By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State became the third MIAA school to complete a perfect regular season since the 11 conference-game model was adopted in 2014, joining Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State, by topping Fort Hays State 35-14 on Saturday (Nov. 12). The Gorillas moved to 11-0 and prepare for the NCAA playoffs, while the Tigers finished their season at 3-8.
Fort Hays State produced the first score with a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Jack Dawson scrambled along the right sideline and dove for the pylon on a 10-yard run, putting the Tigers up 7-0 after a 12-play, 67-yard drive. The Gorillas responded with a 12-play drive of their own, going 59 yards to pick up a 2-yard touchdown run by Caleb Lewis. Both drives chewed up over 12 total minutes on the clock and the score was knotted at 7-7 after one quarter.
Pittsburg State took the lead early in the second quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Chad Dodson Jr. to Kolbe Katsis. But that was all the scoring for either team in the frame as the Gorillas held a 14-7 advantage at halftime.
The Gorillas widened their lead in the third quarter by scoring a pair of touchdowns and holding the Tigers without a first down and just eight yards of total offense. Antwan Squire had a two-yard touchdown run and Dodson Jr. found Jamahl Horne on a 7-yard pass for the other score.
The Gorillas went on to score its fifth touchdown without an answer from the Tigers on a 1-yard run by Cleo Chandler Jr. early in the fourth quarter. The Tigers finally snapped the scoring string by the Gorillas when Ethan Forrester scampered in from 12 yards out with 8:08 to go in the game, producing the final margin of 35-14.
Ethan Forrester notched 192 yards of total offense in the game for FHSU, throwing for 142 yards and running for 50. Jack Dawson was a perfect 6-of-6 throwing the ball for 37 yards and ran for 28. Cale Cormaney led the Tigers in receiving yards with 48 on two catches, while Dawson Brown II had a team-high six receptions for 38 yards. Makel Williams led the Tiger defense with 12 tackles, followed by Trevion Mitchell with 10.
Dodson threw for 171 yards for the Gorillas. Katsis had a team-high 52 receiving yards and Chandler had a team-high 55 rushing yards. P.J. Swarinski