PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to St. Joseph, Mo., Saturday (Oct. 15) to face Missouri Western State University in MIAA play. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at MWSU's Spratt Memorial Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, enters Saturday's contest with a 4-2 record. The Gorillas dropped a 54-41 decision to Fort Hays State University in their last action on Oct. 8 to snap a four-game winning streak.
Missouri Western also is 4-2 on the season. The Griffons claimed a 37-29 road win over Lindenwood last Saturday.
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 57-21 (.731) career record is in his seventh season as head coach at Pitt State.
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.
In 2014, the Gorillas shared the MIAA regular season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA-II playoffs during an 11-2 campaign.
Last year, a young Pitt State team battled a rash of key injuries to frontline players and the Gorillas had to settle for an uncharacteristic 6-5 season.
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 seventh meeting vs. the Griffons. He is 4-2 vs. MWSU.
MWSU's Jerry Partridge is in his 20th year leading the Griffons. Partridge (Missouri Western, '85) has compiled a 149-78 (.656) record while leading his alma mater. He is 7-12 vs. Pitt State.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted a 79-24-0 (.767) record in its last 103 road games (including post-season play).
The Gorillas posted a school and MIAA record 20 straight road wins between the 2010 and 2014 seasons before dropping a 24-21 overtime decision to Minnesota State in the second round of the NCAA-II playoffs on Nov. 29, 2014.
During the last 23 years (1994-pres.), the Gorillas are an equally impressive 90-26-1 (.774) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 285 of its last 341 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 285-54-2 (.839) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 153-21-1 at home, 128-24-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
The Pitt State - MWSU Series
This will be the 42nd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Griffons in a series that dates back to the 1970 season. Pitt State holds a 30-11 (.732) advantage in the series, including a 15-6 record against MWSU at St. Joseph.
The visiting team has won seven of the last 10 meetings in the series.
Last year, the Pitt State offense came alive after a slow first half and the Gorillas defense clamped down in the final 30 minutes of play to pull out a hard fought win. The 15th-ranked Gorillas overcame a 27-7 halftime deficit to rally with 24 unanswered points for a 31-27 victory over the Griffons on Oct. 3 in Pittsburg.
The Pitt State defense, which allowed 247 yards of offense in the first half, limited Western to 94 yards of offense after halftime.
Running back Jamal Tyler scored from seven yards out with 1:23 remaining for the game's final points.
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 694-340-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,082 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 674 victories, followed by Hillsdale (620), Carson-Newman (618) and Central Oklahoma (610).
Missouri Western has a 277-224-9 (.552) record in 47 seasons of intercollegiate play.
Quick Strike Offense
The Pitt State offense has exhibited a penchant for being a "quick strike" unit.
During the last 12 seasons (2005-16), the Pitt State offense has generated 759 scoring drives (636 TDs, 123 FGs) and averaged just 2:54 of elapsed time per drive.
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 50 scoring drives (41 TDs, 9 FGs) 2:53 elapsed time
2010 41 scoring drives (34 TDs, 7 FGs) 3:04 elapsed time 2016 31 scoring drives (25 TDs, 6 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 68 times (55 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 138 games, posting a 61-7 (.897) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 39-31 (.557) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
Inside The Pitt State Offense
Sophomore QB John Roderique returned from a hand injury that sidelined him since the first quarter of the season opener vs UCM to pass for 279 yards and two TDs vs. LWU on Sept. 24. Roderique completed 18 of 29 passes in the contest and also rushed the ball 10 times for a game-high 56 yards in that game. He completed seven of 10 passes for 113 yards and a TD before leaving the UCM game. Roderique passed for a career high 301 yards and four TDs against Fort Hays State on Oct. 8. The Webb City, Mo., native now has completed 164 of 274 passes (.599) for 2,220 yards (222.0 ypg) and 17 TDs in 20 career games. He also has 113 rushes for 592 yards and nine TDs. Roderique has a 6-4 record in eight career starts for Pitt State.
Junior QB Thomas LePage passed for a career-high 286 yards and three touchdowns vs NSU on Sept. 17. LePage, who started two games in place of an injured John Roderique, has completed 115 of 235 passes (.489) for 1,400 yards and 10 TDs in 21 career games. The Jefferson City, Mo., native also has 140 rushes for 439 yards and three TDs. He has a 4-3 record in seven career starts for the Gorillas.
Senior WR Levi Copelin posted four straight 100-yard receiving games to open the season before being held to 73 yards on five catches vs WU on Oct. 1. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native made nine catches for a career-high 191 yards and a TD against UCM. He followed that up with six catches for 114 yards and a TD against UCO and six grabs for 100 yards and a career-high three TDs vs NSU. He made eight catches for 126 yards and a TD vs. LWU. He currently leads the MIAA and ranks 20th in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (106.3 ypg). For his career, Copelin has 68 receptions for 1,144 yards (16.8 ypc) and 10 scores.
Redshirt freshman RS Lorenzo West earned MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts vs. WU on Oct. 1. The Lawton, Okla., native returned a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown against the Ichabods. His score gave the Gorillas a 14-13 lead en route to a 45-27 victory. West also scored on a 30-yard touchdown run in week two vs. UCO. On the season, he has returned four kickoffs for a 42.8-yard average.
Junior WR Austin Panko caught five passes for a career-high 134 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown reception, vs. LWU on Sept. 24. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native has 18 catches for 366 yards (20.3 ypc) and three TDS on the year. He has 59 career receptions for 876 yards (14.8 ypc) and seven scores.
Junior OL Bo Farrow has started 30 consecutive games at center for the Gorillas dating back to the start of the 2014 season. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native is a two-time All-MIAA selection. The next most experienced Pitt State offensive lineman – junior Ryan Cipriani – has 13 career starts for the Gorillas.
Senior PK Chad Levin has converted six of 11 field goal tries on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 15 of 23 (.652) career field goal attempts and 68 of 71 PAT tries. Levin has scored 113 career points.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Senior LB Spencer Brown was credited with a career high 15 tackles (seven solo) in week five action vs. WU. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. UCO in week two when he made nine tackles and returned an INT for the game-sealing touchdown. He now has compiled 273 career tackles (118 solo) with 22.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 QB sacks as well as 10 PBUs and one interception.
Senior S Deron Washington earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. WU on Oct. 1 when he return an interception 50 yards for a touchdown, forced and recovered a fumble deep in PSU territory and made six tackles (four solo). The Raymore, Mo., native now has 248 career tackles (131 solo) with 9.5 TFLs and 19 pass break-ups. Washington needs six more PBUs to break into Pitt State's top five list in career PBUs.
Junior LB Ethan Fugitt made the most of his first career start vs LWU on Sept. 24, compiling eight tackles (five solo), a fumble recovery and an interception he returned 23 yards for a touchdown. The Oak Grove, Mo., native followed that up with a career-high 10 tackles vs. WU. He is second on the team with 44 tackles (20 solo) with 4.5 tackles-for-loss, an interception and one pass break-up.
Senior CB Darrius White made a successful return back from a week one ankle injury. White, who joined the Gorillas in August from BCS member Georgia Southern, made an interception and blocked a pair of PAT tries against LWU on Sept. 24. Against WU, he returned an interception 15 yards for a TD on the game's first play and added a PBU as well. White exited the UCM game in the first half and missed the next two contests. For the season he has 11 tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and two PBUs.
Sophomore Carter Anchors established a new PSU record with an 84-yard punt vs. LWU on Sept. 24. He has punted 28 times for a 43.7-yard average on the season with nine kicks over 50 yards. The Kansas City, Mo., native leads the MIAA and ranks eighth in NCAA Division II in punting average.
Junior Austin Panko has averaged 16.9 yards on punt returns, including a 73-yard return for a score vs LWU that helped him earn MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native ranks second in the MIAA and fifth in NCAA Division II in punt returns to date.
Scouting the Griffons
Junior quarterback Skyler Windmiller directs the MWSU offense. Windmiller (6-3, 190) has completed 90 of 153 passes (.588) for 1,432 yards (238.7 ypg) and 11 touchdowns with three interceptions. He also has rushed for 142 yards and five scores.
Windmiller has spread the targets among four primary receivers. Junior Dijuan Ussery (5-11, 165,) has a team-leading 18 grabs for 435 yards (24.2 ypc) and three TDs, while junior Patrick Bolton (6-2, 200) has 17 catches for 231 yards (13.6 ypc) and three TDs. Junior Tyler Wrice (5-7, 180) has 15 receptions for 156 yards and sophomore Brock Broughton (5-11, 205) has 13 grabs for 248 yards (19.1 ypc) and two TDs.
Sophomore running back Josh Caldwell (5-11, 205) has rushed the ball 129 times for 853 yards (6.6 ypc) and five touchdowns, while junior Kendall Short (6-2, 220) has 55 carries for 280 yards (5.1 ypc) and four scores.
Offensively, the Griffons are scoring 38.7 points per game, while generating 502.3 yards of total offense (252.7 rushing).
Junior strong safety Donte Watkins (5-11, 185) leads the MWSU defense with 50 tackles (33 solo) with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions, while sophomore inside linebacker Tyrell Robison (6-1, 235) has made 37 tackles (23 solo), including 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks. Junior outside linebacker Darian Bass (6-4, 225) also has 27 tackles (19 solo) with 6.0 TFLs and 3.0 quarterback sacks.
The MWSU defense is allowing 24.5 points and 359.3 total yards (103.0 rushing).
