DREAM TURNS INTO NIGHTMARE FOR GORILLAS

December 11, 2004 HEARTBREAK: #1 Pitt State Falls to #3 Valdosta State, 36-31, in Title Game FLORENCE, Ala. -- The Pittsburg State University football team`s bid for the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship and a perfect season came up short Saturday (Dec. 11) when the top-ranked Gorillas dropped a 36-31 decision to third-ranked Valdosta State University at Braly Municipal Stadium at Florence, Ala. The Gorillas (14-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead just seven minutes into the contest, but Pitt State couldn`t hold off the Blazers offense down the stretch. Valdosta State (13-1), which captured its first-ever national championship, rallied to tie the score at 17-17 in the waning seconds of the first half, then pushed in front early in the third period to force the Gorillas to play from behind. A low snap on a punt from the end zone gave VSU a 19-17 lead when PSU`s Andy Majors was tackled for a safety. The Blazers stretched their margin to 26-17 with 8:14 remaining in the third period when Tyran Robinson capped a seven-play, 72-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown run. The Gorillas countered with a score, closing to 26-24 on Joe Taylor`s one-yard run with 2:58 remaining in the third period, but VSU replied with a seven-yard pass from Fabian Walker to Raymond Thomas at the 14:15 mark of the fourth quarter. VSU then capitalized on a Majors fumble at the PSU 31, cashing the turnover into three points, and a 36-24 lead, on Will Rhody`s 28 yard field goal. Pitt State tried to rally from the double digit deficit. The Gorillas drove the field with Neal Philpot scoring on a one-yard run to make it a 36-31 game with 7:27 remaining in the contest. The Blazers used a trick play to keep the PSU offense on the sideline until the final two minutes. VSU drove to the PSU 44 and faced a 4th-and-5 play from there, but the Blazers snapped the ball to upback Fred Dunn, who gained six yards on the play to keep the drive alive. VSU ran three more plays before finally punting the ball to the PSU 14 with 1:51 left in the game. Majors tried to engineer a game-winning drive. After being sacked back to the PSU 4, he completed a 25-yard pass to Tim Austin. Three plays later, VSU`s Terrence Bell, who had an interception of Philpot late in the first quarter, sealed the win for the Blazers by intercepting an errant throw and returning it to the PSU 19. The Blazers, who limited the Gorillas to a season-low 163 yards rushing and 371 total yards, ran out the clock to claim the victory. Courtesy: PSU Sports Information