HAYS, Kan. - Fifthteenth-ranked Pittsburg State University rallied from a 24-14 halftime deficit, holding Fort Hays State University scoreless in the second half to claim a 31-24 victory Saturday (Sept. 26) at Lewis Field Stadium.

The Gorillas posted their 22^nd consecutive regular season road win by outscoring the previously unbeaten Tigers, 17-0, over the final 30 minutes to play.

John Roderique, Jr. rushed for a game-high 117 yards with two fourth-quarter touchdown runs. He knotted the score at 24-24 with a six-yard run with 12:38 remaining and then put the Gorillas in front, 31-24, with another six-yard run with 5:36 to go.

Pitt State utilized an 18-yard run by Darian Taylor on a fake punt to extend the drive on the Gorillas' game-tying possession.

Pitt State had originally settled to try a potential go-ahead 38-yard field goal by Chad Levin later in the final stanza, but a roughing the kicker penalty by FHSU extended the drive and led to Roderique's final TD.

The Gorilla defense, which struggled to contain FHSU's duo of Traveon Albert and Shaquille Cooper in the first half, came up with key stops after halftime to allow the comeback bid.

Heath Wilson twice sacked Albert on FHSU's final drive, including a 15-yard loss on 4^th-and-10 from the PSU 31 with 2:59 to play in the contest.

The Pitt State offense picked up a first down and ran out the remainder of the clock to seal the win.

Wilson finished the game with six stops, including three tackles-for-loss and 2.0 quarterback sacks.

Darnell Walker also snared his fourth interception of the game, halting a FHSU drive in the Pitt State red zone on the first series of the third quarter.

Roderique completed 21 of 32 passes for 225 yards, including a 12-yard TD pass to running back Jeff Seybold on the opening drive of the game.

Seybold also rushed the ball for 85 yards, while DeAndre Murray carried the ball three times for 47 yards with a 48-yard TD scamper to his credit.

Levi Copelin made four catches for a game-high 94 yards.

Albert completed 14 of 21 passes for 141 yards and he rushed the ball 17 times for 107 yards, while Cooper also carried the ball 19 times for 104 yards.

The Gorillas will return to Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 3) to host Missouri Western State University for Homecoming at 2 p.m.