PITTSBURG — Seventh-ranked Pittsburg State University jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead but needed final minute heroics down the stretch to hold off No. 9 Northwest Missouri State University, 24-22, Saturday (Oct. 8).
 
The Gorillas (6-0, 6-0 MIAA) maintained their stranglehold on first place in the MIAA standings with the win in front of 10,108 partisan fans at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. The Bearcats (4-2, 4-2 MIAA), the three-time defending MIAA champions (2018-19, '21), slipped two games behind Pitt State in the conference standings with the loss.
 
Chad Dodson Jr. completed 15 of 29 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to build an 18-point cushion.
 
Dodson teamed with wide receiver Bryce Murphy for a 49-yard scoring connection and a 7-0 lead with 3:29 remaining in the first quarter. He then directed the Gorillas to a pair of scores in the final two minutes of the second quarter.
 
Dodson found tight end Devon Garrison open 19 yards downfield at the Bearcats 45 yard line and Garrison tight roped the west sideline, scampering the rest of the way into the end zone for a 14-3 lead at the 1:59 mark of the second quarter.
 
After a quick NWMSU 3-and-out that consumed just 21 seconds of play clock, Dodson and the Gorillas went 50 yards in seven plays with wide receiver Kolbe Katsis capping the drive with a three-yard scoring catch with 13 seconds remaining in the first half.
 
The Bearcats rallied in the second half. Jamar Moya scored on a two-yard run to make it a 21-10 game with 4:51 to play in the third quarter. Jadon Brady added a two-yard scoring catch from Mike Hohensee to make it a 21-16 game with 8:21 to play in the game.
 
The Pitt State defense, which twice stopped the Bearcats on fourth down in Gorillas territory in the game, came up big down the stretch. Brandon Stegall registered a sack on Hohensee on a 4^th-and-1 play at the Pitt State 41 yard line with 4:42 to play in the game.
 
The Gorillas then drove to the NWMSU 28 yard line to set up a 45-yard field goal by Cross Holmes to give Pitt State a 24-16 edge with 2:25 to go.
 
The Bearcats worked the ball downfield. Braden Wright hit Moya for a 34-yard pass connection to set up 1^st-and-goal at the PSU 1. Two plays later, he scrambled into the end zone for a touchdown taking a big shot from Pitt State linebacker Alex Gaskill as he broke the plan to make it a 24-22 game with 13 seconds left in regulation.
 
Hohensee re-entered the game for the two-point conversion attempt. His pass to tight end Cole Hembrough took him to the back line of the end zone and was ruled incomplete to allow the Gorillas to hold.
 
Garrison recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt by the Bearcats to seal the win for Pitt State.
 
The Pitt State defense registered four quarterback sacks in the contest and limited NWMSU to 53 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
 
Brandon Mlekus and P.J. Sarwinski made eight tackles apiece for the Gorillas. Sarwinski added 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a pass breakup. Stegall added four tackles, 2.0 TFLs and a forced fumble.
 
The Gorillas will travel to Jefferson City, Mo., to battle winless Lincoln University next Saturday (Oct. 15) at 2 p.m.