PITTSBURG, Kan. — The No. 10-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas remembered one aspect of last season’s 20-16 win over cross-state rival Missouri Southern in the Miners Bowl.
They were called out for not being the more physical football team on that day.
The Gorillas seemed to have taken that personally and vowed they would not have a repeat performance Saturday against Missouri Southern at historic Carnie Smith Stadium.
Pitt State did not repeat in being the less physical team, as matter of fact, and held Missouri Southern to 76 rushing yards on 31 carries and limited the Lions to three Nick Williams field goals during a dominant 38-9 win Saturday for the unbeaten Gorillas (5-0 overall and MIAA).
“We felt like we were called out last year and our guys were determined to play a very physical football game today,” Pitt State coach Brian Wright said. “I just think the coaches put together a good plan, and the guys went out and executed. Our defense was flying around the football, and I don’t think they give up very many big plays if any throughout the course of that game. Maybe one (big) pass, but guys were stopping the run and when you make somebody one-dimensional, it’s a long afternoon on offense.”
“We knew they were a big, physical team,” redshirt senior linebacker Morgan Selemaea said. “Last year, they called us out for not being as physical as they were, but we definitely went out and showed that. It was nice to just out physical them all game, all four quarters. Just really proud of our defense, our offense, and our special teams.”
The Gorillas played a physical football game, but they managed to maintain their composure and not commit the 15-yard personal foul penalties that hampered Missouri Southern throughout the contest. The Lions were flagged for eight penalties amounting to 78 yards, while Pitt State got flagged twice for a total of 14 yards.
“We definitely knew that if we got up, tensions were going to get high on their side because we were dominating them,” Selemaea said. “We knew that we had to keep our composure, stick together, and look out for each other.”
Pitt State never trailed Saturday, led 28-3 at halftime, and did not lead by less than double digits after the first quarter.
“We put all three phases together,” Wright said. “We took advantage of good special teams, we got a turnover on the defense and capitalized on it and capitalized on a long kickoff return. I just thought all our guys came out ready to play football today.”
“Coach Wright talks about it all the time: complementary football,” graduate student linebacker P.J. Sarwinski said. “That’s exactly what we did today. The defense stepped it up in the first half, second half, and we just played a complete game. Offense stepped up when they needed, and I felt like we dominated.”
One memorable highlight for Pitt State occurred late in the first quarter when the Gorillas faced a third-and-goal at the Missouri Southern 1.
The Gorillas called on perhaps an unlikely suspect for a ball carrier in this situation — graduate student defensive lineman and former Carl Junction High School standout Zeke Wall, listed at 6-foot-1 and 276 pounds.
Wall busted in for a 1-yard TD run and the Gorillas took a 14-0 lead.
“We didn’t just draw it up,” Wright said. “We’ve been practicing that one, actually for a while, and just felt like this was the time. Defenses each week continue to overload the other side of that formation, so it was the right time to get that one in.”
“I know that he was living it up,” Selemaea said. “Always love to see a big guy score a touchdown, because offensive and defensive linemen, you’ve got to give credit to them because they don’t get much glory. To see 99 punch that thing in, it was great.”
Sophomore quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. passed for 201 yards and three scores on 12 of 19 accuracy, running back Caleb Lewis gained 84 yards on 23 carries, seven different receivers made catches and three different receivers found the end zone, Selemaea led the defense with 10 tackles and forced a fumble that would lead to a Pitt State score, and Kolbe Katsis’ 71-yard kickoff return set up another Gorillas touchdown.
The Gorillas return home in Week 6 for a clash against their archrival Northwest Missouri, ranked No. 12 and 4-1 on the season.
“It’s the big one,” Sarwinski said. “We’re looking forward to it. That’s the one we circle every year. We’re excited for the challenge that they’re going to bring here to the Jungle, and I expect a lot of people to come out and support us. We’re going to be ready.”
Meanwhile, for the Lions, Williams, a dual kicker and punter, excelled kicking the ball Saturday with field goals of 52, 24, and 42 yards, as well as seven punts averaging out to 46 yards per boot and highlighted by a 72-yard punt.
Sophomore running back and former Joplin High standout Nathan Glades, who entered Saturday coming off three straight 100-yard rushing performances, finished with 60 yards on 21 carries.
Junior linebacker and former Carthage High stalwart Colton Winder led the way Saturday with 10 tackles.
The Lions, after playing consecutive road games against Kansas schools Fort Hays and Pitt State, return home in Week 6 for their homecoming contest against Lincoln (0-5 overall and outscored 237-50 already this season).
