PITTSBURG — Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Pittsburg State University football team to a 35-14 victory over Fort Hays State University in the regular season finale for both schools Saturday (Nov. 12).
The No. 5 ranked Gorillas (11-0) punctuated an unbeaten regular season in front of 8,235 partisan fans at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium and formally received the 2022 MIAA Champion trophy following the game.
Pitt State, which now awaits Sunday's NCAA Division II Selection Show, to learn the Gorillas seeding in the impending NCAA Division II playoffs.
The Gorillas led the Tigers (3-8), 14-7, at halftime but capitalized on a 14-point third quarter to pull away.
The Pitt State defense limited FHSU to 98 net rushing yards and 277 total yards in the contest. Linebacker P.J. Sarwinski led the MIAA leading defensive unit with nine tackles (three solo), 1.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 quarterback sack and a pass breakup.
Dodson tossed touchdown passes to wide receivers Kolbe Katsis and Jamahl Horne and running backs Caleb Lewis, Antwan Squire and Cleo Chandler Jr. all found the end zone as well.
Chandler carried the ball 11 times for 55 yards, while Squire had 10 rushes for 46 yards and Lewis added 13 carries for 43 yards in the game. Katsis caught five passes for a team-leading 52 yards.
