By MATT PIKE
The Northwest Missouri State University football team fell to the Pittsburgh State Gorillas at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, losing 27-14 and settling for a shared regular season MIAA title.
Despite the Bearcats outgaining the Gorillas in both rushing and passing yards, four first half fumbles were to much to overcome for Northwest.
Head Coach John McMenamin gave credit to Pittsburgh State and says they just played a better game than Northwest
"I told our guys it's a good spot to be in, what I'm saying is they walked out conference champs, they're walking in conference champs, they're going to be a playoff team and that's all we can ask for," McMenamin says in his postgame press conference. "It didn't go our way today, but I think there's some things we can fix to play, and anytime you lose four fumbles it's not a good recipe for winning."
A strong offensive drive from the Bearcats, highlighted by a 65 yard run from Quincy Torry, opened the game to lead to a quick lead for Northwest as Zechariah Owens threw a three yard touchdown pass to Erwin Nash. On the ensuing Pitt State drive, the Bearcats forced a punt, but their first fumble of the game gave the ball right back to the Gorillas, allowing them to tie up the game.
Jackson Berry threw a 14 yard touchdown pass in the front corner of the endzone to Jaelon Travis. Then, on the next drive Pittsburgh State forced Owens to fumble, and then took advantage to take the lead, Berry throwing a 78 yard touchdown pass to TyJuan Atkins Jr, despite pressure from Carter Edwards, to go ahead 14-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, the third fumble of the half gave the ball back to Pittsburgh State, Cooper Warren fumbling the kickoff, but this time the Bearcats defense stepped up to force a punt, getting the ball back into their offenses hands. Northwest though was unable to do anything with it and had to punt it right back to start the second quarter.
Northwest's special teams unit prevented the Gorillas from scoring next, Edwards blocking a 47 yard field goal attempt, but again the Bearcats were forced to punt, and after getting the ball back on a Pittsburgh State punt, the fourth fumble extended the lead more, Madixx Morriss fumbling a reception from Chris Ruhnke, and freshman Quintin Kirby taking the ball 71 yards to the house for a 21-7 lead.
Near the end of the first half, Gorillas kicker Austin Schmitt hit a 28 yard field goal. Northwest attempted to drive the field for a late score in the half, but a sack on Ruhnke would wind down the remaining time of the first half and Pittsburgh State took a 24-7 lead into the halftime break.
Northwest could never overcome the four first half fumbles, McMenamin saying there's a difference between getting your butt kicked and self sabotage.
"We contributed to much to their victory," McMenamin says. "And we needed to play more secure football and I think all our guys know that they can, and so it's picking their heads up, we'll come back to work there's a formula for it, and we put it to work today but it just didn't work out."
The third quarter flew by with both defenses holding each other scoreless, the Bearcats finally breaking back onto the scoreboard midway into the final quarter with a five yard pass from Ruhnke to Gannon Gragert, just Gragert's second touchdown catch of the season. But, it was to little, to late, Pitt State consuming almost five minutes of clock, with Schmitt hitting a 30 yard field goal to seal the game.
Ruhnke was 20 for 30 through the air for 202 yards with one touchdown, adding 35 rushing yards. Owens was a perfect 5 for 5 with one touchdown pass and 40 yards through the air, running for 13 yards. Torry rushed eight times for 101 yards. Nash had seven catches for 81 yards and a score.
Northwest finishes the regular season 9-2, 8-1 in the MIAA. They'll now turn their attention to the playoffs with the NCAA DII Selection Show coming up on Sunday at 5pm.
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