Alex Eller
ellerag@lopers.unk.edu
The big-play ability of Pitt State proved to be too much for UNK September 28 at Cope Field. A seventeen-point second quarter propelled the No.18 Gorillas to a 37-14 victory. Things looked promising for UNK to start the game. Senior linebacker Rakid Hill stepped in front of a pass by Pitt State’s Mak Sexton and intercepted the ball at midfield. A 39-yard pass on 3rd and 9 by senior quarterback Alex McGinnis to senior running back Luke Quinn set the Lopers up in the red zone. Two plays later McGinnis was able to scramble into the end zone from a yard out to put UNK up 7-0.
The Gorillas responded, with a long thirteen play drive, that resulted in a 20-yard Jared Vincent field goal.
On their next possession, the Lopers went three and out. A punt of only 14 yards and a holding call set Pitt State up on UNK’s side of the field at the 35-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Gorilla quarterback Matt Harman completed a pass to KiAnte Hardin for a touchdown. After the extra point, Pitt State led 10-7.
A demoralized Loper squad couldn’t respond to losing the lead.
On the Gorillas first drive of the second quarter, they ran four plays and gained 53 yards. It was capped off by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Sexton to Bryce Murphey to make the score 17-7. After UNK ran three plays and gained no yards, Pitt State got the ball at their 32-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Brandon Mlekus became the third different Gorilla quarterback to throw a touchdown, when he connected with Lorenzo West for a 68-yard touchdown.
A 23-yard field goal by Vincent on the ensuing possession for Pitt State put them up 27-7.
With the ball on their own 22, the Lopers went to the ground to find success. It worked as quarterback TJ Davis, and running backs Dayton Sealey and Darrius Webb helped moved the ball inside the Gorilla’s ten-yard line. A nine-yard touchdown run up the middle by Quinn, cut UNK’s deficit to 27-14 at halftime. In the second half, UNK struggled to find its way on the ground or through the air. They only produced 46 yards of offense all together. Pitt State tacked on ten more point’s and coasted the rest of the way.
The Lopers are home again Oct.5 at 2 p.m. for homecoming against Northeastern State (0-4). The game will be broadcast on 91.1 KLPR.