It's not unusual for a couple of possessions to determine the outcome of the game. What doesn't happen very often, though, is 3 touchdowns in a 2-and-a-half minute span without the other team ever taking a snap on offense.

With the help of Pitt State K Connor Frazzell's short, high kicks in the second quarter of their homecoming date in Maryville, that's exactly what happened and the No. 15 Gorillas spoiled Northwest Missouri's homecoming party, knocking off top-ranked Northwest Missouri 35-17.

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Pittsburg State (6-1) had taken a 14-0 lead with 13:33 to play in the second frame on a 25-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Ramsey Hamilton to Marquise Cushon. Frazzell, who had already attempted a successful onside kick that was negated by a penalty after Pitt's first score, booted this one high to about the 30 yard line, where it bounced into the air and was recovered by the Gorillas.

PSU needed just 3 plays and 37 seconds to go the 37 yards for a 21-0 lead on a short screen from Anthony Abenoja to Jamal Tyler that went 24 yards to paydirt with just under 13 minutes to play in the second quarter.

Frazzell wasn't done yet. His next kick was shorter, not even to midfield, and hit Northwest safety Dylan Chadwick in the chest, but he couldn't hold onto the ball and it popped into Pitt's hands. Five plays and just over 2 minutes later, Abenoja hit Gavin Lutman from 11 yards out for a 28-0 second quarter lead.

Northwest (6-1) was stunned, as was the Bearcat Stadium record crowd of 11,002. The Bearcats did what they could to get back into the game before halftime, scoring on their next two drives - with S Jared Fox's 1st of 3 INTs sandwiched in between - to close to within 28-10 at halftime.

Time for Northwest to adjust, and put it on in the third quarter - where they had outscored their opponents 71-0 coming into the game - right?

Wrong. The Bearcats were even worse in the third quarter; Well, both teams were awful coming out of halftime, with third-quarter drives ending in a missed FG attempt by Pitt, a scoop-and-score that gave Pitt a 35-10 lead, 2 INTs, 2 turnovers on downs, 2 three-play, 0-yard drives and another fumble.

Neither offense ever got anything going in the 2nd half, with the scoop-and-score being the only addition to the score until Northwest added a garbage-time touchdown with just under 2 minutes to play in the game.

Abenoja ended the day 19 of 38 for 318 yards, 3 TDs and the 3 INTs to Fox. He picked apart the Northwest secondary in the first half, with his numbers taking a hit after the break. Lutman, fresh off his record-setting receiving day against Emporia, had another outstanding game, grabbing 6 balls for 134 yards and the score.

But the story was the Pitt State defense. The Gorillas held the MIAA's best offense (scoring and total) coming into the game to their lowest outputs of the season in both and, though they got a little help from slop by Northwest, made them look bad in doing so.

OTHER MIAA ACTION

Maryville wasn't the only place hosting a huge homecoming game on Saturday. Central Missouri welcomed No. 22 Central Oklahoma to town, and put an abrupt halt to UCO's surprising rise to playoff contenders. The Mules led 14-3 at halftime and 38-6 in the fourth quarter before allowing 2 late scores for a 31-19 final.

UCM running back LaVance Taylor had another succcesful day in his campaign of MIAA Offensive Player of the Year, rushing the ball 21 times for 228 yards and 2 scores - scampers of 10 and 80 yards. Taylor now has 1,002 yards on the ground this season, 230 more than second-place Raphael Spencer of Missouri Western.

UCO's big 3 - QB Chas Stallard, RB Jake Gandara and WR Marquez Clark all had good days, but Stallard threw 3 INTs in or near the Central Missouri red zone to stop potential scoring drives.

The Mules kept their own faint playoff hopes alive - bare with me here, more on that coming up - and moved into a 3-way tie with UCO and Missouri Western for 3rd place in the MIAA.

Yep, Missouri Western, who still can't convert a third-down to save their lives - the Griffons came into the day last in the MIAA in 3rd down conversions and went just 4 of 14 on Saturday - are still holding onto their own tiny playoff hopes after blasting Washburn 40-14 in Topeka. MoWest forced 5 turnovers on the Ichabods' first 7 drives - the other 2 were 3-and-outs that totaled 11 yards - en route to a 34-0 halftime lead.

Fort Hays State moved back above .500 when they held off a furious comeback attempt from Emporia State - who was also holding their homecoming festivities - knocking off the Hornets 24-21.

Hays (4-3) jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, but their offense fizzled from there. ESU QB Ty Reasnor, playing for an injured Brent Wilson - went out near the end of the first half with his own injury and true freshman Braxton Marstall did all he could to bring Emporia (3-4) back, but a late INT sealed the Tiger victory.

Missouri Southern picked up its third win of the season, knocking off still-winless (0-7) Northeastern State 34-7 in the MIAA TV game of the week. Southern (3-4) trailed 7-0 after the first quarter, but tied it by halftime and scored another 27 unanswered to close the game. Lions RB Giresse Forchu led the way with 134 yards and a TD. He is tied with UCM's Taylor for the MIAA lead with 11 rushing TDs on the season.

Nebraska-Kearney picked up its second consecutive win with a 31-13 victory over Lindenwood. Loper QB Bronson Marsh had 3 rushing TDs, after 4 last week, and 112 yards on the ground. RB Cotton Romero also finished the day with 112 rushing yards. Lindenwood (1-6) lost its 6th straight game after opening the season with a win over Washburn.

Coach Darrell Morris picked up his 100th career victory in his victory at UNK (2-5). Morris won 92 games in his first 12 years at the helm in Kearney (an average of 7+ per season), but it's taken him the better part of 3 years to pick up his last 8 since joining the MIAA in 2012.

Saturday's attendance:

Pitt @ NWMSU: 11,002
UCO @ UCM 9,783
NSU @ MSSU 5,517
FHSU @ ESU 5,004
MWSU @ WU 4,872
LWOOD @ UNK 3,200