TOPEKA – The Pittsburg State University defense returned a pair of interceptions for first-half touchdowns and the Gorillas offense got rolling in the final 30 minutes of play in a 45-20 road win over Washburn University Saturday (Oct. 1).
 
Darrius White jumped the game's first pass play and returned the INT 15 yards to give Pitt State (4-1, 4-1 MIAA) a 7-0 lead 11 seconds into the game.
 
WU (3-2, 3-2 MIAA) countered with a pair of Perry Schmiedeler field goals and a Derek McGinnis to Cary Woods touchdown pass to take a 13-7 lead over the Gorillas with 8:55 to play in the second quarter.
 
Pitt State's Lorenzo West returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown and a 14-13 Gorillas lead.
 
Deron Washington added a second pick six when he snared a tipped ball and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown with 1:07 to play in the second quarter.
 
Quarterback John Roderique tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kohl Slaughter. Running back Michael Rose started the play by lateraling the ball back to wide receiver Brenner Clemons, who in turn flipped the ball back to Roderique.
 
Rose added a pair of touchdown runs – from 16 yards out in the third quarter and a one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter after DeShaughn Terry returned an interception to the WU 9.
 
Kicker Chad Levin added a 25-yard field goal in the third quarter to complete the Pitt State scoring.
 
Roderique completed 18 of 35 passes for 263 yards. Levi Copelin caught five passes for a game-high 73 yards, while Austin Panko had three grabs for 69 yards.
 
Rose rushed the ball nine times for a team-leading 62 yards.
 
Spencer Brown made a career-high 15 tackles while Ethan Fugitt added 10 stops. Heath Wilson made five tackles and 1.0 quarterback sack.
 
The Gorillas will return home to host Fort Hays State University on Homecoming next Saturday (Oct. 8) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).