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Game Day Central
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Game Preview
PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team play host to Lindenwood University Saturday (Nov. 3) in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action.
The Gorillas will face the MIAA newcomer Lions for Senior Day as Pitt State honors its 14 outgoing seniors.
Kickoff for Saturday’s action is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
The Records
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, improve to 6-2 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA after posting a 20-6 road win over Truman last Saturday (Oct. 27). The Gorillas, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory over the Bulldogs and kept themselves in the MIAA and NCAA postseason races. Pitt State climbed four spots to No. 18 in the AFCA/Division II Top 25 poll.
Lindenwood improve to 6-3 overall and 5-3 in MIAA play following a 45-30 home win over Missouri Southern last Saturday (Oct. 30). The Lions snapped a two-game losing streak – against nationally-ranked Emporia State and Washburn – with the win against Southern.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his third season as head coach at Pitt State. Beck, who has compiled a 25-9 (.735) career record, led his alma mater (PSU, ’88) to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship, earning national coach of the year honors from Liberty Mutual, the Don Hansen Football Committee and FieldTurf™.
Beck became the school’s 14th all-time head football coach in December 2009, after serving for 23 seasons as an assistant coach for the Gorillas including 16 years as the team’s offensive coordinator from 1994-2009.
In his first season leading the Gorillas, Beck guided Pitt State to a 6-6 record and a victory in the 2010 Mineral Water Bowl. Last year, Beck led the Gorillas to the program’s second NCAA national championship and the school’s fourth national title overall in a 13-1 campaign. Pitt State captured the MIAA Championship and ultimately the NCAA-II National Championship with a 35-21 victory over Wayne (Mich.) State on Dec. 17, 2011.
During his 16 seasons as offensive coordinator, the Gorilla offense consistently ranked among the finest units in NCAA Division II.
In 2008, Beck was selected the inaugural NCAA Division II Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com, following a vote of his coaching peers.
In 2004, Beck’s offensive unit established itself as the most prolific squad in the history of NCAA football. PSU shattered a 118-year-old scoring record, scoring an amazing 837 points (55.8 ppg). His squad also set the NCAA all division records for rushing (5,320 yards) and total offense (8,976 yards).
Beck’s teams led Division II in scoring in two of the last six years (2004, 2006) and ranked in the top two nationally in total offense three times in the last six seasons (2004, 2005, 2006). His squads ranked among the national rushing leaders every season, leading Division II in 1995 (318.8 ypg) and 2004 (354.7 ypg). Beck’s “multiple choice” option attack also compiled 16,483 passing yards (216.9 ypg) and 143 aerial touchdowns during the last six years.
Pitt State averaged a staggering 38.8 points and 442.5 yards of total offense per game during his tenure as offensive coordinator.
Prior to assuming the offensive coordinator’s role, Beck served two years as Pitt State’s defensive coordinator (1992-93). He became a full-time assistant on the Pitt State staff in 1989, after serving first as a student assistant (1987) and then as a graduate assistant (1988).
This will be Beck’s third meeting vs. Truman. He is 2-0 vs. the Bulldogs.
Patrick Ross is in his ninth season as head coach at Lindenwood. Ross (Puget Sound, ‘97) has compiled a 70-25 (.762) record leading theLions.
The Pitt State-Lindenwood Series
This will be the first meeting between the Gorillas and Lions.
PSU’s Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 255 of its last 300 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 255-43-2 (.853) mark during the past 28 seasons (1985-2012).
PSU is 142-13-1 at home, 109-22-1 on the road and 4-8-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
Pitt State in the AFCA Top 25 Poll
Pitt State has been ranked in Division II’s top 10 97 times in the last 175 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 151 of 175 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).
Pitt State snapped an uncharacteristic streak of 22 weeks outside the top 25 when the Gorillas debuted at No. 25 in the first regular season poll of the 2011 season. PSU finished the 2011 season ranked No. 1 in the country and the Gorillas were ranked No. 1 in the first six polls of 2012.
The Gorillas had been ranked among the top 25 teams in the AFCA Top 25 Poll for 106 consecutive weeks, including preseason and final polls, before falling from the national list for the first time on Nov. 6, 2007. Pitt State was the only Division II program to be ranked in all 106 polls since the AFCA began administering the Top 25 poll in 1999.
Ground Game PSU’s Bread and Butter…
Pitt State’s success can be directly linked to its ability to rush the football.
Since the 1986 season, PSU has rushed for 200-plus yards in 275 of 328 overall games. The Gorillas have posted a 245-30-1 (.889) record when they eclipse 200 yards rushing. Pitt State is an even more impressive 135-6-0 (.957) when it eclipses 300 yards rushing.
By contrast, PSU is just 23-30-1 (.435) in the handful of games when it has been held below 200 yards rushing.
Since 1986, PSU has rushed the ball for the highest yardage total among all NCAA Division II programs, with 94,761 yards (including postseason competition) for an average of 288.9 yards per game.
… But Don’t Overlook Passing Attack
While it’s no secret Pitt State’s offensive success has been predicated on running the football, the Gorillas have unleashed a potent passing attack to compliment their stalwart running game.
Since the start of the 2004 season, the Gorillas have passed for 22,609 yards and 167 TDs, averaging 226.1 passing yards and 1.7 touchdown passes per game in the last 100 outings.
Pitt State opened the 2012 campaign by passing for 378 yards, the eighth-best team total in school history and the Gorillas currently rank 15th nationally averaging 302.5 passing yards per game to date.
Quick Strike Offense
The Pitt State offense has exhibited a penchant for being a “quick strike” unit.
During the last eight seasons (2005-12), the Pitt State offense has generated 518 scoring drives (444 TDs, 74 FGs) and averaged just 2:54 of elapsed time per drive. [Overtime scoring drives not included in elapsed time figures.]
2005 97 scoring drives (86 TDs, 11 FGs) 2:40 elapsed time 2009 49 scoring drives (44 TDs, 5 FGs) 3:21 elapsed time
2006 79 scoring drives (72 TDs, 7 FGs) 2:14 elapsed time 2010 41 scoring drives (34 TDs, 7 FGs) 3:04 elapsed time
2007 64 scoring drives (55 TDs, 9 FGs) 3:02 elapsed time 2011 78 scoring drives (60 TDs, 18 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time
2008 69 scoring drives (61 TDs, 8 FGs) 3:23 elapsed time 2012 41 scoring drives (32 TDs, 9 FGs) 2:57 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 46 times (38 TDs, 8 FGs) in the last 94 games, posting a 43-3 (.935) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 25-23 (.521) in games it doesn’t score on its opening drive during the same span.
Pitt State Displays Proliic Offense
The Pitt State offense has asserted itself as one of the top units in NCAA Division II the past nine seasons (2004-12).
Pitt State’s high octane “multiple choice” offense ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 nationally in both scoring and total offense in three of the last seven seasons.
In 2004, PSU staked its claim as the most prolific offense in the history of NCAA football, leading Division II in scoring (55.8 ppg), rushing (354.7 ypg) and total offense (598.4 ypg).
Pitt State broke the NCAA’s 118-year-old all-time all division scoring record with 837 points, besting the old mark of 765 points set by Harvard in 1886. The Gorillas also broke the all-time NCAA all division records for rushing (5,320 yards) and total offense (8,976 yards) in 2004.
Oklahoma set the previous rushing record (5,196 yards) in 1971, and Texas Tech held the previous total offense mark (7,576 yards) in 2003.
In 2005, Pitt State ranked second nationally in scoring and total offense, averaging 46.8 points and 536.0 total yards per game. The Gorillas also ranked seventh nationally in rushing, averaging 295.2 yards a game.
In 2006, Pitt State led NCAA Division II in scoring and ranked No. 2 nationally in total offense, averaging 44.8 points and 454.8 total yards per game in 2006.
In 2007, the Gorillas ranked 21st nationally in scoring and 19th nationally in total offense, averaging 37.4 points and 454.2 total yards per game. In 2008, Pitt State ranked 18th nationally in scoring (35.5 ppg) and 21st in the nation in total offense (432.6 ypg).
In 2009, the Pitt State offense averaged 29.4 points and 434.4 total yards per game, while the Gorillas averaged 22.8 points and 357.7 total yards per game in 2010.
In 2011, the Gorillas ranked sixth nationally in scoring (40.2 ppg) and 19th in the country in total offense (448.5 ypg).
The Gorillas currently rank 41st nationally in scoring (33.9 ppg), 35th in passing offense (265.4 ypg) and 24th in the country in total offense (456.0 ypg).
Pitt State All-Time Winningest Division II Program
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are in their 105th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 662-327-48 overall record, winning 66.2 percent of their 1,037 all-time games.
Pittsburg State is one of just 17 NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 500 all-time victories and the Gorillas are just one of three schools to have reached the 600-win plateau. Tuskegee is second on the all-time list with 636 victories, followed by Hillsdale (602), Central Oklahoma (591) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (585).
Team Wins
1. Pittsburg State 662
2. Tuskegee 637
3. Hillsdale 602
4. Central Oklahoma 592
5. Texas A&M-Kingsville 586
(Includes games as NAIA members)
Dreiling Moves Into Top 5 in Career Tackles
Junior linebacker Nate Dreiling continues to climb Pitt State’s career tackles chart. Dreiling (6-4, 229) has posted double-digit tackles in 22 of 34 career games for the Gorillas.
The Hutchinson/Victoria, Kan., native now has 362 (10.6 pg) career tackles. He needs four stops Saturday against Lindenwood to climb into third place on PSU’s all-time tackles chart. Dreiling currently ranks fifth all-time with 362 career stops, one tackle behind Mark Kilgore (363) and three stops behind John Roderique (365).
PSU Career Tackles Total
1. Chris Brown, 1992-95 470
2. Josh Lattimer, 2002-05 394
3. John Roderique, 1986-89 365
4. Mark Kilgore, 1979-82 363
5. Nate Dreiling, 2011-pr. 362
Abenoja, Brown Among National Leaders
Sophomore quarterback Anthony Abenoja and junior wide receiver/return specialist John Brown each rank among the NCAA Division II national leaders in several statistical categories.
Abenoja (6-3, 218) enters Saturday’s action against Lindenwood ranked 40th nationally in total offense (261.3 ypg) and 39th in the country in passing efficiency (140.3 rating).
The Overland Park, Kan., native has completed 147 of 241 passes (.610) for 1,895 yards and 13 touchdowns with eight interceptions. He’s also carried the ball 60 times for 135 net yards (2.2 ypc) and two scores.
Abenoja already has broken into the top five on Pitt State’s single-season passing charts. He needs 335 passing yards to climb to third on the top 10 list. His 147 completions already rank fourth on the top 10 chart as well.
Abenoja earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors in his first career start vs. Northeastern State on Aug. 30 when he completed 26 of 36 passes for a school record 378 yards and two TDs.
Brown (5-11, 171) enters Saturday’s contest leading Division II in all-purpose yards (214.4 ypg). He also 15th in the country in receiving yards (101.9 ypg). In special teams play, the Homestead, Fla., native ranks 12th nationally in punt returns (16.0 ypr) and 26th nationally in kickoff returns (26.1 ypr).
Brown earned MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors against NSU when he totaled 270 all-purpose yards against the River Hawks.
He followed that up with a 312-yard performance against UCO, just missing the top five all-time all-purpose yard games in school history.
Brown continued his chase of Ronnie West’s career yards record (2,521 yards) last week, as he became the second receiver in school history to eclipse 2,000 career yards. He also eclipsed 4,000 all-purpose yards, needing just 427 yards to break into the top five all-time in that category.
PSU Single Game Passing C-A TDs Yards Opponent, Date
1. Anthony Abenoja 26-36 2 378 @ Northeastern State, Aug. 30, 2012
2. Andy Majors 20-28 2 358 @ Southwest Baptist, Oct. 15, 2005
3. Andy Majors 23-49 2 334 vs. Delta State, Aug. 27, 2005
PSU Career Receiving Rec Yards
1. Ronnie West, 1990-91 123 2521
2. John Brown, 2011-pr. 116 2031
PSU Career All-Purpose Rush Rec PR KR Yards
1. Ronald Moore, 1989-92 5776 318 0 1084 7178
5. Anthony Chatmon, 1998-2001 3149 719 0 566 4434
John Brown, 2011-pr. 210 2031 785 1082 4008
Odds & Ends
• The Pitt State defense has registered two or more interceptions in nine of its last 12
games and the Gorillas have registered 2+ INTs in 13 of the last 22 contests dating back
to the start of the 2011 season.
• Pitt State has displayed a balanced offensive attack. The Gorillas have run the ball 58
percent of the time (356 attempts), while passing the ball 42 percent of the time
(261 attempts).
Scouting the Lions
Offensively, the Lions are averaging 30.0 points and 412.2 total yards per game this season, generating 295.6 yards through the air and 116.7 yards per game on the ground.
Lindenwood defeated Missouri Southern, 45-30, last week at St. Charles, Mo. LWU had to overcome an early 14-0 deficit in the first quarter, using 31 unanswered points to charge back for the victory.
Senior running back Denodus O’Bryant is leading the Lions with 868 yards rushing and eight touchdowns in nine games this season. His 96.4 ypg rushing average ranks fourth in the MIAA.
Freshman quarterback Dillon Miller has replaced the injured Ben Gomez the past two weeks. Miller has passed for 433 yards while completing 20 of 39 passes (.513) passes with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
Senior wide receiver Andrew Helmick is the Lions’ favorite target. Helmick has recorded 44 catches for 909 yards (20.7 ypc) and nine touchdowns.
Senior defensive end Joe Day leads the Lion defense with 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 quarterback sacks. Freshman linebacker Connor Harris has recorded a team-high 87 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss.
