PITTSBURG, Kan. – Pittsburg State converted a field goal with three seconds remaining to post a 41-38 victory over the University of Central Missouri Mules Football Team on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Carnie Smith Stadium.
The Mules (6-4, 5-3 MIAA) are scheduled to conclude their 2026 regular season schedule with a home game against Nebraska Kearney on Saturday, Nov. 14, at noon at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field in Warrensburg.
Quarterback
Jordan Pachot went 46-of-60 for 441 yards with three touchdowns, and added two rushing TDs for five touchdowns on the day, while
DJ Brown rushed for 127 yards on 23 carries,
Jack Pospisil tallied 119 yards on 14 catches with one touchdown, and
Armand Russell compiled 111 receiving yards on four catches with a touchdown, leading UCM.
UCM got on the scoreboard first when
Will Peacock converted a 23-yard field goal with 6:28 remaining in the first quarter before the Gorillas evened the contest, 3-3, with a 22-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter.
The Mules went in front, 10-3, with 7:14 to go in the second quarter after Pachot found Russell on a 61-yard touchdown pass. Central Missouri upped its advantage to 17-3 with just over a minute to go in the first half when Pachot completed a 25-yard pass to Russell, before taking the ball into the end zone himself for the five-yard rushing touchdown.
Central Missouri went into halftime with a 17-3 advantage.
The Gorillas immediately answered, however, and scored 21 straight points to take a 24-17 lead after a touchdown with 8:49 on the clock in the third quarter.
UCM responded, though, and knotted the game, 24-24, when Pachot scampered into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown of the game with 3:32 to go. The Mules went back in front, 31-24, after Pospisil reeled in a 41-yard pass from Pachot for the touchdown with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Pittsburg State didn't go away and tied the game, 31-31, at the start of the fourth quarter with a touchdown.
The Gorillas had first-and-goal at the seven-yard line when
Steven Richardson picked off the pass in the end zone for an interception, keeping the game tied with 10 minutes on the clock and giving the football back to the Mules.
UCM went back in front, 38-31, when
Jake Weber hauled in Pachot's third touchdown pass of the game, a 12-yard strike with 4:12 remaining in the quarter. Pitt State, once again, had a response, tying the game 38-38 with a TD at the two-minute mark.
After Pittsburg State forced a UCM punt, the Gorillas drove down the field and were able to convert the game-winning 32-yard field goal.
For the game, Central Missouri outgained Pittsburg State (4-6, 4-4 MIAA), 609 yards to 504 yards, including a 441-348 passing and 168-156 rushing advantage. The Mules also had 33 first downs compared to 21 for the Gorillas.
Â
