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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

David Lilly
Todd Gottula
14
Neb.-Kearney UNK 1-3 , 1-3
33
Winner Pittsburg St. PSU 4-0 , 4-0
Neb.-Kearney UNK
1-3 , 1-3
14
Final
33
Pittsburg St. PSU
4-0 , 4-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UNK Neb.-Kearney 0 7 0 7 14
PSU Pittsburg St. 3 0 9 21 33

Game Recap: Football |

Big Second Half Propels #3 Pitt

Kearney Neb.  - The No.3 Pittsburgh State Gorillas used a big second half to down Nebraska Kearney, 33-14, Saturday afternoon in Kansas.

The Gorillas (4-0) stop a two-game home losing streak to the Lopers (1-3) and record its 24th victory in its last 28 games. 

UNK led 7-3 at the half on the strength of strong red zone defense and a 46-yard pitch-and-catch from TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) to grad transfer receiver Severyn Foster (Lincoln SE).

First half interceptions from juniors Robert Bishop Jr. (Norco, Calif.) and David Lilly (Wahoo) kept PSU at bay but the Gorillas started the second half with a nine-play, 70-yard march that made it 7-6. Pitt added scoring drives of 83, 71 and 75 yards to retake the lead. A 10-yard scoring run with 4:25 left in the third gave Pitt its second lead of the day. 

Coming into the game, they had scored 74% of their points after the break. They tallied an even 500 yards to the Lopers 277 with a 65-yard pick six part of a 21-point fourth quarter. 

Quarterback TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) finished 12 of 26 for 164 yards, one score and three interceptions while running 12 times for a season-best 95 yards. Foster was one of nine Lopers with a catch (two) and junior receiver Cole Brown (Dallas, Ga.) had three for 20 yards.

Bishop Jr.'s pick came on a tipped ball, and he made a shoestring catch at the Loper five-yard line. That turnover came on Pitt's opening drive; their next one resulted in another red zone stop but freshman Austin Schmitt hit a 26-yard field goal.

Lilly's pick came early in the second quarter and at the Pitt 46-yard line. Three plays later, a fortuitous bounce helped Davis and Foster connect for a 46-yard score. UNK did get within 26-14 with five minutes left after driving 51 yards in four plays. Completions of 21 yards, to junior tight end Trayvon Moore (Columbus, Miss.), and 29 yards, to junior receiver Zorian Stanton (Jacksonville), set up a short scoring run by sophomore back Zane Schawang (Waverly).  

Pitt QB Chad Dodson Jr. went 19 of 26 for 180 yards, those two picks, one TD while running five times for eight yards. Backs Norah Hernandez (92), Antwan Squire (57) and Cleo Chandler Jr. (50) combined for nearly 200 yards with receiver and MIAA Player of the Week Kolbe Katsis making five grabs for 40 yards. Finally, Pitt ran 71 plays to UNK's 55 and had the ball for 15 more minutes. 

Defensively, McCook senior LB Zach Schlager had 10 tackles with Lilly and Arizona senior safety Tre O'Guinn with nine apiece.

UNK hosts Washburn (1-3) next Saturday for Homecoming. The Ichabods fell 58-28 at No. 25 Central Missouri on Saturday.
 
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