SEASON OVER

Lamberson Leads NWMSU Past Pitt State, 21-10, into NCAA-II Semifinals PITTSBURG -- Josh Lamberson completed 20 of 23 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, including the a game-breaking 57-yard scoring strike to tight end Mike Peterson with 8:57 to play in the game, lifting Northwest Missouri State University to a 21-10 win over Pittsburg State University in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. The Bearcats (10-3), the No. 6 seed in the Southwest Region, claimed their third straight playoff road win to advance to the national semifinals for the first time since 1999, when NWMSU claimed the second of two straight NCAA-II National Championships. NWMSU will face the the University of North Alabama next Saturday (Dec. 3). The Lions, the No. 6 seed in the Southeast, claimed a 41-38 overtime win over the University of Central Arkansas at Conway, Ark., Saturday. The semifinal host site will be announced later tonight by the NCAA. Pitt State, the 2004 NCAA-II National Runner-up, finished its season with a 10-4 record. With 2005 Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Germaine Race sidelined with hamstring injuries to both legs, the NWMSU defense limited Pitt States rushing attack to just 82 net yards, on 30 carries. Race, a junior tailback, shredded the Bearcats for 180 yards and two TDs on 23 carries in the Gorillas 56-35 regular-season win over NWMSU at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Oct. 29. NWMSU jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead on Pitt State. The Bearcats scored on their first possession of the game, driving 87 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead on Daren Roberts 1-yard plunge. The Gorillas pulled within four points, at 7-3, when Nathan Alleman booted a career-long 51-yard field goal with 11:57 to play in the second quarter, but Lamberson stretched the Bearcats margin back to 14-3 when he connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rector with 5:34 remaining before halftime. Pitt State got back into the game in the third quarter. After the Gorillas held the Bearcats on their first possession of the second half, Pitt State got the ball at the NWMSU 44 following a short punt. Five plays later, quarterback Andy Majors hooked up with tight end Brandon Twito for a 28-yard touchdown pass, trimming the margin to 14-10 with 9:15 to play in the period. The Gorillas got the ball back, after holding NWMSU on downs following a fake punt at the PSU 33. PSU drove the ball to the NWMSU 7, before Majors was intercepted in the end zone on a third-down play on the final play of the period. Pitt State penetrated NWMSU territory on two of its next three series, but both drives ended with interceptions. Brandon Pratt intercepted a Majors pass at the NWMSU 39 with 9:13 to play in the game, and the turnover led to the Bearcats game-clinching score two plays later. Majors tried to rally the Gorillas with 5:25 to play, leading Pitt State to the NWMSU 20, but his attempted screen pass was intercepted by defensive end Ryan Waters in the PSU backfield. The Bearcats effectively ran out the clock, before relinquishing the ball, following a pair of first downs, with 20 seconds to go. Majors completed 20 of 34 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown, but was victimized by four interceptions in the game. He also rushed 12 times for 19 yards. Justin Bean carried the ball 13 times for a team-high 52 yards. Xavier Omon rushed 29 times for a game-high 152 yards for the Bearcats. Peterson finished the game with six catches for 106 yards. Courtesy: PSU Sports Information