Box Score MARYVILLE, Mo. — Luke Niggemann rushed for a pair of touchdowns and scored a third time on a blocked punt return to lead the Pittsburg State University football team to a 23-7 victory over Northwest Missouri State University Saturday (Nov. 16) at Bearcat Stadium.

The Gorillas close out the regular season with an 8-2 record (7-2 MIAA). Pitt State, ranked No. 3 in the final NCAA Division II Super Region Three rankings Monday, will await Sunday's NCAA selection show for the 2024 Division II playoff field. The Bearcats end their season with a 6-5 mark (5-4 MIAA).

The Pitt State defense blanked NWMSU over the game's first 56 minutes and limited the Bearcats to 282 total yards in the contest, including jut 35 net rushing yards on 23 attempts. The Gorillas registered their third straight victory in the competitive series against NWMSU.

Pitt State jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 4:56 to play in the first quarter when Jaydon Knight blocked a punt and Niggemann scooped it up at the NWMSU 7 and returned it for a score.

Niggemann added a pair of second quarter scoring runs out of the 'wildcat' formation. He capped a five-play, 32-yard drive with a two-yard scamper with 8:58 to play in the second quarter; and he capped a 10-play, 41-yard drive with a four-yard TD run with 1:47 to go before halftime.

Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. completed 12 of 19 passes for 97 yards and an interception before exiting the game late in the second quarter. Running back Cleo Chandler Jr. carried the ball 12 times for a team-leading 31 yards.

NWMSU backup quarterback Henry Martin broke up the Gorillas shutout bid with 3:31 to play in the game thanks to a 38-yard scoring scamper.

The Pitt State defense registered five quarterback sacks in the contest, including freshman linebacker Elijah Morton's sack in the end zone of Martin for a safety with 2:22 to play in the game.

Cornerback Antione Nunn Jr. led the Gorillas with six tackles. Defensive linemen Cole Sample and Sam Hultz and linebacker Steven Ward Jr. each made solo sacks in the contest, while safety Ryan Medeiros and linebacker Brandon Stegall combined for another sack.

Punter Casey Rauch played a key role in field position in the contest, placing five of his seven kicks inside the NWMSU 20 yard line.

The Bearcats were flagged 14 times for 127 yards in the contest.