PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Maryville, Mo., Saturday (Oct. 29) to face unbeaten and No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State University. Kickoff is set for 2:35 p.m. (CDT) at Bearcat Stadium.
The game will be televised live on American Sports Network as the NCAA Division II Showcase. The game also will be viewable on several Kansas City area TV stations most notably KSMO in Kansas City, Mo.
Additionally, KSNF TV also will rebroadcast the game in the Four States region Saturday evening in prime time starting at 6:30 p.m. (CDT).
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, enters Saturday's contest with a 5-3 record. The Gorillas dropped a hard-fought 41-36 decision to No. 12 Emporia State University last Saturday (Oct. 22) in Pittsburg.
Northwest Missouri is 8-0 on the season and ranked No. 1 in the most recent AFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Monday (Oct. 24). The Bearcats, the defending Division II national champions, have won 23 straight games dating back to the 2015 season, including a 47-12 road win over Lindenwood University in their last action on Oct. 22.
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 58-22 (.725) 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 eighth meeting vs. the Bearcats. He is 3-4 vs. NWMSU.
NWMSU's Adam Dorrel is in his sixth season as head coach of his alma mater, after serving for seven seasons as an assistant coach on the Bearcats staff. He has compiled a 69-8 (.896) record. Dorrel, who led Northwest to the 2013 and 2015 NCAA Division II National Championships, has a 3-3 record vs. the Gorillas.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted an 80-24-0 (.769) record in its last 104 road games (including post-season play). The Gorillas are 27-3 (.900) in their last 30 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010.
Pitt State 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 91-26-1 (.775) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 286 of its last 343 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 286-55-2 (.839) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 153-22-1 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 - Northwest Series
This will be the 50th meeting between the Gorillas and the Bearcats in a series that dates all the way back to the 1932 season.
Northwest holds a 25-24-0 advantage in the competitive series. The Gorillas are 8-8-0 vs. the Bearcats at Maryville, including a 35-17 victory in the last meeting at Bearcat Stadium on Oct. 18, 2014.
Last year, No. 3 NWMSU scored 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to break open a 7-7 game against No. 22 Pitt State. The Bearcats rode that first-half momemtum to a 31-14 victory in front of 10,189 fans at Carnie Smith Stadium on Oct. 17, 2015.
Thomas LePage, making his first career start for an injured Pitt State starter John Roderique, completed 13 of 27 passes for 76 yards.
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 695-341-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,084 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 (611).
Northwest Missouri has a 561-394-32 (.584) record in 100 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 774 scoring drives (648 TDs, 126 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 46 scoring drives (37 TDs, 9 FGs) 2:42 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 140 games, posting a 61-7 (.897) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 40-32 (.556) 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 on Oct. 15 when he completed 22 of 30 passes for a career high 373 yards and a school record tying five touchdowns. Roderique established a new school record when he passed for 473 yards and four TDs vs. ESU last week. The Webb City, Mo., native now has completed 215 of 358 passes (.601) for 3,066 yards (255.5 ypg) and 26 TDs in 12 career games. He also has 135 rushes for 681 yards and 10 TDs. Roderique currently ranks second in the MIAA in passing yards (300.3 ypg) this season as he's completed 121 of 204 passes (.602) for 1,802 yards and 17 TDs with just four INTs.
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. Copelin also made eight catches for 134 yards and three TDs vs. ESU. He currently leads the MIAA and ranks 20th in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (103.5 ypg). For his career, Copelin has 80 receptions for 1,338 yards (16.7 ypc) and 13 scores. He needs 68 more receiving yards to break into Pitt State's all-time top 10 receiving yards list.
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 11 kickoffs for a 29.9-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. He also posted 100-yard receiving games vs. MWSU (112 yds) on Oct. 15 and vs. ESU (102 yds) on Oct. 22. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native has 30 catches for 580 yards (19.3 ypc) and four TDS on the year. He has 70 career receptions for 1,090 yards (15.6 ypc) and eight scores.
Redshirt freshman WR Brenner Clemons caught six passes for a career-high 153 yards and two touchdowns vs. MWSU on Oct. 22. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native also had 11 catches for 138 yards and two scores against FHSU on Oct. 8. For the season, Clemons has 32 receptions for 443 yards (13.8 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. MWSU on Oct. 15. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has rushed the ball a team-leading 97 times for 530 yards (6.0 ypc) and six touchdowns in six games played. He currently ranks second in the MIAA in rushing (88.3 ypg). Rose has 217 career carries for 1,204 yards (5.5 ypc) and 13 TDs in 21 games played.
Senior PK Chad Levin has converted nine of 14 field goal tries on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 18 of 26 (.692) career field goal attempts and 78 of 82 PAT tries. Levin has scored 132 career points.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Senior LB Spencer Brown was credited with a career high 16 tackles (eight solo) vs. ESU on Oct. 22. 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 301career tackles (134 solo) with 24.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 QB sacks as well as 10 PBUs and one interception. Brown broke into Pitt State's all-time top 10 tackles chart with his 16-tackle performance vs. ESU and he now ranks ninth all-time. He needs 14 more tackles to pass Wes Baker (1997-2000, 314 tackles) for eighth place.
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 256 career tackles (138 solo) with 10.0 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 made a career-high 13 tackles vs. ESU on Oct. 22. He is second on the team with 62 tackles (32 solo) with 6.5 tackles-for-loss, an interception and two pass break-ups.
Senior DE Heath Wilson made eight tackles (six solo) including 2.0 quarterback sacks vs. ESU on Oct. 22. For the season, Wilson has recorded 33 tackles (15 solo) with 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 QB sacks. The Wagoner, Okla., native has made 159 career tackles with 36.5 TFLs and 19.5 quarterback sacks.
Sophomore Carter Anchors established a new PSU record with an 84-yard punt vs. LWU on Sept. 24. He has punted 34 times for a 43.5-yard average on the season with 11 kicks over 50 yards. The Kansas City, Mo., native leads the MIAA and ranks seventh in NCAA Division II in punting average.
Junior Austin Panko has averaged 15.4 yards on punt returns, including a 73-yard return for a score vs LWU on Sept. 24 that helped him earn MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native leads the MIAA and ranks 10th in NCAA Division II in punt returns to date.
Scouting the Bearcats
Senior quarterback Kyle Zimmerman directs the NWMSU offense. Zimmerman (6-1, 200) has completed 174 of 250 passes (.696) for 2,251 yards (281.4 ypg) and 25 touchdowns with no interceptions. He ranks as the No. 3 in NCAA Division II this season with a 178.2 passer rating. Zimmerman also has rushed 46 times for 227 yards and three TDs.
Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Bane, Jr. (5-11, 169) has a team-leading 28 catches for 585 yards (20.9 ypc) and nine TDs, while junior running back Jordan Grove (5-11, 216) also has 28 grabs for 335 yards (12.0 ypc) and four scores.
Senior running back Phil Jackson II (6-0, 223) has rushed the ball 80 times for 489 yards (6.1 ypc) and seven touchdowns, while junior Cameron Wilcox (5-10, 208) has 63 carries for 358 yards (5.7 ypc) and nine scores.
Senior linebacker Jacob Vollstedt (6-2, 215) leads the NWMSU defense with 68 tackles (35 solo) with 7.5 tackles-for-loss, while senior defensive end Cass Weitl (6-4, 273) has made 41 tackles (16 solo), including 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 quarterback sacks.
Senior Simon Mathiesen (6-4, 205) has converted seven of 10 field goal attempts, while sophomore Matt Thorman (6-0, 206) has punted 26 times for a 37.5-yard average.
The Bearcats are averaging 49.8 points (3rd in DII) and 518.4 total yards per game (301.4 passing), while the NWMSU defense is allowing 15.5 points (5th in DII) and 248.8 total yards (5th in DII).
