September 13th, 2025 5:30pm
No. 16 Pitt State outlast No. 5 Grand Valley State by a final score of 17-14 on Saturday night. The win snaps a tough two-game losing streak to open the season for the Gorillas. All three of their opponents have been ranked teams at the time of the contest. The Gorillas' defense limited Grand Valley State to just 206 total yards, with 56 on the ground and 150 through the air. For the Pitt State offense, Jackson Berry completed 24 of 34 attempts for 249 yards and a touchdown.
From Pitt State sports information
PITTSBURG – Zahmari Palode-Gary scored the go-ahead touchdown with 9:39 to play in the game and the Pittsburg State University defense held No. 3 Grand Valley State University scoreless down the stretch to secure a hard fought 17-14 victory at Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Sept. 13).
The No. 24 ranked Gorillas secured their first win of the season after dropping a pair of nationally-ranked battled against No. 1 Ferris State University and No. 19 University of Central Oklahoma the first two weeks of the season.
Pitt State (1-2) outgained GVSU (2-1) by 153 yards in the game and the Gorillas controlled 36+ minutes of time of possession. Pitt State built a 10-0 in the first half, while limiting the Lakers to 16 net rushing yards and 69 total yards in the first 30 minutes of action.
Placekicker Austin Schmitt booted a career best 53-yard field goal to break a scoreless tie with 12:06 to play in the second quarter. The Gorillas extended their margin to double digits when quarterback Jackson Berry connected with wide receiver Kuron Parchmon on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 remaining before the intermission. Parchmon's TD grab came one play after GVSU was flagged for an offsides penalty on a 4th-and-4 play from the Lakers 22 yard line.
Pitt State had a chance to extend its lead to 17-0 in the third quarter but GVSU's Jamari Buddin stripped the ball from Gorillas wildcat quarterback Luke Niggemann and Riley Simpson scooped up the ball and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown.
The Lakers put together their lone scoring drive late in the third quarter. GVSU drove 69 yards in nine plays with Paschal Jolman scoring on a 14-yard touchdown scamper with 13:29 to play in the game.
The Gorillas countered by driving 75 yards in 10 plays. Berry connected with wide receiver TyJuan Atkins Jr. for a key 31-yard pass play to set up Palode-Gary's scoring run.
The Pitt State defense closed the door on GVSU's last chance at a comeback when Reginald King Jr. intercepted an errant pass from Lakers quarterback Andrew Schuster at the PSU 38 yard line with 5:04 to play in the game.
Pitt State's offense successfully ran out the remainder of the clock. The Gorillas drove to the GVSU 6 before settling for a 23-yard field goal attempt from Schmitt. Schmitt made the kick with 1:06 to play, but the Lakers were flagged for holding which allowed the Gorillas a fresh set of down and the ability to run out the clock.
Berry completed 24 of 34 passes for 249 yards in the contest, with Parchmon making six receptions for a game-high 81 yards. Cleo Chandler Jr. rushed the ball 11 times for 36 yards.
Jordan Rogers made a team-leading seven tackles, including a half sack, while Blake Carr added six stops in his first collegiate start at linebacker for the Gorillas.
Pitt State will return to Carnie Smith Stadium next Saturday (Sept. 20) to host MIAA rival Fort Hays State University in its Family Day Game at 4 p.m. (CDT).