KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Pittsburg State University football team scored 24 unanswered first-half points and held off Northwest Missouri State University in the second half for a 27-14 victory Saturday (Nov. 15).
 
The Gorillas (9-2, 8-1 MIAA) captured a share of the 2025 MIAA Championship with the victory over the Bearcats (9-2, 8-1 MIAA) in front of 12,264 fans at Children's Mercy Park, home of Sporting KC of the Major Soccer League.
 
The Gorillas won a share of their third MIAA title in the last four seasons (2022, 2023, 2025). It marks the program's 15^th all-time MIAA crown since joining the conference in 1989.
 
The opportunistic Pitt State defense forced four fumbles in the first half and turned those takeaways into 21 points, after falling behind 7-0 four minutes into the game.
 
Quarterback Jackson Berry tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jaelon Travis to knot the score at 7-7 with 6:20 to play in the initial quarter. The five-pay, 47-yard drive was set by senior cornerback Kristian Cross forcing and recovering a fumble.
 
Berry struck again for a deep scoring strike to wide receiver Tyjuan Atkins Jr. four minutes later, at the 2:08 mark of the first quarter, to stake the Gorillas to a 14-7 lead. That scoring drive was set up by redshirt freshman defensive lineman's Osahon Ogbeveon's strip sack on NWMSU quarterback Chris Ruhnke that was recovered by redshirt freshman defensive end Elijah Morton.
 
Freshman safety Quintin Kirby delivered another dagger to the Bearcats at the 4:31 mark of the second quarter. Kirby picked up a ball that was displaced from wide receiver Madixx Morris by senior linebacker Steven Ward II at the PSU 29 yard line; and Kirby returned it 71 yards for a touchdown and a 21-7 advantage.
 
The Gorillas forced a three-and-out possession by Northwest and tacked on a 28-yard field goal by junior placekicker Austin Schmitt with 32 ticks remaining before the intermission.
 
Neither team scored in a defense heavy third period.
 
The Bearcats broke their scoreless drought on Ruhnke's five-yard scoring pass to tight end Gannon Gragert with 7:46 to play in the fourth quarter, but the Gorillas countered with a 10-play, 78-yard drive capped by Schmitt's 30-yard field goal to effectively seal the victory.
 
Berry completed 13 of 29 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, while redshirt junior running back Zahmari Palode-Gary rushed the ball 18 times for 109 yards. Redshirt junior wide receiver Kuron Parchmon made four receptions for 75 yards to go along with Atkins' 78-yard scoring haul.
 
Redshirt freshman linebacker Blake Carr posted a team-leading 10 tackles, including three stops behind the line of scrimmage.