PITTSBURG — James Brania-Hopp returned a kickoff 99 yards to break open a three-point game and propel Washburn University to a 40-23 victory over Pittsburg State University Saturday (Nov. 3).

The Gorillas (7-3, 7-3 MIAA) trailed just 26-23 following Jared Vincent's 39-yard field goal with 7:12 to play in the game, but Brania-Hopp broke loose for the pivotal score to give the Ichabods (5-5, 5-5 MIAA) a 33-23 cushion 13 seconds later.

Mitch Schurig passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns for Washburn. He tossed a 10-yard touchdown to Austen Hubert for the game's final 17-point margin after the Ichabods held Pitt State on downs at the Gorillas 28-yard line with 6:10 to go.

Matt Harman, making his first collegiate start in place of an injured John Roderique, completed 13 of 33 passes for 198 yards. Lorenzo West caught seven passes for a career-high 161 yards.

Pitt State fell behind 14-3 in the first quarter of the contest, but the Gorillas battled back to take a 17-14 lead with 7:44 to play in the second quarter. WU's Perry Schmiedeler booted a 29-yard field goal with 6:01 remaining in the second quarter to send the game to halftime tied 17-17.

Tyler Adkins carried the ball 22 times for 122 yards. West and Tucker Horak each had rushing touchdowns for Pitt State.

The Pitt State defense came up with three interceptions in the contest and the Gorillas turned those takeaways in 10 points.

Demetrius Bernard made a team-leading nine stops in the game. Josh Hornback posted six tackles and made four pass break-ups.

The Gorillas will close out the regular season with a road game against Missouri Southern State University next Saturday (Nov. 10) at Joplin, Mo.