Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Pittsburg State Gorillas racked up 584 yards of offense and held Nebraska-Kearney scoreless in the second half to post a 52-21 victory Saturday afternoon in Kansas.
Pitt improves to 6-4 and ends 2016 with a 2-3 home record. They also beat the Lopers for a ninth straight time to grab an 11-8 all-time series lead.
For a second consecutive game, the Lopers played a strong first quarter. UNK held leads of 7-0 and 14-10 as sophomore back
Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.) had two one-yard scoring plunges. Both runs came out of the "Wild Loper" formation.
Coming into today averaging 39 points and 473 yards of offense per week, Pitt took the lead for good at the 9:55 mark of the second quarter when sophomore quarterback John Roderique tossed a 60-yard scoring strike to junior receiver Austin Panko.
Redshirt frosh Zach Sullivan had an INT and 7 stops
Roderique had a 73-yard TD pass in the first quarter to tie things up. Less than a minute after Panko's catch, senior corner Darrius White returned an interception 23 yards for six more points.
UNK turned to the "Tilt" formation once again to score its final points of the day. Quinn ran in from a yard out, capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive, with just under five minutes left in the half.
The Gorillas responded very quickly as they marched 82 yards in seven plays. Roderique finished things off with his second rushing TD of the year, a two-yard scamper, to make it 31-21 at the intermission. Pitt's opening drive of the second half also resulted in a short TD run (three yards) by Roderique.
Despite top back Michael Rose (82.3 ypg, seven TD's) not playing, Pitt churned out a season-high 308 rushing yards on 49 carries (6.3 avg.). Ten different Gorillas had at least one carry and they added short scoring runs at the end of the third and fourth quarters.
One of the top passers in the MIAA, Roderique finished 15 of 24 for 276 yards, two TD's and one INT. He also had team-highs in carries (14) and rushing yards (87).
The Gorilla defense forced UNK to punt twice in the second half as well as creating two turnovers. Overall, the Lopers were limited to 49 rushing yards on 31 carries and were sacked three times.
Redshirt freshman QB's
Steve Worthing and
Justin Roberts (Arvada, Coolo.) both saw action with Worthing getting the start. Roberts went 14 of 22 for 159 yards and one INT with Worthing (Elkhorn South H.S.) ending 8 of 12 for 120 yards and one pick.
Junior DB Justin James
Eight Lopers had a catch with Minnesota junior
Malcolm Moore the top target once again. He tallied 10 receptions for 107 yards, pushing his season catch total to 56. That places ties him for eighth on the Loper single season list.
This also is Moore's third 100-yard day of the season and the second time he's had a double digit catch total. Finally on offense, Quinn ended with 27 yards on 13 carries and now has nine of UNK's 13 rushing TD's this year.
Besides Roderqiue, Pitt saw senior back Dre Holman have 83 yards on 12 carries with senior receiver Levi Copelin tallying 106 yards and one score on four receptions.
Defensively, Loper senior
Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) had a game-high 13 tackles (five solo), pushing his career total to 587.
Next, Omaha redshirt freshman linebacker
Zach Sullivan brought back his first collegiate interception 25 yards. He joined junior corner
Justin James (Charlotte) and senior corner
Antwan Hadley (Lake Wales, Fla.) as Lopers to have seven tackles in the game.
Finally, Kearney stuffed Roderqiue on 4th & goal from the Loper one-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Sophomore end
Tye Spies (Mullen) was credited with the tackle.
UNK hosts Fort Hays State (6-4) next Saturday at 2:00 p.m. to close out the 2016 season.
UNK Single Season Receptions
1. 87 Richie Ross 2005
2. 82 Kyle Rupp 2005
3. 79 Trevor Weston 2000
4. 75 Richie Ross 2003
5. 62 Eric Myrick 2006
6. 61 Richie Ross 2004
7. 60 Omar Rogers 1991
8. 56 Malcolm Moore 2016
56 Richie Ross 2002
56 Mike Smith 1995
