ALLENDALE/BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The 2022 MIAA football season concluded on Saturday, November 26 in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
 
No. 8-ranked Northwest Missouri suffered a 13-8 loss in a defensive battle to No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan. The Bearcats (10-3) clawed back from a 7-0 deficit to take an 8-7 lead with 3:49 to play in the fourth quarter before the Lakers (12-0) scored with under two minutes to play to take the playoff victory.
 
To read more on Northwest’s final game of the season, click here.
 
No. 4-ranked Pittsburg State (12-1) went toe to toe with No. 5 Ferris State (11-1) with the Bulldogs out-punching the Gorillas 17-14 in Big Rapids, Michigan. The game was tied 14-14 moving into the fourth quarter. Both squads traded punts before the Bulldogs drove 58 yards in nine plays to take a 17-14 lead on a 20-yard field goal.
 
Pitt State had a final chance to win or tie the score in the game's final minute. The Gorillas drove 56 yards to the FSU 14-yard line, but a three-yard loss and a holding penalty forced them to try a 44-yard field goal to force overtime. Gentry Cole's kick sailed wide right with three seconds to play in the game to allow the Bulldogs to escape with the win.
 
To read more on Pitt State’s final game of the season, click here.
 
Ferris State, the defending NCAA Division II National Champion, advance to the national quarterfinals to face No. 1 ranked Grand Valley State University on Dec. 3 at Allendale, Mich.