PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Sept. 17) to host MIAA rival Northeastern State University for Family Day. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is 1-1 on the season. The Gorillas bounced back from a 34-27 season-opening loss to No. 20 University of Central Missouri on Sept. 1 by posting a 45-31 road win over the University of Central Oklahoma last Thursday (Sept. 8) at Edmond, Okla.
Northeastern State also brings a 1-1 record into Saturday's action. The RiverHawks scored a 35-31 come-from-behind win over Lindenwood University on Sept. 8, after dropping a 38-19 road decision to Washburn University in their season opener Sept. 1.
Another Home Sellout
Saturday's anticipated crowd at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium will represent the 17th sellout in the last 24 home games since the start of the 2012 season. All reserved seats and general admission tickets have been sold and the school is selling just "standing room only" tickets for the game.
The official attendance will be announced in the third quarter of Saturday's action, but, based on early ticket sales, the crowd could challenge the school's all-time top single figure of 11,910 fans.
Pitt State has averaged 11,110 fans in 7,950-seat Carnie Smith Stadium in the last four Family Day contests.
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
+ Family Day Game
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 54-20 (.730) 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).
Beck's teams led Division II in scoring in two of the last six years (2004, 2006) and ranked in the top two nationally in total offense three times in the last six seasons (2004, 2005, 2006). His squads ranked among the national rushing leaders every season, leading Division II in 1995 (318.8 ypg) and 2004 (354.7 ypg). Beck's "multiple choice" option attack also compiled 16,483 passing yards (216.9 ypg) and 143 aerial touchdowns during the last six years.
Pitt State averaged a staggering 38.8 points and 442.5 yards of total offense per game during his tenure as offensive coordinator.
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 RiverHawks. He is 4-0 vs. NSU.
Rob Robinson is in his third season directing the RiverHawks program, after serving as an assistant coach at MIAA rival Washburn University for 12 seasons. Robinson (William Jewell, 2000) has a 4-20-0 (.167) record leading NSU. He is 0-2 all-time vs. Pitt State.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 343-126-12 (.726) record in 481 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 143 of their last 164 regular season home games, posting a 143-20-1 record (.875) over the last 32 seasons.
Northeastern State is 4-18 (.182) in its last 22 road games since joining the MIAA in 2012.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 282 of its last 337 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 282-53-2 (.840) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 152-20-1 at home, 126-24-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
Pitt State in the AFCA Top 25 Poll
Pitt State has been ranked in Division II's top 10 116 times in the last 217 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 183 of 217 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).
The Gorillas were preseason ranked among "others receiving votes" in the NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll.
The Pitt State-Northeastern State Series
This will be the 32nd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the RiverHawks in a series that dates back to the 1912 season.
Pitt State holds a 17-12-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas have won the only five contests between the two schools since 1970.
Last year, seventh-ranked Pitt State scored on each of its first two offensive plays and jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead over Northeastern State, before settling for a 38-14 season opening victory at Tahlequah, Okla., on Sept. 3.
Freshman transfer quarterback John Roderique scored on a 39-yard touchdown scamper on the first play of the game. After a quick three-and-out by the Pitt State defense, Roderique again broke loose on a zone option play to make it a 14-0 game 60 seconds into the contest.
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 691-339-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,078 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 670 victories, followed by Hillsdale (619), Carson-Newman (616) and Central Oklahoma (609).
NSU has a 443-411-30 (.518) record in 94 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 746 scoring drives (624 TDs, 122 FGs) and averaged just 2:54 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 50 scoring drives (41 TDs, 9 FGs) 2:53 elapsed time
2010 41 scoring drives (34 TDs, 7 FGs) 3:04 elapsed time 2016 11 scoring drives (8 TDs, 3 FGs) 3:38 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 66 times (54 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 134 games, posting a 60-6 (.909) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 37-31 (.544) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
Inside The Pitt State Offense
Junior QB Thomas LePage passed for a career-high 264 yards and two TDs in his first start of the year vs UCO. LePage has completed 91 of 190 passes (.479) for 1,057 yards and seven TDs in 18 career games. The Jefferson City, Mo., native also has 120 rushes for 259 yards and two TDs.
Senior WR Levi Copelin has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games vs UCM and UCO. 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. He currently ranks ninth in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (152.5 ypg). For his career, Copelin has 46 receptions for 808 yards (17.6 ypc) and six scores.
Redshirt freshmen Lorenzo West and Kiah Kintchen both contributed to the Pitt State win over UCO. West, a Lawton, Okla., native, scored on a 30-yard end-around run. Kintchen, from Kansas City, Mo., scored the go-ahead TD on a one-yard plunge with 1:56 remaining in the game. He rushed five times for seven yards and added a 19-yard reception against the Bronchos.
Senior PK Chad Levin has converted three of four field goal tries on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 12 of 16 (.750) career field goal attempts and 47 of 49 PAT tries. Levin has scored 83 career points.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Senior LB Spencer Brown was credited with nine tackles (six solo) in week two action vs. UCO. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native also tipped and intercepted a pass that he returned 25 yards for the game-clinching touchdown with 1:30 to play against the Bronchos. For his efforts against the Bronchos, Brown was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 12). He now has compiled 226 career tackles (99 solo) with 19.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 QB sacks as well as nine PBUs and one interception.
Senior S Deron Washington made eight stops (three solo) against UCO with an interception as well. The Raymore, Mo., native now has 221 career tackles (114 solo) with 8.5 TFLs and 19 pass break-ups. Washington needs six more PBUs to break into Pitt State's top five list in career PBUs.
Sophomore DT Braxton Early enjoyed a solid outing against the Bronchos last Thursday. Early made two tackles, including a quarterback sack in the contest. He also recovered a UCO fumble deep in Pitt State territory to thwart a potential Bronchos scoring drive. The Grove Hill, Ala., native has made nine career tackles with 3.0 TFLs and 2.5 quarterback sacks.
Redshirt freshman DE Ned Bingaman made his first career start vs. UCO. The Overland Park, Kan., native made a game-high nine tackles (three solo) against the Bronchos.
Sophomore Carter Anchors has punted eight times for a 46.4-yard average on the season. The Kansas City, Mo., native leads the MIAA and ranks second in NCAA Division II early in the season in punting average.
Junior Austin Panko has averaged 17.3 yards on four punt returns on the young season. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native ranks second in the MIAA and 12th in NCAA Division II in punt returns to date.
Scouting the RiverHawks
Sophomore quarterback Dimonic McKinzy directs the NSU offense. McKinzy (6-0, 220), who transferred to NSU from Hutchinson Community College, was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 12) after passing for 300 yards and five touchdowns in the RiverHawks 35-31 victory over Lindenwood University last Thursday (Sept. 8).
For the season, McKinzy has completed 46 of 91 passes (.505) for 583 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. He's also rushed 23 times for 67 yards and one score.
Senior wide receiver Matthew Butler (6-1, 185) has been McKinzy's favorite target with 14 catches for 150 yards and two scores, while junior wide receiver Gary McKnight (6-1, 200) has 10 receptions for 167 yards and three touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Darian Morris leads the NSU defense with 19 tackles (14 solo) with 1.0 quarterback sack, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery.
The RiverHawks are averaging 27.0 points and 410.5 total yards per game (291.5 passing), while the NSU defense is allowing 34.5 points and 484.5 total yards (216.0 rushing).
