PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Nov. 5) to face the University of Nebraska-Kearney in MIAA action. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, enters today's contest with a 5-4 record. The Gorillas have dropped back-to-back games – to No. 12 Emporia State and No. 1 Northwest Missouri – the past two weeks.
Nebraska-Kearney is 1-8 on the season. The Lopers dropped a 35-14 home decision to Lindenwood University in their last action last Saturday (Oct. 29).
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 58-23 (.716) 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 third meeting vs. the Lopers. He is 2-0 vs. UNK.
UNK's Josh Lamberson is in his second season leading the Lopers, after serving for five seasons as offensive coordinator at MIAA rival Central Missouri. Lamberson (NWMSU, 2006) has a 1-19 (.050) record leading the Lopers. He is 0-1 vs. Pitt State.
Gorillas at Hme
Pitt State holds a 344-128-12 (.723) record in 484 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 144 of their last 167 regular season home games, posting a 144-22-1 record (.865) over the last 32 seasons.
Nebraska-Kearney is 4-22 (.154) in 26 road games since joining the MIAA in 2012.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 286 of its last 344 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 286-56-2 (.834) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 153-22-1 at home, 129-25-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
The Pitt State - UNK Series
This will be the 19th meeting between the Gorillas and the Lopers in a series that dates back to the 1974 season, but it will be just the fourth meeting between the two squads since 1988.
Pitt State holds an 11-7 edge in the series.
The Gorillas and Lopers met for 15 consecutive years, between 1974-88, when they were conference foes in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (1974-75) and Central States Intercollegiate Conference (1976-88).
Last year, Pitt State rallied from from an early 13-0 deficit to claim a 24-19 road win over Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 24 at Kearney, Neb.
The Gorillas defense blocked a punt and forced three fumbles to help spark the comeback win.
Michael Rose rushed for a team-leading 59 yards for the Gorillas. Marquise Cushon added 53 yards, while Jeff Seybold, Jr. finished with 49 yards and Thomas LePage chipped in with 42 ground yards. LePage completed five of 14 passes for 36 yards with two interceptions.
Spencer Brown made a team-leading 13 tackles, while Kip Keeley added 10 stops. Dino Teague intercepted a pass in the PSU end zone in the first half to stop a potential UNK scoring drive.
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 695-342-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,085 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 676 victories, followed by Hillsdale (621), Carson-Newman (619) and Central Oklahoma (611).
Nebraska-Kearney has a 527-330-32 (.611) record in 93 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 776 scoring drives (649 TDs, 127 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 48 scoring drives (38 TDs, 10 FGs) 2:47 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 141 games, posting a 61-7 (.897) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 40-33 (.548) 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 on Oct. 22. The Webb City, Mo., native now has completed 231 of 391 passes (.591) for 3,261 yards (250.8 ypg) and 26 TDs in 13 career games. He also has 142 rushes for 669 yards and 10 TDs. Roderique currently ranks third in the MIAA in passing yards (285.3 ypg) this season as he's completed 134 of 237 passes (.565) for 1,997 yards and 17 TDs with six 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 117 of 240 passes (.488) for 1,400 yards and 10 TDs in 22 career games. The Jefferson City, Mo., native also has 143 rushes for 442 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 32nd in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (94.0 ypg). For his career, Copelin has 82 receptions for 1,356 yards (16.5 ypc) and 13 scores. He needs 50 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 14 kickoffs for a 29.5-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 36 catches for 651 yards (18.1 ypc) and four TDS on the year. He has 76 career receptions for 1,161 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 36 receptions for 504 yards (14.0 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 110 times for 576 yards (5.2 ypc) and seven touchdowns in seven games played. He currently ranks second in the MIAA in rushing (82.3 ypg). Rose has 230 career carries for 1,250 yards (5.4 ypc) and 14 TDs in 22 games played.
Senior PK Chad Levin has converted 10 of 15 field goal tries on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 19 of 27 (.704) career field goal attempts and 79 of 83 PAT tries. Levin has scored 136 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 305 career tackles (136 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 10 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 263 career tackles (143 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 69 tackles (33 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 37 tackles (17 solo) with 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 QB sacks. The Wagoner, Okla., native has made 163 career tackles with 37.0 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 40 times for a 43.8-yard average on the season with 13 kicks over 50 yards. The Kansas City, Mo., native leads the MIAA and ranks fifth in NCAA Division II in punting average.
Junior Austin Panko has averaged 14.2 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 13th in NCAA Division II in punt returns to date.
Scouting the Lopers
Redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Roberts will direct the UNK offense. Roberts (6-4, 215) has played in six games. He has completed 34 of 67 passes (.507) for 289 yards and one touchdown with six interceptions.
Junior wide receiver Malcolm Moore (6-2, 195) has a team-leading 46 catches for 554 yards (12.0 ypc) and four touchdowns. Sophomore wide receiver Blake Holtmeier (6-2, 200) also has 24 grabs for 295 yards (12.3 ypc) and two TDs.
Sophomore running back Luke Quinn (5-9, 200) has rushed the ball 152 times for 625 yards (4.1 ypc) and six touchdowns. He's also caught 16 passes for 230 yards (14.4 ypc) and three scores.
Senior linebacker Tyke Kozeal (6-0, 240) leads the UNK defense with 144 tackles (82 solo) with 13.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 quarterback sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Sophomore defensive end Tye Spies (6-3, 265) has made 33 tackles (15 solo), including 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks.
Junior Brendan Wentling (5-8, 170) has converted six of 10 field goal attempts, while junior Payton Fluckey (6-0, 215) has punted 58 times for a 36.9-yard average.
The Lopers are averaging 22.0 points and 335.0 total yards per game (219.8 passing), while the UNK defense is allowing 37.2 points and 440.3 total yards (255.1 passing).
