PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team scored the game's first 14 and final 16 points to bookend an emphatic 30-10 victory over Missouri Southern State University Saturday (Nov. 1).

The No. 9 ranked Gorillas improved to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in MIAA play with the victory over the Lions (3-6, 1-6 MIAA) in the annual Miner's Bowl match-up, playing before 9,595 partisan Senior Day and Hall of Fame Game fans at Carnie Smith Stadium. Pitt State closed out its home schedule with a perfect 5-0 mark with the win.

Quarterback Jackson Berry passed for 182 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jahkobie Smith and wide receiver Kuron Parchmon each scored rushing touchdowns on Pitt State's first two offensive series to burst out of the gates to a 14-0 first quarter advantage.

Austin Schmitt added field goals of 34, 26 and 30 yards in the contest. The Gorillas took a 17-10 lead to the halftime break. Pitt State blanked MSSU over the final 30 minutes to play after the Lions managed 10 second-quarter points. Jackson, who completed 26 of 39 passes in the contest, hooked up with wide receiver Tyjuan Atkins Jr. for the Gorillas final score with 6:44 to play in the game. Safety Ryan Medeiros returned an interception 47 yards to the MSSU 15 yard line to set up Pitt State's final scoring opportunity.

Defensive linemen Sam Hultz and Jeremy Sharp record 2.0 quarterback sacks apiece as the Gorillas registered a season best seven sacks in the contest. Pitt State limited the Lions offense to 14 net rushing yards on 20 carries on the afternoon. The Gorillas also halted a pair of MSSU drives on downs in plus territory in the game. Hultz made a team-leading five tackles with 3.0 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Pitt State will travel to Warrensburg, Mo., to face the University of Central Missouri next Saturday (Nov. 8) at 1 p.m. at Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The Mules (4-5, 4-3 MIAA) posted a hard fought 28-24 road win over Fort Hays State University Saturday.