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The Pittsburg State University football team, the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Division II and the defending national champion, will travel to Tahlequah, Okla., Thursday (Aug. 30) to face Northeastern State University in the season opener for both schools.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (CDT) at NSU’s Doc Wadley Stadium.

Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, returns 17 starters (nine offense, eight defense) from a 2011 squad that posted a 13-1 record en route to capturing the MIAA title and ultimately the NCAA Division II National Championship.

Northeastern State, which makes its debut as a new MIAA member, is coming off a 7-5 record including an appearance in the 2011 Mineral Water Bowl.  The River Hawks return 14 starters (six offense, eight defense) from last year’s squad.

The Gorillas and the River Hawks will meet for the first time since 1987 when the two squads met in the NAIA national playoffs.

The Coaches
Tim Beck enters his third season as head coach at Pitt State with a 19-7 career record.  Beck 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 first meeting vs. the River Hawks.

Northeastern State’s Kenny Evans begins his fifth year leading his alma mater and his fifth season as a collegiate head coach.  Evans (NSU, ’82) returned to NSU after serving as an assistant coach for 28 years at six universities. Evans has guided the River Hawks to a 16-29 (.356) overall record. This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State-Northeastern State Series
This will be the 28th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the River Hawks in a series that dates all the way back to the 1912 season, but Pitt State and Northeastern State will meet for just the second time since 1970.

Pitt State holds a slight 13-12-2 advantage in the series, but NSU has a 6-3-1 edge in games played at Tahlequah, Okla. The River Hawks claimed a 48-21 victory over the Gorillas in the last meeting at Tahlequah on Nov. 15, 1969.

The last time the two squads met Pitt State posted a lopsided 57-0 victory over NSU in Pittsburg on Nov. 28, 1987, in the second round of the NAIA national playoffs.

PSU’s Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 249 of its last 292 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 249-41-2 (.856) mark during the past 27 seasons (1985-2011).
PSU is 139-12-1 at home, 105-22-1 on the road and 4-7-0 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 90 times in the last 166 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 142 of 166 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 debuted at No. 1 in the 2012 AFCA Preseason Top 25 Poll.

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 273 of 321 overall games.  The Gorillas have posted a 242-30-1 (.888) record when they eclipse 200 yards rushing.  Pitt State is an even more impressive 134-6-0 (.957) when it eclipses 300 yards rushing.

By contrast, PSU is just 19-28-1 (.406) 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 93,236 yards (including postseason competition) for an average of 290.5 yards per game.

… But Don’t Overlook PSU 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 18,081 yards and 154 TDs, averaging 196.5 passing yards and 1.7 touchdown passes per game in the last 92 outings.

Quick Strike Offense
The Pitt State offense has exhibited a penchant for being a “quick strike” unit.

During the last seven seasons (2005-11), the Pitt State offense has generated 477 scoring drives (412 TDs, 65 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

The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates.  Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 41 times (34 TDs, 7 FGs) in the last 87 games, posting a 39-2 (.951) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 24-22 (.522) in games it doesn’t score on its opening drive during the same span.

While Pitt State remained a quick strike offensive unit in 2011 – with 24 touchdown drives of 90 seconds or less of elapsed time – the Gorillas also compiled seven scoring drives of six or more minutes of elapsed time on the year.

Pitt State Displays Prolific Offense
The Pitt State offense has asserted itself as one of the top units in NCAA Division II the past eight seasons (2004-11).

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.

Last year, the Gorillas ranked sixth nationally in scoring (40.2 ppg) and 19th in the country in total offense (448.5 ypg).

Pitt State All-Time Winningest Division II Program
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program.  The Gorillas, who enter their 105th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 656-326-48 overall record, winning 66.0 percent of their 1,030 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of just 15 NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 500 all-time victories and the Gorillas are just one of two schools to have reached the 600-win plateau.  Tuskegee is second on the all-time list with 630 victories, followed by Hillsdale (594), Central Oklahoma (590) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (580).

     Team                 Wins
  1. Pittsburg State       656
  2. Tuskegee              630
  3. Hillsdale             594
  4. Central Oklahoma      590
  5. Texas A&M-Kingsville  580

(Includes games as NAIA members)

The Pitt State Offense
While the Gorillas welcome back veteran players to virtually all positions on the offensive side of the ball, Pitt State will turn to a new signal caller in 2012 after All-American Zac Dickey’s departure to graduation.

Sophomore Anthony Abenoja emerged from spring drills as the successor to the Pitt State quarterbacking role.

Abenoja (6-3, 218) competed in seven games in a reserve role in 2011.  The Overland Park, Kan., native completed 15 of 29 passes (.527) for 264 yards and three touchdowns with one interception last year.

Sophomore Dennis Tanner, Jr. (6-1, 183) and freshman Darrack Harger (6-4, 215) will look to push Abenoja for the starting role.  Tanner, from Kansas City, Mo., played in four games in 2011 before suffering a season-ending injury.  Harger, a Sand Springs, Okla., native, graduated last December from Charles Page High School and joined the Gorillas in time for spring drills.

At running back, senior Briceton Wilson leads a talented backfield cast.

Wilson (6-2, 226) carried the ball 180 times for 857 yards (4.7 ypc) and seven touchdowns in 2011, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors.  The Tallahassee, Fla., native has 300 carries for 1,527 yards and 14 scores in two seasons with the Gorillas.

Senior Jason Spradling, sophomore Jeff Seybold, Jr. and junior Solomon Watkins also figure to battle for playing time at running back.

Spradling (5-11, 188) rushed 105 times for 527 yards (5.0 ypc) and four scores last year, while Watkins (5-10, 182) rushed for 223 yards and four TDs before suffering a season-ending knee injury in October. Seybold (5-11, 204) compiled 273 rushing yards with one score on the season.

At wide receiver, the Gorillas welcome back one of the most explosive players in NCAA Division II in junior John Brown, as well as a deep stable of play makers.

Brown (5-11, 171) enjoyed an All-America season for the Gorillas in 2011, catching a team-leading 61 passes for 1,216 yards (19.9 ypc) and 12 touchdowns.  The Homestead, Fla., native posted the second-highest receiving yards and touchdowns marks in school history.  The speedster also impacted the running game with 18 carries for 92 yards (5.1 ypc) and three scores.

Senior Andrew Castaneda (6-2, 205) also is primed for a big season for the Gorillas. The Caldwell, Idaho, native caught 26 passes for 441 yards (17.0 ypc) and two touchdowns in 2011, including a game-clinching catch in the National Championship game last year.

Sophomore Luke Rampy (5-9, 170) and junior Levi Kuntzsch (6-5, 211) also figure to see significant action, along with sophomores Bradley Argabright (6-2, 175) and Gavin Lutman (6-4, 210) who missed the 2011 season due to a medical redshirt.

At tight end, sophomore Mandel Dixon (6-3, 238) made the move from “H” back and figures to earn the starting nod. Dixon scored five touchdowns on just seven carries in goal line situations in 2011.

Senior Chance Riley (6-2, 247) and sophomore Brady Letchworth (6-3, 220) figure to see significant action.

Up front, the Gorillas return three players who started seven or more games last year – senior center Aaron Kolich (6-2, 275), sophomore guard Tyler Smith (6-3, 297) and junior tackle Cody Holland (6-6, 337).  Holland was a second-team All-MIAA selection last year.

Additionally, junior guard Josiah Cody (6-4, 280) returns from a medical redshirt season in 2011. Cody started 10 games as a sophomore in 2010.
Sophomore Ollie Venegas (6-3, 295) is expected to start at left tackle after moving from guard this fall.

Junior transfer Taylor Peak (6-2, 275) also will vie for time at center after joining the Gorillas from Hutchinson Community College, while senior Jeremiah Fleming (6-1, 281) and sophomore Cale Karigan (6-5, 286) will compete for action at guard. Sophomore Boston Higgins (6-4, 260) also will vie for time at tackle.

The Pitt State Defense
The Gorillas also feature a veteran cast on the defensive side of the ball, led by junior linebacker Nate Dreiling, a consensus first-team All-America and the NCAA Division II National Player of the Year selection by the Don Hansen Football Committee.

Dreiling (6-4, 229) made a team-leading 139 tackles (51 solo) with 17.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 quarterback sacks in 2011.  The Hutchinson, Kan., native registered a team-high seven interceptions a year ago; and he also logged two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and six pass breakups.

The Gorillas also welcome back a returning All-America performer in senior defensive end Gus Toca. Toca (6-3, 250) made 57 tackles with a team-leading 19.0 tackles-for-loss and 11.0 quarterback sacks.  The Blue Springs, Mo., native also forced four fumbles and deflected five passes.

Junior Joe Uzzel will join Toca at defensive end.  Uzzel (6-4, 233) recorded 46 tackles with 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks in 2011.

Sophomores Avery Adair (6-5, 230) and Dallas Shalz (6-2, 241) also will see action at defensive end, along with sophomore transfer Robert McField (6-6, 280) who joined the Gorillas in August from Fort Scott Community College.

Junior Will Grissom has moved from defensive end to defensive tackle this fall.  Grissom (6-5, 269) made 10 tackles with 1.5 quarterback sacks in 2011. Freshman Gavin Rainwater (6-3, 305) also will see time at defensive tackle.

Freshman transfer Taye Irvin (6-1, 333) will start at nose guard, while  sophomore Tank Burns (6-2, 276) and senior Joey Zdeb (5-11, 268) also will vie for time at the position.

Junior Joe Windscheffel will look to start opposite Dreiling in the second linebacking position in Pitt State’s 4-2-5 base defense. Windscheffel (6-3, 235) made 25 tackles with 1.0 TFL in 2011.

Sophomore Tyler Disney (6-1, 216) and redshirt freshman Lewis Foutz (6-3, 228) also figure to contend for playing time at linebacker.

In the secondary, the Gorillas return three players with extensive starting experience: senior safety Chas Smith, sophomore safety Jason Peete and sophomore cornerback Aries Herrion.

Smith (5-9, 186) earned All-MIAA honors for a second straight season in 2011, despite missing the final eight games with a knee injury. The Pittsburg native made 30 tackles and four interceptions in Pitt State’s first six games a year ago.

Smith suffered a hamstring injury during fall camp and his availability for the NSU game is uncertain.

Peete (6-3, 190) logged 55 tackles with four TFLs, three interceptions and eight pass breakups during his redshirt freshman season with the Gorillas in 2011.
Junior transfer Keeston Terry, who joined the Pitt State squad in August from the University of Kansas, figures to start at the “bandit” safety position in place of Smith.
Terry started 10 games for the Jayhawks in 2011, recording 66 tackles and one interception.

Senior Bryant Sanchez (5-10, 188) also is expected to start at the “gorilla” safety position. Sanchez registered 38 tackles with 4.5 TFLs and 3.0 quarterback sacks last year.

Senior Jake Catloth (6-0, 180), sophomore Chris Heffern (5-9, 181) and redshirt freshman Deron Washington (6-1, 191) also will vie for playing time.

Herrion (5-10, 172) started all 14 games at cornerback in 2011, recording 44 tackles and six pass breakups last year.

Sophomore De’Vante Bausby (6-2, 165) and senior transfer Graylon Sanders (5-11,191) will battle for the opposite starting cornerback spot.

Redshirt freshman Dino Teague (6-1, 161), junior Israel Maselera (5-8, 154) and freshman transfer Marquise Cushon (5-10, 157) also figure to contend for playing time at corner.

Pitt State Special Teams
Sophomore Connor Frazell transferred to Pitt Statate in January from Butler Community College. Frazell booted 10 field goals and 70 of 73 PATs for the Grizzlies last fall helping BCC to the NJCAA national championship game.

Brown proved to be a dynamic force in the kick return game as well as at wide receiver in 2011.  He found the end zone three times in special teams play, returning two punts and one kickoff for scores. Brown averaged 13.7 yards per punt return and 25.7 yards per kickoff return.

Scouting the River Hawks
Northeastern State, which returns 14 starters (six offense, eight defense) will make its MIAA debut against the Gorillas Thursday

The River Hawks posted a 7-5 record in 2011, earning a berth in the Mineral Water Bowl at Excelsior Springs, Mo.

NSU averaged 33.8 points per game a year ago, ranking 13th nationally in passing offense by averaging 291.4 yards per game.  The River Hawks ranked 22nd nationally in total offense (440.8 ypg).

Sophomore quarterback Johnny Deaton returns to lead the NSU offense. Deaton (6-3, 210) completed 162 of 311 passes (.521) for 2,520 yards (229.1 ypg) and 26 touchdowns with 13 interceptions in 11 games a year ago. He also carried the ball 67 times for 229 yards (3.4 ypc) an three touchdowns.
On the ground, the River Hawks averaged 149.4 rushing yards per game in 2011.

Sophomore running back Terrance Dixon (5-10, 189) led NSU’s ground gainers last year, carrying the ball 101 times for 488 yards and two touchdowns.
Sophomore running back Joel Rockmore (5-7, 185) also rushed the ball 88 times for 479 yards and a team-leading five scores.

Senior wide receivers Jermaine Sherman (6-3,187) and Jahmai Coleman (6-2, 163) lead NSU’s returners. Sherman hauled in 36 passes for 541 yards (15.0 ypc) and five touchdowns, while Coleman caught 22 passes for 438 yards (19.9 ypc) and three touchdowns last year.

Up front, the River Hawks offensive line averages 6-feet, 4-inches and 278 pounds.  Senior transfer Michael Bowie (6-5, 320) joined the NSU squad from Oklahoma State University.  NSU allowed just 14 quarterback sacks in 432 pass attempts a year ago.

Defensively, the River Hawks allowed 29.0 points and 399.9 total yards per game in 2011 (190.8 rushing, 209.1 passing).  NSU ranked 99th nationally in scoring defense, 105th in the country in total defense and 116th nationally against the run.

Junior linebacker Langston Jones (6-0, 205) made 93 tackles (43 solo) with 10.0 tackles-for-loss and two pass break-ups a year ago, while sophomore linebacker Cayle Shambaugh (6-2, 195) recorded 50 tackles (27 solo) with an interception and two pass break-ups.

Junior cornerback Vernon Jones (5-11, 165) made 22 tackles (17 solo) with four interceptions and eight pass break-ups in 2011.