PITTSBURG -- Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. passed for 387 yards and three touchdowns and the Pittsburg State University defense limited the University of Central Missouri to 212 yards of total offense as the Gorillas defeated the Mules, 21-10, in the season opener Thursday (Sept. 1) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.

Dodson tossed a pair of touchdowns to wide receiver Bryce Murphy and added a 71-yard pass and catch connection to wide receiver Kolbe Katsis to spark the Pitt State offense. Dodson completed 21 of 40 passes in the game and compiled the sixth-highest single game passing yardage total in school history.

After trailing 3-0 in the contest, Dodson found Murphy open from 27 yards out to stake the Gorillas (1-0) to a 7-3 lead with 10:51 to play in the second quarter. He teamed with Murphy again on a 53-yard strike for a 14-3 advantage with 3:40 to go in the period.

The Gorillas finished their 21-point run with Dodson's long toss to Katsis with 1:09 to play in the third quarter.

The Mules (0-1) trimmed the margin to 11 points on Cedric Case's 15-yard pass to Arkell Smith with 6:45 to play in the game, but Pitt State held UCM at bay down the stretch for the victory.

Murphy made three grabs for a game-high 112 yards, while Katsis added two receptions for 87 yards and Christian Carter finished the game with six receptions for 80 yards. Antwan Squire rushed the ball nine times for a team-leading 49 yards for the Gorillas, while Caleb Lewis added 11 carries for 45 yards.

The Pitt State defense limited the Mules to 33 net rushing yards on 30 carries. Linebacker P.J. Sarwinski posted a team-best eight tackles, While linebacker Alex Gaskill added seven stops. Dubem Okonkwo chipped in with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a forced fumble in the contest.

The Gorillas will travel to Kearney, Neb., next Thursday (Sept. 8) to face No 14 ranked University of Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers claimed a 24-7 road win over Missouri Southern State University Thursday night.