PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will play host to Emporia State University Saturday (Oct. 22) in MIAA action. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, enters Saturday's contest with a 5-2 record. The Gorillas posted a 55-47 road win over Missouri Western State University in their last action on Oct. 15 to improve to 4-0 on the road this season.
Emporia State is 6-1 on the season and ranked No. 12 in the most recent AFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Monday (Oct. 17). [for complete poll, see page 5] The Hornets held on to claim a 35-28 home win over Lindenwood University last Saturday (Oct. 15) to post their sixth straight win.
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 58-21 (.734) 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 fifth meeting vs. the Hornets. He is 2-2 vs. ESU.
ESU's Garrin Higgins is in his 10th year leading the Hornets and his 15th year as a collegiate coach. Higgins (ESU, '92) has compiled a 59-50 (.541) record leading his alma mater as well as a 110-59 (.651) career mark. He is 2-5 vs. Pitt State, averaging a 43-16 defeat in those games.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 344-127-12 (.726) record in 483 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 144 of their last 166 regular season home games, posting a 144-21-1 record (.870) over the last 32 seasons.
Emporia State is 27-30 (.474) in 57 road games during Coach Higgins tenure (2007-present).
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 286 of its last 342 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 286-54-2 (.839) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 153-21-1 at home, 129-24-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
The Pitt State - Emporia State Series
This will be the 94th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Hornets in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season. The Pitt State-Emporia State series is the ninth-longest rivalry in NCAA Division II football.
Pitt State holds a commanding 58-33-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 28-16-1 vs. the Hornets in Pittsburg and 30-17-1 vs. the Hornets at Emporia all-time.
Pitt State is 30-6 in its last 36 meetings against ESU.
This will be just the fourth time the Gorillas will face a nationally-ranked Hornet squad.
Last year, quarterback Brent Wilson tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kavaski Ervin with 2:06 to play in the game to lift No. 18 Emporia State to a 46-42 victory over No. 13 Pittsburg State in a high scoring contest on Oct. 10 at Welch Stadium in Emporia.
The Hornets trailed 14-0 early in the contest to the Gorillas and Pitt State took a final lead, 42-39, with 4:44 remaining in the contest on John Roderique's two-yard run.
Wilson completed 26 of 43 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 10 times for a game-high 108 yards, including a 36-yard TD scamper that put the Hornets up 39-35 with 10:41 to play in the game.
Roderique completed 16 of 31 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns in the game, but he also was intercepted four times. Running back Jeff Seybold carried the ball 19 times for a team-leading 80 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a 32-yard TD pass from Roderique.
Roderique rushed the ball 13 times for 72 yards and two scores.
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 695-340-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,083 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 675 victories, followed by Hillsdale (620), Carson-Newman (618) and Central Oklahoma (610).
Emporia State has a 510-526-45 (.493) record in 119 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 768 scoring drives (643 TDs, 125 FGs) and averaged just 2:53 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 40 scoring drives (32 TDs, 8 FGs) 2:46 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 139 games, posting a 61-7 (.897) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 40-31 (.563) 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 301 yards and four TDs against Fort Hays State on Oct. 8. He earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors last week when he completed 22 of 30 passes for a career high 373 yards and a school record tying five touchdowns. The Webb City, Mo., native now has completed 186 of 304 passes (.612) for 2,593 yards (235.7 ypg) and 22 TDs in 11 career games. He also has 127 rushes for 666 yards and nine TDs. Roderique has a 7-4 career record 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 29th in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (99.1 ypg). For his career, Copelin has 72 receptions for 1,200 yards (16.7 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 23 catches for 478 yards (20.8 ypc) and four TDS on the year. He has 63 career receptions for 988 yards (15.7 ypc) and eight scores.
Redshirt freshman WR Brenner Clemons caught six passes for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns vs. Missouri Western last week. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native also had 11 catches for 138 yards and two scores against Fort Hays State on Oct. 8. For the season, Clemons has 27 receptions for 364 yards (13.5 ypc) and four TDs.
Junior RB Michael Rose carried the ball a career high 28 times for a career best 175 yards and two touchdowns vs. Missouri Western on Oct. 8. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has rushed the ball a team-leading 83 times for 502 yards (6.0 ypc) and six touchdowns in five games played. He currently ranks second in the MIAA in rushing (100.4 ypg). Rose has 203 career carries for 1,176 yards (5.7 ypc) and 13 TDs in 20 games played.
Senior PK Chad Levin has converted eight of 13 field goal tries on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 17 of 25 (.680) career field goal attempts and 75 of 78 PAT tries. Levin has scored 126 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 285 career tackles (126 solo) with 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 QB sacks as well as 10 PBUs and one interception. Brown needs three more tackles to break into Pitt State's all-time top 10 tackles chart.
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.
Sophomore Carter Anchors established a new PSU record with an 84-yard punt vs. LWU on Sept. 24. He has punted 31 times for a 43.2-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 15.8 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 ninth in NCAA Division II in punt returns to date.
Scouting the Hornets
Sophomore quarterback Braxton Marstall directs the ESU offense. Marstall (6-2, 205) has completed 175 of 253 passes (.692) for 1,729 yards (247.0 ypg) and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions. He also has carried the ball a team-leading 84 times for 348 net yards (4.1 ypc) and five scores.
Sophomore wide receiver Justin Brown (6-2, 203) has a team-leading 42 catches for 351 yards (8.4 ypc) and four TDs despite missing a game. Senior wide receiver Mitchell Foote (6-3, 187) also has 39 grabs for 515 yards (13.2 ypc) and eight TDs.
Senior running back Antonio Brown (5-11, 197) has rushed the ball 59 times for 361 yards (6.1 ypc) and four touchdowns, while sophomore Landon Nault (5-9, 196) has 81 carries for 348 yards (4.0 ypc) and two scores.
Senior linebacker Kole Schankle (6-1, 217) leads the ESU defense with 50 tackles (35 solo) with 4.0 tackles-for-loss and a team-leading four interceptions, while sophomore defensive tackle Donovan Walker (6-0, 250) has made 20 tackles (11 solo), including 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 quarterback sacks.
Junior Austin Morton (5-9, 171) has converted five of 11 field goal attempts, while junior Justin Marcha (6-1, 216) has punted 34 times for a 40.2-yard average.
The Hornets are averaging 35.9 points and 443.6 total yards per game (271.0 passing), while the ESU defense is allowing 25.1 points and 401.4 total yards (268.6 passing).
