EDMOND, Okla. — The Pittsburg State University football team jumped out to a 24-0 halftime advantage and rode that momentum to a 38-7 victory over the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Oct. 29) at Chad Richison Stadium.
 
Pitt State improved to 9-0 on the season with the win and the Gorillas guaranteed themselves at least a share of the 2022 MIAA Championship. With two games remaining in the regular season, Pitt State leads second place Emporia State (7-2) and Northwest Missouri (7-2) by two games. The Gorillas also own head-to-head victories over the Hornets (14-13) and the Bearcats (24-22).
 
Pitt State expanded its lead to 38-0 before UCO (5-4, 5-4 MIAA) finally punched in a score in the game's final two minutes against the Gorillas reserves.
 
Running back Caleb Lewis carried the ball 18 times for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Gorillas pounded out 198 yards on the ground in the contest. Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. also completed 12 of 23 passes for 163 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Christian Carter.
 
Running back Cleo Chandler Jr. also had six carries for 30 yards and a touchdown, while cornerback Antione Nunn Jr. returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown. Kicker Cross Holmes also booted a 34-yard field goal to cap the Gorillas scoring.
 
The Pitt State defense limited the Bronchos to just 246 total yards in the contest. UCO managed just 95 net rushing yards on 31 carries. The Gorillas forced a pair of turnovers – Nunn's interception and a fumble recovered by linebacker P.J. Sarwinski.
 
Linebacker Dubem Okonkwo posted five tackles (four solo), including 2.5 quarterback sacks as the Gorillas registered 3.0 QB sacks and seven stops behind in the line of scrimmage in the contest. Okonkwo also stopped UCO quarterback Stephon Brown short of the goal line on a 2nd-and-goal play from the PSU 2 as time expired in the first half.

The Gorillas also held the Bronchos on downs twice in the contest .
 
Linebacker Luke Jennings made a team-leading seven tackles to pace the Pitt State defensive unit.
 
The MIAA crown is Pitt State's 13^th overall, but the program's first since the 2014 season. It also marks the first MIAA title for third-year head coach Brian Wright and his staff.
 
The Gorillas will travel to Topeka next Saturday (Nov. 5) to battle Washburn at 1 p.m. (CST). The Ichabods scored late to claim a 21-17 road victory over Northeastern State Saturday at Tahlequah, Okla.