BOX SCORE

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - No. 17 Pittsburg State scored 35 points in the second quarter to build a 59-21 halftime lead and went on to earn a 90-28 victory over Southwest Minnesota State at the 48th Mineral Water Bowl in Excelsior Springs, Mo.

PSU held a 17-14 lead late in the first quarter before reeling off 42 unanswered points to earn its third Mineral Water Bowl victory.

PSU (10-2), which just missed qualifying for the NCAA playoffs, racked up 666 yards of offense and was led by quarterback Anthony Abenoja, who completed 17 of 24 pass attempts for 323 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing 51 yards and one touchdown. Abenjoa was named the game's offensive MVP.

SMSU (7-5), making its first postseason appearance since 1990 and just its third all-time, finished with 403 yards of total offense. Tyler Tonderum, a Harlon Hill national finalist, rushed for a 166 yards and one touchdown on 26 attempts to lead the SMSU offense. Charlie Kern completed just 13 of 41 pass attempts for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Kern also finished with two rushing touchdowns and 29 yards rushing on nine carries. Anthony Dean caught two passes, including recording a 74-yard touchdown pass.

Tyler Disney was named the game's defensive MVP, leading the Gorillas with 12 tackles, including returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown.

Dashawn Miller racked up a career-high 14 tackles to lead the Mustangs, including a 71-yard fumble return, a forced fumble and one tackle for loss. Tate Bunkers added 12 tackles with one for loss and two pass break-ups.

PSU started the game's scoring on defense, forcing Kern to fumble at the SMSU 11-yard line and PSU's Joe Uzzel scooped up the fumble and returned it eight yards for a touchdown to make the score 7-0.

On SMSU's next possession, PSU blocked Mike Wenk's punt and took over at the SMSU 25-yard line. The Gorillas turned the blocked kick into three points on a Connor Frazell 23-yard field goal to build a 10-0 lead with 11 minutes and 30 seconds left in the first quarter.

Following punts by both teams, SMSU cut into the deficit with an impressive 71-yard, nine-play drive with Tonderum closing the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run to make the score 10-7 with 5:04 remaining in the opening period.

PSU answered with an Abenoja 12-yard touchdown pass to John Brown on third-and-seven to make the score 17-7 at the 1:36 mark.

SMSU countered just two plays later on its next drive as Kern connected on a 74-yard touchdown pass to Dean to cut the lead to 17-14 with 55 seconds left in the first quarter.

The scoring wasn't complete in the quarter as PSU came right back with its own quick drive as Jeff Seybold broke free with a 52-yard touchdown run to make the score 24-14 after one quarter.

SMSU was forced to punt on its next possession and PSU added to lead with a three-play drive as Abenoja found Austin Daniel for a 59-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 31-14 earlier in the second quarter and the Gorillas never looked back.

PSU scored three more touchdowns in the quarter to make the score 52-14, before SMSU nearly cut into the lead late in the half. Tonderum ripped off a 78-yard run down to the PSU 5-yard line, but one play later Kern was intercepted by Disney at the 1-yard line returned it 99 yards to make the score 59-14.

SMSU scored the scoring in the first half as Kern capped off an eight-play, 66-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Kern had a 41-yard run on the drive, while Ashanti Payne rushed five times for 23 yards.

The Mustangs trailed 69-21 late in the third quarter before scoring their final touchdown of the game set up by the SMSU defense. Andrew McReynolds forced a PSU fumble at the SMSU 28-yard line and Miller picked up the ball and returned it 71 yards to the PSU 1-yard line. Kern converted the turnover with a 1-yard touchdown run to make the score 69-28.

The 90 points allowed is the most by an SMSU team in program history. The previous record was 85 points scored by Michigan Tech in 1975. The 28 points scored by SMSU is the second highest total scored against PSU this season.

Today's contest was the final college game for 15 SMSU seniors.