Pittsburg State Downs Washburn to Advance

PITTSBURG, Kan. (PSU Media Relations) — No. 7 Pitt State dialed up a defensive gem as the Gorillas rallied from an early 9-0 deficit to defeat No. 15 Washburn, 31-22, at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday (Nov. 26).

The victory sends the MIAA champion Gorillas (10-1) into the NCAA-II quarterfinals on Dec. 3 when Pitt State will host No. 10 NW Missouri State at 1 p.m. (CST). The Bearcats (11-2) rallied from a 31-17 fourth-quarter deficit to defeat No. 2 Midwestern State, 38-31, in overtime at Wichita Falls, Texas.

Zac Dickey passed for 202 yards and a go-ahead 38-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Castaneda in the second quarter as Pitt State charged back from a 16-7 deficit. He also rushed 19 times for a game-high 94 yards in the contest.

The Pitt State defense, which surrendered 515 yards in a 43-25 home loss to Washburn on Nov. 5, limited the Ichabods to 22 net rushing yards and 238 total yards in the contest.

The Gorillas held Harlon Hill finalist Dane Simoneau in check in the contest too, holding the senior quarterback to 14-for-40 passing with two interceptions.

Washburn scored a safety 44 seconds into the game when the Gorillas snapped the ball over punter Jake Craig's head and out the back of the end zone.

Following the ensuing free kick, Washburn drove the ball 46 yards in eight plays with Simoneau hitting Matt Kobbeman for a 17-yard touchdown pass and a 9-0 lead with 10:32 to play in the opening period.

The Gorillas got on the board with 10:41 to play in the second quarter when Mandel Dixon scored on a one-yard run to cap a 51-yard drive.

The Ichabods stretched their margin back to nine points three minutes later when Bryce Atagi jumped in front of an errant pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 16-7 Washburn lead.