEY, Neb. — The Pittsburg State University football team rallied from from an early 13-0 deficit to claim a 24-19 road win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney Saturday (Oct. 24).
The Gorillas defense blocked a punt and forced three fumbles to help spark the comeback win.
UNK (0-8, 0-8 MIAA) drove 75 yards for a score on the opening drive of the game, then struck again when Shai Harris returned a tipped pass for a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown to build a 13-0 lead four minutes into the game.
Pitt State (5-3, 5-3 MIAA) finally got on the board on the first play of the second quarter when quarterback Thomas LePage scored on a 10-yard run. The drive was set up when UNK's George Brown fumbled a punt return at the UNK 30.
The Lopers stretched their lead to 16-7 on Brendon Wentling's 45-yard field goal with 7:52 remaining in the second quarter.
Pitt State again used a big special teams play to find the end zone. Levi Copelin blocked Payton Fluckey's punt attempt and Deron Washington recovered it at the UNK 7. Two plays later, running back Michael Rose sprinted into the end zone from six yards out to narrow the margin to 16-14 with 3:43 left in the half.
The Gorilla defense forced a three-and-out and wide receiver Marquise Cushon broke off a 42-yard end around run to flip the field for Pitt State. Chad Levin capped the drive with a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Gorillas a 17-16 lead.
Running back Jeff Seybold stretched the Gorillas' lead to 24-16 with a one-yard run with 2:27 to play in the third quarter. Safety Darian Taylor forced UNK's Caleb Lundgren into a fumble five plays early to give Pitt State the ball at the UNK 34.
The Lopers added a 21-yard field goal from Wentling with 10:06 to play in the game to make it a 24-19 game, but the Pitt State defense kept UNK out of the end zone on its final two drives to seal the win. Heath Wilson was credited with tackling UNK quarterback Bronson Marsh for a two-yard loss on a 4th-and-six play from the PSU 45 with 34 seconds remaining in the game to halt the Lopers' final drive.
Rose rushed for a team-leading 59 yards for the Gorillas. Cushon added 53 yards, while Seybold finished with 49 yards and LePage chipped in with 42 ground yards. LePage completed five of 14 passes for 36 yards with two interceptions.
Spencer Brown made a team-leading 13 tackles, while Kip Keeley added 10 stops. Dino Teague intercepted a pass in the PSU end zone in the first half to stop a potential UNK scoring drive.
The Gorillas will return home to face MIAA rival Missouri Southern next Saturday (Oct. 31) at 2 p.m.
