PITTSBURG — DeShaughn Terry stopped Northeastern State University's La'More Wise on a 2-point conversion run in overtime to lift Pittsburg State University to a 38-37 victory over the upset-minded RiverHawks Saturday (Sept. 17) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
Thomas LePage passed for 286 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a fourth score in front of 11,495 partisan fans – the third-largest home crowd in school history. He play-faked and tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Levi Copelin to put the Gorillas in front in overtime.
NSU's C.J. Shavers scored on a four-yard run to cap the RiverHawks OT possession. His run came two plays after a pass interference call gave NSU a 1st-and-goal from the PSU 2. The RiverHawks sent the game into overtime thanks to Eddie Garcia's 33-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining in regulation.
NSU held leads of 7-0, 14-7 and 21-14 in the first half against Pitt State. The Gorillas closed to 21-16 on Simanu'a Thomas' safety with 1:11 to play in the first half. Carter Anchors boomed a 63-yard punt to the NSU 1 and Thomas broke through the offensive line to tackle Deion Tidwell in the end zone three plays later.
Pitt State scored on its opening drive of the second half with LePage finding Copelin for an 11-yard score. LePage ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Gorillas a 24-21 edge. Later in the quarter, LePage capped an 11-play, 79-yard drive with a two-yard run to extend the Gorillas' lead to 31-21.
NSU's Rashawn Eubanks slipped behind coverage for a 76-yard touchdown reception from Dimonic McKinzy to trim the margin to 31-28 with 3:51 to play in the third period. Neither team added any points until Garcia's last minute kick.
Levin missed a 22-yard field goal that would have given Pitt State a 34-28 cushion with 8:36 remaining in regulation; and the Gorillas' Keynan Scheurich was stopped on a 4th-and-1 play at the NSU 39 yard line with 4:42 remaining to set up NSU's final game-tying drive.
LePage completed 20 of 37 passes for 286 yards in the contest. He also rushed the ball 17 times for a team-leading 78 yards and a score. Copelin made six catches for 100 yards and three touchdowns. Andre Taylor also had four receptions for a career-high 70 yards. Dre Holman rushed 13 times for 47 yards and a touchdown.
McKinzy completed 16 of 31 passes for 311 yards and two TDs for the RiverHawks, while Shavers rushed the ball 23 times for 96 yards and two scores.
Spencer Brown made a team-leading nine tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a quarterback sack.
The Gorillas will return to action next Saturday (Sept. 24) when they travel to St. Charles, Mo., to face MIAA rival Lindenwood University. The Lions dropped a 34-29 road decision to Washburn University Saturday at Topeka.
