GORILLAS ONE STEP CLOSER TO TITLE

October 30, 2004 #1 Pitt State Bucks Mules, 47-27, to Set Up MIAA Title Showdown PITTSBURG -- Germaine Race rushed 23 times for a career-high 231 yards and three touchdowns to lead top-ranked Pittsburg State University to a 47-27 victory over Central Missouri State University Saturday (Oct. 30) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. The win, coupled with NWMSU`s 34-22 victory over SBU Saturday, creates a battle of unbeatens between the Gorillas (10-0, 8-0 MIAA) and Bearcats (10-0, 8-0 MIAA) in next Saturday`s Fall Classic at Arrowhead III. The game, which will decide the MIAA crown, will feature the first meeting of unbeatens in a regular season finale in Division II history. On Saturday, the Gorillas jumped out to a 7-0 lead by scoring on their opening offense series for the ninth time in 10 games. Harlon Hill Trophy hopeful Neal Philpot hit Jermaine Carpenter on a 69-yard touchdown strike for the early lead with 11:54 to play in the first period. The Mules (6-4, 4-4 MIAA) became the first team this season to score first-quarter points on the Gorillas, tieing the score at 7-7 on a three-yard run by Kegan Coleman at the 4:36 mark. Pitt State remained tied with CMSU for exactly 16 seconds, before Race, a Warrensburg, Mo., native, exploded for a 73-yard TD run. The Gorillas tacked on a 36-yard field goal by Nathan Alleman, who finished the game with 11 points to set PSU`s single-season kick scoring record with 100 total points, at the 13:29 mark of the second quarter. CMSU closed to 14-10 on Brandon Starks` 42-yard field goal, but Race gave the Gorillas a 24-10 halftime advantage with a 10-yard TD run with 4:11 to play in the second quarter. Philpot was held out of PSU`s lineup in the second half after suffering an ankle injury on the last play of the first half. He rushed 12 times for 68 yards and completed 4 of 9 passes for 91 yards in the first-half action. No. 2 quarterback Andy Majors guided the Gorillas to a quick score to open the third period. Race capped the drive with a 1-yard run to make it a 31-10 PSU lead, but CMSU`s Delanie Walker returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to narrow the margin to 31-17 at the 11:33 mark of the third period. Majors and the Gorillas responded again -- this time with a nine-play, 65-yard drive capped by a one-yard plunge by Majors. Alleman extended the margin to 41-17 when he booted a 19-yard field goal with 11:52 to play in the game. The Mules capitalized on a PSU fumble on its own three yard line to punch in a score with Coleman scoring from one yard out with 7:14 remaining. Lee Thompson then caught a 2-point conversion pass from back-up quarterback Mike Spiegel. Majors scored a final time on a three-yard run with 5:11 to play, but CMSU`s John McPherson returned a fumbled conversion attempt for a defensive score to reach the final 47-27 margin. The Gorillas, who compiled 640 yards of total offense, ended the game by taking a knee at the CMSU three, after getting a first-and-goal play at the CMSU 1 in the game`s final half minute. Josh Lattimer was credited with a team-leading 12 tackles in the game for the Gorillas, while Chad Miller had 11 stops, including two TFLs and a pass breakup. Courtesy: PSU Sports Information