PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Edmond, Okla., Thursday (Sept. 8) to face MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at UCO's Wantland Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is seeking to bounce back from a rare season-opening loss. The Gorillas dropped a 34-27 home decision to No. 20 University of Central Missouri on Sept. 1, suffering their first season-opening loss since 2005.
Central Oklahoma dropped a 49-26 road decision to Lindenwood University in its season opener at St. Charles, Mo., on Sept. 1.
The Coaches
Tim Beck has compiled a 53-20 (.726) 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 Bronchos. He is 4-1 vs. UCO.
Central Oklahoma's Nick Bobeck is in his fourth year leading his alma mater and his fourth season as a (four-year) collegiate head coach. Bobeck (UCO, '02) returned to UCO after serving as the head coach at Navarro Junior College for three years. Bobeck has guided the Bronchos to a 19-26 (.422) record. This will be his fifth meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 1-3 vs. the Gorillas.
The Pitt State-Central Oklahoma Series
This will be the 14th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bronchos in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season.
Pitt State holds a 7-4-1 advantage in the series, including five wins in the last seven years. The Gorillas are 3-1-1 against the Bronchos in games played at Edmond.
Last year, UCO rushed out to a 28-7 lead and compiled 635 yards of total offense as the Bronchos posted a 49-31 victory over Pittsburg State in the regular season finale for both schools on Nov. 14.
T.J. Eckert completed 31 of 41 passes for 410 yards and three touchdowns while Clay McKenzie rushed 17 times for 167 yards and three scores as UCO (6-5, 6-5 MIAA) ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak.
Thomas LePage completed 11 of 28 passes for 170 yards and two scores for Pitt State (6-5, 6-5 MIAA), including a 99-yard connection to wide receiver Levi Copelin. LePage also rushed the ball 13 times for 80 yards as the Gorillas gained 343 yards on the ground..
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted a 76-24-0 (.760) record in its last 100 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 87-26-1 (.768) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 281 of its last 336 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 281-53-2 (.839) mark during the past 32 seasons (1985-2016). PSU is 152-20-1 at home, 125-24-1 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 216 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 183 of 216 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.
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 690-339-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,077 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 669 victories, followed by Hillsdale (618), Carson-Newman (614) and Central Oklahoma (609).
UCO has a 609-385-46 (.608) record in 111 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 740 scoring drives (619 TDs, 121 FGs) and averaged just 2:52 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 5 scoring drives (3 TDs, 2 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 65 times (54 TDs, 10 FGs) in the last 133 games, posting a 59-6 (.908) 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
Sophomore QB John Roderique completed seven of 10 passes for 113 yards and a TD before leaving the UCM game with a hand injury. The Webb City, Mo., native now has completed 101 of 167 passes (.605) for 1,377 yards (196.7 ypg) and 10 TDs in seven career games. Roderique is expected to miss the UCO game. He started the first six games of 2015 before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
Junior QB Thomas LePage passed for a career-high 191 yards and rushed for a score against UCM. LePage has completed 74 of 163 passes (.454) for 793 yards and five TDs in 17 career games. The Jefferson City, Mo., native also has 109 rushes for 233 yards and two TDs.
Junior RB Michael Rose posted his second career 100-yard rushing game against UCM. The Albuquerque, N.M., native carried the ball a career-high 27 times for 104 yards with a TD. He now has 149 career carries for 778 yards (5.2 ypc) and eight TDs. He also has caught 10 passes out of the backfield for 114 yards and two scores.
Senior WR Levi Copelin caught nine passes for a career-high 191 yards and a TD against UCM. His 191-yard outing was the eighth-highest total in school history and the sixth-highest total in NCAA Division II in week one action. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native now has 40 career receptions for 694 yards (17.4 ypc) and five scores.
Senior PK Chad Levin converted two of three field goal tries in the UCM game. The Tulsa, Okla., native has now converted 11 of 15 (.733) career field goal attempts and 43 of 44 PAT tries. Levin has scored 76 career points.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Senior LB Spencer Brown was credited with four tackles (three solo) in week one action vs. UCM. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native now has compiled 217 career tackles (93 solo) with 19.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 QB sacks as well as nine PBUs.
Senior S Deron Washington made a team-leading six stops (five solo) against UCM with 0.5 TFL, one forced fumble and one PBU. The Raymore, Mo., native now has 213 career tackles (111 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.
Freshman DT Simanu'a Thomas started in his first career game for the Gorillas and made an immediate impact. The Independence, Mo., native made four tackles (two solo) with 1.0 quarterback sack in his Pitt State debut. Thomas was the 2015 Missouri Defensive Player of the Year at Fort Osage High School. He compiled 198 career prep tackles with 48 TFLs, 20 QB sacks and 14 forced fumbles.
Junior DT Willie Cooper enjoyed a successful debut for the Gorillas vs. UCM. The Savannah, Ga., native made three tackles (two solo) with 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Cooper transferred to Pitt State in January from Holmes (Miss.) Community College.
Sophomore Carter Anchors punted five times for a 49.6-yard average against the Mules. The Kansas City, Mo., native has 41 career punts for a 40.4-yard average, including eight 50+ yard kicks and 10 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.
Scouting the Bronchos
Senior quarterback T.J. Eckert returns to lead the UCO offense. Eckert (6-0, 207) completed 36 of 62 passes for 424 yards in the Bronchos' season-opening loss to Lindenwood. He was intercepted four times, including two passes that were returned for defensive touchdowns.
As a junior in 2015, Eckert completed 66.7 percent of his passes (162 of 243) for 2,137 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 262 yards and a score.
Senior wide receiver Connor Pulley (6-4, 228) was Eckert's favorite target in the LWU game, catching seven passes for a game-high 161 yards He had 24 grabs for 424 yards and four TDs in 2015.
Senior wide receiver Rodriguez Coleman (6-3, 190) added 10 catches for 81 yards against the Lions last week, while junior wide receiver Josh Crockett (6-4, 195) finished the game with seven receptions for 84 yards.
Junior running back Clay McKenzie returns after rushing for 1,499 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. McKenzie (5-11, 209) rushed the ball 23 times for 91 yards and a pair of scores against LWU.
UCO compiled 587 yards of total offense against Lindenwood, but the Bronchos were plagued by five turnovers. UCO also was held on downs once in LWU territory.
Junior defensive end Collis Walker is UCO's top statistical returner. Walker (6-2, 274) made 36 tackles (12 solo) with 5.5 TFLs in 2015. He finished the LWU game with four stops (two solo) and 0.5 QB sack.
Sophomore defensive tackle Carson Smith (6-2, 316) also made 26 tackles (seven solo) with 5.5 TFLs a year ago.
Junior safety Riley Gaylon (5-11, 190) made a team-leading eight stops (five solo) against LWU last week, while sophomore cornerback Malik Walker (5-10, 172) added two tackles and an interception in the game.
Senior placekicker Seth Hiddink booted a pair of field goals against LWU – from 29 and 35 yards. Hiddink (6-4, 223) converted 17 of 23 (.739) field goals a year ago.
Senior punter Christian Fulham (6-0, 243) averaged 40.3 yards on three kicks against the Lions. He punted 52 times for a 35.5-yard average in 2015.
