Sept. 11, 2004
Truman Football Can't Keep Up With Fourth-Ranked Pittsburg State In A 77-7 Loss
Coming into this weekís football game against Truman, Pittsburg State had lost just five regular season home contests over the last 19 years. Saturday evening would not be number six. The fourth-ranked Gorillas (3-0, 1-0 MIAA) jumped out to a 35-0 second-quarter lead on their way to a 77-7 win over the Bulldogs (0-3, 0-1 MIAA).
Turnovers and an unstoppable Pittsburg State offense led to the Gorillas taking control of the game early as they led 21-0 after one quarter and 56-7 at half. Pittsburg State scored touchdowns on every first-half possession, facing third-down just two times and fourth-down once.
The Gorillas recorded 446 total yards of offense in the first-half, averaging 15.9 yards a play. Pittsburg State gained 250 yards rushing on 14 carries and passed for just under 200 yards.
Truman helped Pittsburg State out with four first-half turnovers, including an interception that was returned for a 49-yard touchdown by Josh Lattimer, the third interception touchdown return against the Bulldogs in the last two weeks.
The Bulldogs had some success moving the ball in the first-half, gaining 213 yards of total offense, almost all of it through the air. In the second-quarter, after a 15-yard penalty following a Gorilla touchdown, Truman got good field position at their 49-yard line. Jake Czeschin then engineered a five-play, 51-yard drive, capping it off with a seven-yard pass to James Walton. Walton also had the big play on the drive with a 35-yard reception on a third-and-11 which took the ball down to the Pittsburg State 17-yard line.
Pittsburg State added three more touchdowns in the final half, leading to its largest margin of victory ever over Truman. The Gorillas ended the game with 718 yards of total offense, with 428 coming on the ground and 290 in the air. The Bulldogs recorded just 72 yards of offense in the third and fourth quarters, as they mostly stuck to a ground attack.
Czeschin completed 18-of-31 passes for 177 yards and he had one interception and one touchdown. Jeff Amundson led the team with six receptions for 55 yards and Walton led the team in receiving yards with 58, on five catches. Max Pott was the top rusher with 49 yards on 14 carries.
Andy Majors led Pittsburg State. The quarterback threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 127 yards and four scores. Mike Ward was the teamís top receiver with four catches for 91 yards.
Game Notes: Pittsburg State has now won 17 straight over the Bulldogs, a streak that extends to when the Gorillas joined the MIAA in 1989 ... the Gorillas were the second-straight top-20 team Truman has faced ... the game was the MIAA opener for both teams ... Truman has now lost four consecutive MIAA openers, while the Gorillas have won four straight ... Truman returns to Stokes Stadium next weekend for its MIAA home opener, a 1:30 p.m. game against Washburn.