See how Kansas City-area college football teams fared in Saturday’s playoff games
The Pittsburg State football team held a 21-14 lead with about five minutes remaining in Saturday afternoon’s NCAA Div. II second-round football game at Grand Valley State.
But the hosts scored 10 points in the waning moments at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Michigan, hitting a field goal to make it 21-17, then scoring the go-ahead touchdown with just 35 seconds left en route to a 24-21 playoff victory.
Pitt State’s Chad Dodson Jr. threw a pair of touchdown passes but was picked off twice and sacked twice.
Tariq Reid rushed for two touchdowns, netting 65 yards on 18 carries, for Grand Valley State. The Lakers, who compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, improve to 11-1 and will play in the tournament’s next round in one week.
The Gorillas’ season ends at 11-2.
In other Saturday playoff games:
Georgetown 42, Baker 21: Baker ran into a season-ending buzz saw at Georgetown, Kentucky.
The host Tigers dominated the teams’ NAIA Championship Series second-round playoff game at Toyota Stadium. Running back Darius Neal rushed for a pair of first-half TDs, including one that covered 87 yards, and added a third in the second half. He finished with 188 yards on just eight carries.
Georgetown led 35-0 at halftime. The Wildcats (9-3) found some rhythm in the third quarter, with QB Truman Juelsgaard tossing a 4-yard TD pass to Gavin Greenwood and scoring a second time on a keeper, but it wasn’t enough. The Wildcats scored their final points in the fourth quarter when Zac Kramer forced a fumble by ball-carrier Reese Johnson and Baker teammate Jalen Nash returned it 23 yards to the end zone.
Central Missouri at Harding: UCM hit the road to Searcy, Arkansas for this Div. II second-round game. The 11-1 Mules, the No. 6-ranked MIAA co-champions, played at No. 3-ranked and Super Region III top seed Harding (11-0).
UCM boasted the country’s top-ranked passing offense, led by Harlon Hill candidate QB Zach Zebrowski, who led all of Div. II in passing yards (4,732), passing TDs (56) and total offense (430.9 ypg). Mules teammate Arkell Smith led Div. II in receiving yards (1,275).
Evangel at Bethel: These teams played an NAIA Championship Series second-round game on Saturday at Wildcat Stadium in McKenzie, Tennessee.
The Valor entered the game unbeaten at 11-0. The host Wildcats were 10-1.
