FLORENCE, Ala. — Pittsburg State wasn’t about to get comfy and cautious so close to ending a 20-year quest for a second national title.

With his team clinging to a six-point lead in the final 5 minutes, Zac Dickey launched a 53-yard pass to Andrew Castaneda to set up the clinching touchdown in the Gorillas’ 35-21 victory over Wayne State on Saturday.

Dickey passed for 190 yards and rushed for 68 and the Gorillas (13-1) also turned two blocked kicks into touchdowns to claim their second national title and first since 1991 when Beck was an assistant. The Kansas school snapped a streak of three title-game losses in a row, the last coming in 2004.

The Warriors (12-4) had navigated four playoff road games but the team from Detroit fell short of becoming the first unranked team to win the title.

“It’s been a great run,” Wayne State quarterback Mickey Mohner said. “No one thought we should be in the playoffs. No one thought we could win in the playoffs. We came in and won four tough games on the road.”