By Ryan Atkinson

ratkinson@joplinglobe.com

KANSAS CITY — The No. 6 Pittsburg State Gorillas were able to survive a few shaky performances in winning their first five games.

Shaky didn’t cut it this time.

The Northwest Missouri Bearcats — ranked one spot behind the Gorillas — were simply too quick, too strong and too good.

The Bearcats, led by a raucous defense, 263 passing yards from Joel Osborn and four rushing touchdowns from LaRon Council, rolled past the Gorillas 35-10 in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead VII on Saturday before 21,316 fans.

“Defensively we’re not strong enough depthwise to go toe-to-toe with someone, if we have to, for four quarters,” Pittsburg State head coach Chuck Broyles said. “All in all, it’s just the nature of the game. When you play someone good, you have to play good. If you don’t play good, then you get beat.”

The Gorillas (5-1, 3-1 MIAA) most definitely did not play well, and much of that had to do with the Bearcats (5-1, 4-0).

Northwest’s defense held Pittsburg State to just 228 yards of offense, including 98 yards on the ground. The Bearcats have kept the Gorillas to fewer than 100 yards rushing in three of their last four meetings.

Pitt State quarterback Mark Smith was 9-of-16 for 105 yards and was the leading Gorilla rusher with just 56 yards. Gorilla running back Caleb Farabi, the league’s top rusher at 130 yards per game, carried nine times for 28 yards.

“Our defense just played outstanding,” Northwest head coach Mel Tjeerdsma said. “You take about two or three plays out of there and our defense was unbelievable ... I was just really pleased with our effort.”

The Bearcat offense wasn’t shabby either.

Northwest racked up 456 yards, including 144 rushing yards from Council. Council scored a pair of fourth-quarter scores that pushed the final margin to 25.

Pittsburg State’s biggest downfall may have come on third-down plays, both offensively and defensively.

The Gorillas converted just two of their 10 third-down plays while allowing Northwest to go 9-of-12, including a pair of conversions during the Bearcats’ 11-play scoring drive that made it 28-10 with 10:29 left in the fourth.