Joplin, Mo. -- Missouri Southern placekicker Nick Williams had three field goals, but a touchdown for Pittsburg State with five minutes to go lifted the Gorillas over the Lions 20-16 today inside Fred G. Hughes Stadium. 

The Lions (1-4, 1-4 MIAA) played steady defense today, forcing a pair of turnover on downs when Pittsburg State (4-1, 4-1 MIAA) was inside the Southern redzone. The Lions led the time of possession battle over the Gorillas, and held Pitt to 60 fewer yards on offense than the team averages.  

Nick Williams had three field goals and made another before a running into the kicker penalty gave the Lions a first down that led to a Southern touchdown. He had distances of 28, 32 and 41, connecting on every one of his chances. Nathan Glades had 16 carries for 50 yards, while Josh Mercer had 10 for 42 yards and a score. Brian Boyd Jr. had five catches for 51 yards, while Dawson Herl threw for 161 yards on 19-of-32. 

Defensively, Richard Jordan Jr. led the attack for the Lions. Jordan had 16 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Colton Winder was second on the team with 8 tackles and had an interception in the endzone, Malachi Broadnax had seven tackles that included a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. Coleman Booker had a huge sack on fourth down that forced a fumble that Dylan Wright came up with. 

Southern took the ball to start the game and drove the field with Williams completing the 13-play drive with a 28-yard field goal with just under ten minutes left in the opening quarter. On the ensuing possession, the Gorillas were driving and looking to put some pressure on the Lions, but Winder intercepted a pass from PSU in the endzone to stall the drive and give the Lions the ball. Southern took a 3-0 lead into the second quarter. 

The Southern defense came up strong again in the opening drive of the second quarter as Booker came from the blind side on a fourth and two from the Lions' seven-yard line and sacked Mak Sexton, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Wright to stop the drive. 

Pitt got a score to go up 7-3 with seven minutes to go, but the Lions answered back and Williams hit his second field goal of the day, this time from 32 yards to make the score 7-6 at halftime. 

The Southern defense stopped another fourth and two for the Gorillas on their opening drive of the second half, setting up another scoring situation for the Lions. Williams hit his third field goal of the afternoon, this time from 41 yards out to give the Lions a 9-7 lead with 8:27 left in the third. 

PSU answered with a 27-yard field goal of their own to go up 10-9, before the Lions mounted another scoring drive as the fourth quarter started. Williams lined up from the PSU 19-yard line for a 29-yard attempt that he made, but he was run into giving the Lions another life and a first down. After a pair of rushes from Mercer, the Lions got into the endzone on a four-yard carry from Mercer to go up 16-10 after the extra point. 

The Gorillas got a 28-yard field goal to get within three (16-13) with seven minutes to go and after the Lions were forced to punt, Pitt used a big return to set up a 15-yard touchdown from Sexton to Christian Carter to put the score at 20-16, PSU. The Lions had the ball with 4:45 to go, but Southern couldn't mount a scoring chance giving the Gorillas the win. 

Southern will be back in action next weekend as the Lions travel to Lincoln on Saturday. Kickoff from Jefferson City is slated for 2 pm.