EDMOND, Okla. – The Pittsburg State University football team dropped a 27-24 road decision against the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Sept. 6) in an NCAA Division II top 25 battle at Chad Richison Stadium.

The Gorillas (0-2, 0-1 MIAA) overcame an early 14-0 deficit to battle back into the contest. Pitt State eventually knotted the game at 24-24 with 2:24 to play in the third quarter on Jackson Berry's 16-yard touchdown scamper and subsequent 2-point conversion pass to wide receiver Kuron Parchmon.

UCO (1-1, 1-0 MIAA) countered with a quick eight-play, 30-yard drive with Joseph Kim booting a 37-yard field goal for a 27-24 advantage with 14:50 to play in the game.

The No. 13 ranked Gorillas put together a 14-play, 48-yard drive on their final possession of the game. Pitt State drove to the UCO 9 yard line, but the Bronchos defense stiffened and forced the Gorillas to attempt a potential game-tying 30-yard field goal three plays later. Austin Schmitt's kick ultimately sailed wide left with 23 ticks remaining in the game to allow the No. 19 ranked Bronchos to escape with the win.

Berry completed 23 of 38 passes for 234 yards in the contest. He tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass to Parchmon with 50 seconds left in the second quarter. Berry also rushed 10 times for 40 net yards. Parchmon made six receptions for a game-high 103 yards in the contest.

Jahkobie Smith rushed the ball 11 times for 45 yards, while Parchmon also added a 46-yard run. The Gorillas finished the game with 209 yards on the ground and 443 total yards.

UCO back-up quarterback Clayton Creasey rushed for a score while relieving starter Jett Huff. Huff was knocked from the game following an interception by Pitt State's Jordan Rogers with 1:59 to play in the first quarter. Rogers fumbled the ball following the interception deep in Pitt State territory and UCO offensive lineman Montriel Lee recovered the loose ball for a touchdown.

Rogers posted a team-leading six tackles to go along with his interception. James Smith made a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage including a quarterback sack.

UCO, the defending MIAA champion, snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series against the Gorillas. The Bronchos, preseason ranked No. 5 nationally, also atoned for a 34-14 road loss against the University of Texas Permian Basin last Saturday (Aug. 30).

The Gorillas, who dropped a 34-17 road decision against No. 1 ranked Ferris State University in the season opener on Aug. 28, will return home to Carnie Smith Stadium to face No. 3 ranked Grand Valley State University next Saturday (Sept. 13) at 4 p.m. The Lakers posted a 48-36 win over Black Hills State University Saturday.