From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

BOLIVAR, Mo. — Pittsburg State’s balanced offense was too much for pass-happy Southwest Baptist in an MIAA football game Saturday at Plaster Stadium.

The Gorillas took a 19-point halftime lead and earned a 42-23 victory.

Caleb Farabi had 128 yards rushing and scored three times for the Gorillas (6-2 overall, 4-2 MIAA). Mark Smith rushed for 125 yards and also completed 5-of-7 passes for 199 yards and a pair of scores.

Pittsburg State needed an effective day on offense to overcome Southwest Baptist’s air game. The Bearcats completed 44-of-65 attempts for 426 yards.

Starter Steve Gachette connected on 29-of-46 passes for 259 yards and Greg Sprowls added 15-of-19 accuracy for another 167 yards.

Greg Downey’s 20-yard field goal gave SBU (0-8, 0-6) an early 3-0 lead. The Gorillas took charge on TD runs of 1 and 3 yards by Farabi plus a 3-yarder by Todd Hertzog.

Farabi’s third score, on a 5-yard run, made it 28-9 and offset a 6-yard TD run by Gachette.

Smith’s touchdown passes — a 45-yarder to Pierce Curran and a 95-yard strike to Harrison Kush — broke the game open in the third quarter.

Gachette had a 6-yard TD run and Sprowls hit Lemarc Windham from 24 yards out in the fourth quarter for the Bearcats.

The Gorillas return home to entertains Fort Hays next Saturday.

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