Northwest Missouri pulled off another miraculous playoff victory Saturday at Midwestern State, coming back from a 31-17 deficit a little less than halfway into the fourth quarter.

Kyle Kilgore's third touchdown catch of the game came in overtime and was the difference for the Bearcats.

It was Northwest Missouri's eighth win in as many years over an LSC team in the playoffs and moved the LSC to 5-15 against non-conference opponents in the playoffs since 2002.

And Pittsburg State overcame a rough start to shut down Washburn Harlon Hill finalist Dane Simoneau and move on with a 31-22 victory in the Jungle.

Now the two MIAA powerhouses collide next week in Pittsburg for a shot at the Super Region 4 title and a spot in the national semi-finals.

While neither team's victory was necessarily easy, Northwest's was particularly surprising, as Midwestern State lined up for a 27 yard field goal with just 10 seconds to play in regulation and the game tied at 31. But a stiff wind that held the two most powerful ofenses in Division II to well under their season averages, helped push the kick wide to the left and put the game in overtime.

Northwest trailed 28-17 going into halftime and the Mustangs seemed nearly unstoppable. Needing something to happen early after intermission, Bearcat QB Trevor Adams fumbled nine plays into a drive that would end up going minus-2 yards, giving MSU the ball with a chance to take a three-score lead.

But the Northwest defense held, with help from a false start penalty before a third and goal from the 1 that pushed it back to the 6. A 22-yard field goal put the Mustangs up by just 14 and the Bearcats were still breathing.

From there, the Northwest defense took over, giving up a total of just 28 yards over the next four drives (which included a missed 50-yard FG by MSU).

In the meantime, Northwest's offense wasn't doing much at first either, with their first four 2nd-half drives ending in a fumble, downs, INT and downs - this one on the MSU one-yard line.

But when the Bearcat D held, giving up only 1 yard, a short Mustang punt gave Northwest the ball at the Midwestern 27 and three players later James Franklin rushed in for a touchdown.

Northwest scored on their next drive to tie the game at 31 on Kilgore's second touchdown catch of the game.

The Mustangs finally were able to move the ball again on their last possession of regulation, but stalled inside the 10 as time was winding down and elected for the 26-yard attempt that was missed.

In Pittsburg, the Gorillas had to overcome an early deficit as well, but it didn't take them quite as long and they were the ones holding off a comeback attempt in the end.

Things got off to a horrendous start for Tim Beck's squad when they went three-and-out to open the game and a bad snap led to a safety and an early 2-0 Washburn lead.

The rest of the first quarter didn't get much better for Pitt, as they punted on their next two possessions and Washburn QB Dane Simoneau's touchdown toss to Matt Kobbeman gave the Ichabods a 9-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

That's when Pitt turned it on, scoring touchdowns in three of their four second-quarter possessions. A Zac Dickey interception returned for a Washburn toucdhdown was the Gorillas' only big mistake of the second quarter

Coming out of the break with a 21-16 lead, Pitt held Washburn to just 87 yards over the next five drives, including the only one that went anywhere, a nine-play, 62-yard drive that stalled at the Pitt three yard line.

Pitt would add a FG and a TD in the second half for a big lead and even a late Washburn touchdown (and missed EP) wasn't enough for the 'Bods.

Simoneau, one of just nine finalist for the Harlon Hill trophy finished the game just 14 for 40 for 216 yards, 2 INTs and 2 picks.

Simoneau wasn't the only Harlon Hill finalist to struggle this week. Midwestern QB Brandon Kelsey completed just 10 of 17 passes for 81 yards and a score and was held to 65 yards rushing and no touchdowns on the ground against Northwest Missouri.