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PITTSBURG, Kan. -- The No. 9 Washburn Ichabods used a 24-point second quarter while adding 16 more in the 4th quarter en route to a 43-25 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State in Carnie Smith Stadium for their third straight win over the Gorillas while jumping into a tie for first place in the MIAA standings. Washburn will wrap up the regular season on senior day against Central Missouri in Yager Stadium at 1 p.m. on Nov. 12.

After neither team scored in the first quarter, the team erupted for 37-combined points with 21 points coming in a two minutes and two seconds timeline. After Ryan Mertz put the Ichabods (9-1, 7-1 MIAA) out in front on an 18-yard touchdown reception from Dane Simonau, the Gorillas (8-1, 7-1 MIAA) fumbled on their first play from scrimmage and Washburn recovered. The Ichabod drive stalled and Jeremy Linn hit what would be the first of three field goals on the day from 23-yards out putting Washburn up 10-0 with 5:53 left in the first half.

On the ensuing kickoff, Pitt State's John Brown returned a 100-yard kickoff for a score pulling the Gorillas with three at 10-7. On the second play of the next Ichabod drive, Washburn fumbled the ball and Paul Robinson returned it 28 yards for a score putting the Gorillas up 13-10 after the extra point attempt was blocked.

The Ichabods scored on the next drive covering 53 yards after Simoneau hit Tore Hurst on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 2:22 left in the opening half. After the teams traded drives before the halftime break the Gorillas were driving, but Briceton WIlson fumbled after a hit by Willie Williams and Devon Connors scooped it up and beat Zac Dickey to the corner of the end zone from 52 yards away putting the Ichabods up 24-13 at the break.

After the Gorillas missed a 40-yard field goal on their first drive of the second half, Washburn's Linn hit a 39-yard field goal stretching Washburn's lead to 27-13 with 4:53 to play in the third quarter for the only points of the 15 minute period.

Linn opened the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 41-yard attempt with 11:33 to play staking Washburn to a 30-13 lead. On the pooch kick, Brandon Downing recovered the ball setting up a Justin Cooper 3-yard touchdown run putting the Ichabods up 37-13 with 9:46 to play in the game.

The Gorillas Dickey hit Brown for a 32-yard touchdown score pulling Pitt State within 37-19 with 9:05 to play in the game. After the teams were both whistled for offsides on the kickoffs, the Gorillas recovered the third onsides attempt and then Dickey hit Brown again - this time for a 41-yard score making the score 37-25 with 8:03 to play.

The Gorillas would then recover a second onside kick attempt, the Washburn defense would hold. The Ichabods then fumbled the ball back to Pitt State and again the defense held the Gorillas on downs.

Cooper then put Washburn up 43-25 on a 74-yard touchdown run to wrap up the scoring and the Washburn win.

Cooper finished with 159 yards on the ground and two touchdowns on 28 carries. Sean McPherson had 70 yards on 15 carries leading the Ichabods to 225 yards on the ground. Simoneau was 25 of 46 for 290 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked only once. DeJuan Beard had eight catches for 116 ayrds while Matt Kobbeman had six catches for 68 yards.

Casey Curran had 10 tackles to lead the Ichabods and Jahmil Taylor had nine tackles and a tackle for loss.

Washburn finished the game with 515 total yards while holding the Gorillas to 330 while also racking up 26 first downs. The Ichabods also led in time of possession 36:10 to 23:50.