Print edition: 
PITTSBURG — The silence in the locker room was deafening to Pittsburg State coach Tim Beck.
Just minutes away from Saturday's NCAA Division II playoff game against Washburn, why wasn't defensive lineman Gus Toca pounding on the walls?
Why weren't his players getting in each other's faces? Where was the fury he was so used to seeing?
"I went and asked (quarterback) Zac Dickey what was up," Beck said. "I asked him if everybody was OK."
The players were fine, Dickey assured. This was something new, but it was just how everybody was feeling.
After the Gorillas' 31-22 victory, that silence seemed beautiful.
"Whatever they need to do," Beck said. "Whatever they were feeling, I guess it was right."
An emotionally-charged team meeting on Friday night had Pittsburg State (10-1) in a reflective mood before Saturday's game, but a hard-hitting defensive effort and Dickey's 296 yards of total offense and one touchdown pass propelled them into next Saturday's national quarterfinals, where they'll host MIAA rival Northwest Missouri for the first time since 2005.
"I don't think we'll prepare any different than we would for any other game," Dickey said. "We felt like we needed to right a wrong today because we lost to Washburn in the regular season. I'm sure Northwest Missouri will feel the same way."
Pittsburg State and Northwest Missouri have played their regular-season games at Arrowhead Stadium since 2002 — the 2005 game was a playoff game that Northwest won. The Gorillas won this year's regular-season matchup 38-35 on a field goal as time expired.
Against Washburn (10-3), the Gorillas fell in a 9-0 hole early in the first quarter after a failed punt snap went sailing through the back of the end zone and MIAA offensive player of the year Dane Simoneau hit Matt Kobbeman for a 17-yard touchdown just 3:38 into the game.
After a short touchdown run by Pittsburg State's Mandel Dixon cut the Washburn lead to 9-7, the Ichabods grabbed the momentum back on a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown by Bryce Atagi for a 16-7 lead.
The Gorillas rallied again, this time with back-to-back touchdowns on another short run by Dixon and a 38-yard pass from Dickey to Andrew Castaneda for a 21-16 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Pittsburg State defense went after Simoneau, a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, putting him on the ground on almost every series.
"They brought a lot of pressure," Simoneau said. "Maybe I didn't get rid of the ball fast enough... give them credit because they made plays."
The biggest plays the defense made were with Washburn having a first-and-goal at the Pittsburg State 1-yard line and the Gorillas up 24-16. Holding fast for four plays — three runs up the middle and a pass — forced a turnover on downs. Pittsburg State got the ball back and turned it into points on a 16-yard run from Jason Spradling for a 31-16 lead that the Ichabods' could not overcome.
Simoneau finished 14 for 40 passing for 216 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Washburn had just 22 rushing yards.
"We didn't play very well the first time against them," said Pittsburg State sophomore linebacker Nate Dreiling, the MIAA defensive player of the year. "And we took that loss pretty tough. We told each other (Friday) night that there were things that needed to be done, to be corrected. And we went out and did them."
Washburn (10-3) 9 7 0 6 — 22 Pittsburg State (10-1) 0 21 3 7 — 31
WU — Safety
WU — Kobbeman 17 pass from Simoneau (Linn kick)
PSU — Dixon 1 run (McCoy kick)
WU — Atagi 50 interception return (Linn kick)
PSU — Dixon 2 run (McCoy kick)
PSU — Castaneda 38 pass from Dickey (McCoy kick)
PSU — McCoy 21 FG
PSU — Spradling 16 run (McCoy kick)
WU — Hurst 17 pass from Simoneau (Linn kick)
Individual statistics
Rushing — Washburn, Cooper 17-22, McPherson 2-7, Simoneau 4-(-7). Pittsburg State, Dickey 19-94, Spradling 17-80, Wilson 6-25, Brown 5-17, Rampy 1-6, Dixon 2-3, Love 2-2, Team 2-(-21).
Passing — Washburn, Simoneau 14-40-216-2. Pittsburg State, Dickey 11-24-202-2.
Receiving — Washburn, Hurst 4-69, Cooper 4-45, Garner 2-48, Kobbeman 2-25, Mertz 1-17, Beard 1-12. Pittsburg State, Brown 6-119, Castaneda 2-48, Thomas 2-30, Combes 1-5.
