PITTSBURG -- Wide receiver Jack Roberts diving catch in the corner of the end zone with 1:00 to play in regulation gave No. 7 Pittsburg State University its first lead of the game and lifted the Gorillas to an 18-17 victory over Fort Hays State University Saturday (Oct. 19).

The visiting Tigers (5-3, 3-3 MIAA) stunned the sellout crowd of 9,265 fans at Carnie Smith Stadium most of the afternoon, leading on the scoreboard for more than 44 minutes of the play clock. With FHSU leading 17-12, Pitt State defensive lineman Malik Berry tipped a Caleb Heavner third down pass attempt high into the air and Gorillas safety Jordan Rogers snared the ball at the FHSU 32 and returned in 11 yards, giving the Gorillas the ball at the FHSU 21 with 2:51 to play in the game.

Pitt State (6-1, 5-1 MIAA), victimized earlier in the contest by a pair of red zone turnovers, cashed in finally with the go-ahead score. Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. delivered an 11-yard pass to wide receiver Kuron Parchmon that gave the Gorillas first-and-goal at the FHSU 1. After a muffed snap set the Gorillas back to the five yard line, Dodson delivered two plays later by hitting Roberts with the winning connection.

The Gorillas missed on a 2-point conversion try, but Pitt State's Bryce Johnson and Kam GIllespie bottled up FHSU return man J Lewis at the Tigers 13 yard line. Heavner completed three short range passes in succession to R Allen to advance the ball to the FHSU 24, but the Gorillas defense forced him into three incompletions in his next four attempts to hold the Tigers on downs with 18 seconds to play.

Kicker Gentry Cole booted a pair of first half field goals - from 49 and 27 yards - to trail 7-6 at halftime after Tigers running back Shane Watts broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown scamper for the game's first score with 3:06 to play in the opening period.

The Gorillas, who registered a season high six quarterback sacks and were credited with nine additional hurries, limited FHSU to 108 total yards in the first half and 288 total yards in the game.

Luke Niggemann scored on a 32-yard touchdown scamper on a 4th-and-2 play with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter and the Gorillas trailing 14-6 at the time.

Dodson finished the game 18 of 35 passing for 197 yards and an interception. He completed five balls to Parchmon for a game-high 68 yards, while William Huggins added three grabs for 39 yards in the contest. Dodson was Pitt State's leading ground gainer with eight rushes for 43 yards. Wide receiver Christian Carter added three carries for 38 yards in the contest.

Linebacker Alex Gaskill posted a team-leading nine tackles, while linebacker Thomas Cook added eight stops, 0.5 QB sack and a pass breakup. Rogers recorded seven tackles, a QB sack, an interception and a PBU, while Berry added four stops, 1.5 QB sacks, a PBU and four QB pressures.

The Gorillas will travel to Edmond, Okla., next Saturday (Oct. 26) to battle unbeaten and No. 11 ranked University of Central Oklahoma at 2:05 p.m. The Bronchos posted a wild 64-57 road win over Northeastern State University Saturday at Tahlequah, Okla.