PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Topeka Saturday (Oct. 1) to face MIAA rival Washburn University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (CDT) at WU's Yager Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is 3-1 on the season. The Gorillas have won three straight games including a 50-19 victory over Lindenwood University last Saturday (Sept. 24) at St. Charles, Mo.
Washburn is 3-1 on the season. The Ichabods have won two in a row including a dramatic 47-44 triple overtime road victory over the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 56-20 (.737) 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 sixth meeting vs. the Ichabods. He is 2-3 vs. WU.
Craig Schurig is in his 14th season directing the Ichabods program and his 14th year as a collegiate coach. Schurig (Colorado Mines, '87), who became head coach at Washburn in 2002 after eight seasons as an assistant at Pitt State (1994-2001), has a 99-65-0 (.604) record leading the Ichabods. He is 6-7 all-time vs. Pitt State, including a 3-3 mark at Topeka.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted a 78-24-0 (.765) record in its last 102 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 89-26-1 (.772) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 284 of its last 339 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 284-53-2 (.841) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 153-20-1 at home, 127-24-1 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 219 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 183 of 219 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).
The Gorillas are ranked among "others receiving votes" in this week's NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll.
The Pitt State-Washburn Series
This will be the 87th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Ichabods in a series that dates all the way back to the 1921 season.
The two teams met annually from 1941-2011, but did not face one another in 2012-13 thanks to an unbalanced MIAA schedule.
Pitt State holds a commanding 62-23-1 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 31-13-0 vs. the Ichabods at Topeka all-time, including a 13-3 mark in the last 16 meetings at Topeka dating back to the 1982 season.
Quarterback Derek McGinnis passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns and the Washburn defense held No. 4 Pittsburg State on a potential game-tying drive in the game's final minute to lead the Ichabods to a 28-21 victory over the Gorillas on Sept. 19.
Washburn built a 28-10 lead with 6:04 to play in the third quarter and then withstood a fourth quarter comeback bid by Pitt State before a sellout crowd of 11,383 fans at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
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 693-339-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,080 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 672 victories, followed by Hillsdale (620), Carson-Newman (617) and Central Oklahoma (610).
Washburn has a 537-572-44 (.485) record in 125 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 755 scoring drives (633 TDs, 122 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 20 scoring drives (17 TDs, 3 FGs) 3:19 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 67 times (55 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 136 games, posting a 61-6 (.910) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 38-31 (.551) 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. Roderique completed 18 of 29 passes in the contest and also rushed the ball 10 times for a game-high 56 yards. He completed seven of 10 passes for 113 yards and a TD before leaving the UCM game. The Webb City, Mo., native now has completed 119 of 196 passes (.607) for 1,656 yards (207.0 ypg) and 12 TDs in eight career games. He also has 93 rushes for 530 yards and nine TDs. Roderique has a 5-3 record in eight career starts for Pitt State.
Junior QB Thomas LePage passed for a career-high 286 yards and three touchdowns vs NSU. 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 20 career games. The Jefferson City, Mo., native also has 139 rushes for 443 yards and three TDs. He has a 4-3 record in seven career starts for the Gorillas.
Senior WR Levi Copelin has posted four straight 100-yard receiving games to open the season. Copelin is bidding to become the first receiver in school history with five straight 100-yard receiving games. 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 last week. He currently leads the MIAA and ranks third in NCAA Division II in receiving yards (132.8 ypg). For his career, Copelin has 60 receptions for 1,034 yards (17.2 ypc) and 10 scores.
Senior RB Dre Holman made his fourth career start for the Gorillas vs LWU. The Oklahoma City native carried the ball a career-high 14 times for 45 yards and scored on a one-yard plunge in the first quarter. For his career, Holman has rushed the ball 167 times for 672 yards (4.0 ypc) and five scores.
Junior WR Austin Panko caught five passes for a career-high 134 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown reception, vs. LWU. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native has 12 catches for 235 yards (19.6 ypc) and two TDS on the year. He has 53 career receptions for 745 yards (14.1 ypc) and six scores.
Junior OL Bo Farrow has started 28 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 three of six field goal tries on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 12 of 18 (.667) career field goal attempts and 57 of 60 PAT tries. Levin has scored 93 career points.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Senior LB Spencer Brown was credited with five tackles (three solo) in week four action vs. LWU. 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 240 career tackles (106 solo) with 20.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.5 QB sacks as well as 10 PBUs and one interception.
Senior S Deron Washington made four stops (two solo) against LWU. The Raymore, Mo., native now has 231 career tackles (118 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.
Junior LB Ethan Fugitt made the most of his first career start vs LWU, compiling eight tackles (five solo), a fumble recovery and an interception he returned 23 yards for a touchdown. The Oak Grove, Mo., native is second on the team with 25 tackles (12 solo) with 2.5 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. He also posted three tackles (two solo). White exited the UCM game in the first half and missed the previous two contests.
Sophomore DT Braxton Early enjoyed a solid outing vs. LWU. The Grove Hill, Ala., native made four tackles (two solo) with 1.5 quarterback sacks and a forced fumble. He has compiled eight tackles (five solo) with a team-leading 2.5 QB sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on the year.
Sophomore Carter Anchors established a new PSU record with an 84-yard punt vs. LWU. He has punted 20 times for a 45.1-yard average on the season with seven kicks over 50 yards. The Kansas City, Mo., native leads the MIAA and ranks fourth in NCAA Division II early in the season in punting average.
Junior Austin Panko has averaged 18.7 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 11th in NCAA Division II in punt returns to date.
Scouting the Ichabods
Senior quarterback Derek McGinnis directs the WU offense. McGinnis (6-3, 220) has completed 48 of 101 passes (.475) for 816 yards (204.0 ypg) and eight touchdowns. He has been intercepted twice.
Sophomore wide receiver Jake Horner has been McGinnis' primary target. Horner (6-0, 183) has caught a team-leading 12 passes for 348 yards (29.0 ypc) and three TDs. Senior wide receiver Bryce Chavis also has 10 grabs for 150 yards (15.0 ypc) and two scores.
Junior running back Mickeel Stewart (6-1, 210) has rushed the ball 54 times for 206 yards (3.8 ypc) and five touchdowns. Stewart scored four touchdowns, including three TDs in overtime, in WU's 47-44 3OT victory over Nebraska-Kearney to earn MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Senior linebacker Cody Heiman (6-3, 245) leads the WU defense with 38 tackles (21 solo) with 2.5 tackles-for-loss, an interception and four pass break-ups.
Senior defensive end Spenser Matthews (6-3, 245) also has made 15 tackles (seven solo) with 5.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks.
The Ichabods are averaging 31.5 points and 388.0 total yards per game (227.8 passing), while the WU defense is allowing 33.2 points and 383.2 total yards (254.0 passing).
