Area college football highlights: Emporia State pulls upset at Pittsburg State

Action-packed small-college football games were once again the rule across and beyond the Kansas City metro Saturday.

Here’s a rundown of highlights from the weekend:

No. 21 Emporia State 24, No. 4 Pittsburg State 21: The Gorillas scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but they were not enough for Pitt State (ranked fourth in Division-II poll) in the home loss. The Hornets improved to 3-0, while the Gorillas dropped to 2-1. Pitt State QB Chad Dodson Jr. threw for 345 yards with two TDs, but he was picked off three times. Cade Stephenson had two of those interceptions for the Hornets.

Central Oklahoma 57, Central Missouri 40: It was a shootout in Edmond, Oklahoma, and Central Oklahoma was the victor. Central Missouri quarterback Zach Zebrowski passed for six TDs. He completed 27 of 55 passes for 437 yards and one interception. He was sacked six times.

MidAmerica Nazarene 53, Peru State (Neb.) 6: The Pioneers scored 50 points in the first half of the home win in Olathe. Adrian Parsons passed for 267 yards with five TDs, including a 77-yarder to Aiyo’n Carter. Carter caught four balls for 131 yards with two touchdowns. Peru State had 188 yards worth of penalties (14).

Missouri Western 35, Missouri Southern 27: The Griffons built a 21-7 halftime lead and were able to hold on for the home victory up in St. Joseph. Missouri Western’s Brandon Hall — who played in high school at North Kansas City — carried the rock 22 times for 169 yards and got into the end zone twice. Lions quarterback Luke Sampson passed for 304 yards with two TDs.

Missouri State 28, Lindenwood 14: In their third game of the season, this one at home in Springfield, the Bears picked up the first win on the year. Missouri State quarterback Jacob Clark completed 28 of 33 passes for 302 yards with two TDs. Bears runner Jacardia Wright rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries with two TDs of his own.

Northwest Missouri State 32, Fort Hays State 20: The Bearcats were at home in Maryville and earned their first victory on the season, improving to 1-2. Northwest Missouri outgained Fort Hays 411 yards to 245. Bearcats QB Chris Ruhne threw for 273 yards with two TDs but also two interceptions.

William Jewell 23, Kentucky Wesleyan 16: The Cardinals came through with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and pulled out the road win in Owensboro, Kentucky. Keaundre McCullough rushed for two TDs, with 89 yards on 22 carries. Jewell improved to 2-0 on the season. Javion Macias and Justin Endicott each had two sacks for William Jewell.

Baker 42, William Penn 21: The Baker defense completely locked down the run game, holding William Penn to 11 yards on 20 carries in the victory at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Baker QB Truman Julesgaard connected on 22 of 28 passes for 261 yards with four TDs. Julesgaard also ran for 86 yards on 14 carries.

Colorado School of Mines 31, Washburn 28: The Ichabods got to the scoreboard first in Topeka when quarterback Hayden Clark and Tre Richardson hooked up on an 85-yard pass play for a TD, but Washburn dropped to 0-2 on the season. The Ichabods host the Pittsburg State Gorillas next weekend.

Friends 56, Avila 10: Friends dominated the game at Avila with its running attack. Friends rushed for 594 yards (on 58 carries) to Avila’s minus-30 yards.

Grand View (Iowa) 52, Benedictine 28: The Ravens lost for the first time this season as Grand View put together 549 yards of total offense. Benedictine’s Jacob Gathright caught seven passes for 123 yards.

Bethel 27, Ottawa 24: Ottawa fell to 0-3 with the home loss. The Braves put together a 10-play, 66-yard TD drive in the fourth quarter that knotted this one up 21-21. Bethel, though, scored a TD to Ottawa’s field goal in overtime. Braves QB Taylor Eggers threw for 140 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 70 yards with two TDs.

McPherson 38, Saint Mary 10: The Spires fell into a 28-0 halftime deficit but played McPherson even from there in the loss in Leavenworth. Saint Mary quarterback Cesar Vela completed passes to eight different receivers and finished with 217 yards passing with a touchdown.

McKendree 34, Lincoln 19: Jareese Howard rushed for 111 yards on ten carries for Lincoln in the loss in Jefferson City. Howard had an 86-yard touchdown run.