PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team, the  No. 15 ranked team in NCAA Division II, returns to the friendly confines of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium to host MIAA rival Missouri Western State University for Homecoming Saturday (Oct. 3).

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).

Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is off to a 3-1 start to the season. The Gorillas knocked off previously unbeaten Fort Hays State University, 31-24, last Saturday (Sept. 26) at Hays, Kan. Pitt State rallied for a 24-14 halftime deficit against the Tigers.

Missouri Western is 3-1 on the season. The Griffons used a 19-point third quarter to rally from a 14-6 halftime deficit against Lindenwood University and pull away for a 34-14 home win against the Lions last Saturday (Sept. 26). Western has won three straight games after falling, 18-17, to the University of Central Missouri in its season opener Sept. 3.

The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his sixth season as head coach at Pitt State with a 50-15 (.769) career record.  

Beck led his alma mater (PSU, '88) to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship three seasons ago, 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.  In 2011, 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.

In 2012, the Gorillas opened the season 5-0 before finishing the year 7-3 overall, while in 2013 Pitt State posted the program's 20th all-time 10-win season during a 10-2 campaign.

Last year, the Gorillas shared the MIAA regular season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II playoffs during an 11-2 campaign.

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).

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 sixth meeting vs. the Griffons.  He is 3-2 vs. Western.

MWSU's Jerry Partridge is in his 19th year leading the Griffons. Partridge (Missouri Western, '85) has compiled a 142-72 (.664) record while leading his alma mater. He is 7-11 vs. Pitt State.

Another Home Sellout?
Saturday's anticipated crowd at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium should represent the 14th sellout in the last 19 home games since the start of the 2012 season.

Pitt State has averaged 10,058 fans in 7,950-seat Carnie Smith Stadium in the last 18 home games, including four of the top single-game attendance figures in school history.
The Gorillas' last three Homecoming contests have averaged 11,245 fans.

Pitt State has averaged 10,872 fans in its first two home games this season, ranking second in the country behind only Grand Valley State (13,623).

Top Home Game Attedance                                   Total
    1.    vs. Missouri Western, Oct. 20, 2012            11,910
    2.    vs. Northwest Missouri, Oct. 13, 2001         11,862
    3.    vs. Fort Hays State, Sept. 27, 2014             11,489
    4.    vs. Washburn, Sept. 19, 2015                      11,383
    5.    vs. Abilene Christian, Oct. 5, 2013               10,981

The Pitt State-MWSU Series
This will be the 40th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Griffons in a series that dates back to the 1970 season.  Pitt State holds a 29-10 (.744) advantage in the series, including a 14-5 record against MWSU in Pittsburg.

The visiting team has won seven of the last nine meetings in the series.

Last year, the 19th-ranked Gorillas started fast and finished late as the Gorillas claimed a 23-13 road win over the Griffons on Oct. 4. Pitt State jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter lead then added three Connor Frazell field goals to preserve the victory.

Gorillas on Homecoming
Pitt State has posted a 53-11-2 (.818) record in Homecoming games since 1949.

The Gorillas are 29-6 (.829) on Homecoming since 1980.  Last year, the Gorillas rolled to a 45-17 victory over Emporia State on Homecoming. This will be the sixth time Pitt State faces the Griffons on Homecoming.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 341-123-12 (.729) record in 476 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 141 of their last 159 regular season home games, posting a 141-17-1 record (.890) over the last 31 seasons.

Western is 20-5 (.800) in its last 25 road games dating back to the 2011 season.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 278 of its last 328 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 278-48-2 (.851) mark during the past 31 seasons (1985-2015). PSU is 150-17-1 at home, 124-22-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program.  The Gorillas, who are in their 108th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 687-334-48 overall record, winning 66.5 percent of their 1,069 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of just 20 NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 500 all-time victories and the Gorillas are just one of five schools to have reached the 600-win plateau.  Tuskegee is second on the all-time list with 662 victories, followed by Hillsdale (613), Carson-Newman (608) and Central Oklahoma (602).

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

During the last 11 seasons (2005-15), the Pitt State offense has generated 707 scoring drives (593 TDs, 114 FGs) and averaged just 2:51 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        2011    78 scoring drives (60 TDs, 18 FGs)    2:54 elapsed time
2006    79 scoring drives (72 TDs, 7 FGs)    2:14 elapsed time          2012    51 scoring drives (40 TDs, 11 FGs)    2:58 elapsed time
2007    64 scoring drives (55 TDs, 9 FGs)    3:02 elapsed time          2013    83 scoring drives (70 TDs, 13 FGs)    2:29 elapsed time
2008    69 scoring drives (61 TDs, 8 FGs)    3:23 elapsed time          2014    74 scoring drives (53 TDs, 21 FGs)    3:06 elapsed time
2009    49 scoring drives (44 TDs, 5 FGs)    3:21 elapsed time          2015    22 scoring drives (18 TDs, 4 FGs)    2:56 elapsed time
2010    41 scoring drives (34 TDs, 7 FGs)    3:04 elapsed time

The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates.  Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 63 times (53 TDs, 10 FGs) in the last 125 games (including all four games this season), posting a 59-4 (.937) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 34-28 (.548) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.

Roderique Shares MIAA Player of the Week Honors
Pittsburg State freshman quarterback John Roderique, Jr. was named the MIAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 28) for his efforts in the Gorillas' 31-24 road win over Fort Hays State last Saturday (Sept. 26).

Roderique rushed for a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 5:36 to play, to help the No. 15 Gorillas rally past the previously unbeaten Tigers after trailing 24-14 at halftime.
The Webb City, Mo., native carried the ball 18 times for a game-high 117 yards and the two TDs, while completing 21 of 32 passes for 225 yards and a third score.

For the season, Roderique has completed 66 of 102 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns and he's rushed the ball 51 times for 324 yards and seven scores. He currently leads the MIAA in scoring (10.5 ppg), ranks fifth in the conference in rushing (81.0 ypg) and third in the league in passing efficiency (140.2 rating).

Cushon Climbs Pitt State Career Lists
Pitt State senior wide receiver Marquise Cushon has moved into fourth place in Pitt State career record lists for receiving yards and receptions.

The Kansas City, Mo., native has 106 career receptions for 1859 yards (17.5 ypc).  He has a team-leading 14 catches for 153 yards (10.9 ypc) on the season.

Cushon needs 216 yards to pass Gavin Lutman for third place on the Gorillas' career receiving yards list. Lutman caught 130 passes for 2,068 yards between 2010-14. Cushon needs 18 receptions to pass Ronnie West for third place on Pitt State's career receptions list. West caught 123 passes between 1990-91.

Walker Among National Leaders in Interceptions, Passes Defended
Pitt State junior transfer cornerback Darnell Walker, Jr. enters Saturday's action ranking second in NCAA Division II in passes defended, while ranking in a tie for second place in interceptions.

Walker has 12 passes defended on the young season – four interceptions and eight pass break-ups. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native logged an INT and a PBU in the Gorillas' last game vs. FHSU.

Walker transferred to Pitt State from Coffeyville Community College after spending two seasons at the University of Tulsa. He now has 14 career interceptions – four at Tulsa in 2013, six at Coffeyville in 2014 and four this season.

Anchors Among MIAA Leaders in Punting
Pitt State freshman Carter Anchors has enjoyed a solid start to his collegiate career, ranking second in the MIAA in punting after four games played.

The Kansas City, Mo., native has punted 15 times for a 42.1-yard average. He has a long punt of 54 yards with three kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line. Anchors ranks 19th nationally in punting.

Scouting the Griffons
Offensively, Western is averaging 25.2 points and 440.8 yards of total offense on the young season, while the Griffons are surrendering just 16.2 points and 269.2 total yards per game.

Sophomore quarterback Skyler Windmiller has completed 48 of 95 passes (.505) for 867 yards and three TDs with six INTs.  He missed Western's last game due to injury and sophomore T.J. LaFaver completed 18 of 28 passes for 279 yards and a TD in the game.

Senior running back Raphael Spencer has carried the ball 94 times for 408 yards (4.3 ypc) and three scores, while redshirt freshman Josh Caldwell has 35 carries for 240 yards (6.9 ypc) and two TDs.
Senior wide receiver Dee Toliver has a team-leading 14 catches for 318 yards (22.7 ypc) and two TDs.

Junior linebacker Jorge Belcher has made a team-leading 37 tackles (19 solo) with 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks and two PBUs, while senior cornerback Michael Jordan has made 10 tackles (seven solo), three interceptions and seven pass break-ups.

Freshman Tanner Pettet has converted six of 10 field goals, missing all four attempts from 40+ yards out. Junior Matthew Vincent has punted 22 times for a 38.2-yard average with eight kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.