PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Emporia, Kan., Saturday (Oct. 21) for an MIAA match-up against Emporia State University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at Welch Stadium.
Pitt State enters Saturday's contest with a 3-4 record. The Gorillas became the first Division II team to reach 700 all-time victories with a 26-10 home win over Missouri Western State University last Saturday (Oct. 14). Pitt State is just the 33rd team across all levels of NCAA football to reach 700 all-time wins.
ESU is 4-3 on the season. The Hornets, who have won two straight games, are coming off a 41-30 road win over Lindenwood University at St. Charles, Mo., last Saturday.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his eighth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 63-27 (.700) career record.
Beck led his alma mater (PSU, '88) to the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship, 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.
In 2015, 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. Last year, the Gorillas battled key injuries once again and Pitt State posted a 7-4 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. ESU. He is 2-3 vs. the Hornets.
ESU's Garrin Higgins is in his 11th year leading the Hornets and his 16th year as a collegiate coach. Higgins (ESU, '92) has compiled a 68-54 (.557) record leading his alma mater as well as a 119-63 (.654) career mark. He is 3-5 vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-Emporia State Series
This will be the 95th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Hornets in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season. The Pitt State-Emporia State series is the ninth-longest rivalry in NCAA Division II football.
Pitt State holds a commanding 58-34-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 30-17-1 vs. the Hornets at Emporia all-time.
Pitt State is 30-7 in its last 37 meetings against ESU.
Last year, Austin Morton booted a 37-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining to cap a six minute, 22 second drive for No. 12 ranked Emporia State that propelled the visiting Hornets to a 41-36 road win over Pittsburg State on Oct. 22 at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
Morton's kick gave ESU a 41-30 lead. Pitt State had pulled within eight points, 38-30, on John Roderique's one-yard run with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets ground out four first downs on the decisive drive, advancing from the ESU 30 to the PSU 20.
The Gorillas made a last ditch attempt to rally in the game's final minute. Roderique, who passed for a school record 473 yards in the contest, tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to Andre Taylor with five seconds remaining to pull Pitt State within five points, 41-36, but ESU recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt to seal the victory.
Roderique completed 29 of 54 passes for 473 yards and four touchdowns. He tossed three scoring strikes to Levi Copelin. Copelin finished with eight grabs for a game-high 134 yards before leaving the game with an injury in the third quarter.
Brenner Clemons also had five catches for 109 yards and Austin Panko added seven receptions for 102 yards for the Gorillas. Clemons also converted an 18-yard pass to help Pitt State set a new school record for team passing yards (492).
The Gorillas managed just 51 net rushing yards on 25 carries.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted an 82-27-0 (.752) record in its last 109 road games (including post-season play). The Gorillas are 29-6 (.829) in their last 35 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 24 years (1994-pres.), the Gorillas are an equally impressive 93-29-1 (.760) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 291 of its last 353 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 291-60-2 (.827) mark during the past 33 seasons (1985-2017). PSU is 156-24-1 at home, 131-27-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are in their 110th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 700-346-48 overall record, winning 66.2 percent of their 1,094 all-time games.
Pittsburg State is one of just five NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 600 all-time victories and the Gorillas became just the 33rd program – the first Division II institution – across all levels of college football to reach the 700-win plateau.
Tuskegee is second on the Division II all-time list with 682 victories, followed by Hillsdale (625), Carson-Newman (623) and Central Oklahoma (620).
ESU has a 519-530-45 (.495) record in 120 seasons of intercollegiate play.
Quick Strike Offense
The Pitt State offense has exhibited a penchant for being a "quick strike" unit. During the last 13 seasons (2005-17), the Pitt State offense has generated 816 scoring drives (677 TDs, 139 FGs) and averaged just 2:54 of elapsed time per drive.
2005 97 scoring drives (86 TDs, 11 FGs) 2:40 elapsed time 2012 51 scoring drives (40 TDs, 11 FGs) 2:58 elapsed time
2006 79 scoring drives (72 TDs, 7 FGs) 2:14 elapsed time 2013 83 scoring drives (70 TDs, 13 FGs) 2:29 elapsed time
2007 64 scoring drives (55 TDs, 9 FGs) 3:02 elapsed time 2014 74 scoring drives (53 TDs, 21 FGs) 3:06 elapsed time
2008 69 scoring drives (61 TDs, 8 FGs) 3:23 elapsed time 2015 50 scoring drives (41 TDs, 9 FGs) 2:53 elapsed time
2009 49 scoring drives (44 TDs, 5 FGs) 3:21 elapsed time 2016 60 scoring drives (48 TDs, 12 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time
2010 41 scoring drives (34 TDs, 7 FGs) 3:04 elapsed time 2017 28 scoring drives (18 TDs, 10 FGs) 3:29 elapsed time
2011 78 scoring drives (60 TDs, 18 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 72 times (61 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 150 games, posting a 64-8 (.889) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 42-36 (.538) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
Inside The Pitt State Offense / Defense
Senior running back Michael Rose rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown against Misouri Western last week. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has 119 carries for 524 yards (4.4 ypc) on the season, averaging 87.3 rushing yards per game. He currently ranks third in the MIAA in rushing yards. For his career, Rose has gained 1,782 yards on 353 carries (5.0 ypc) with 15 touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Austin Panko has amassed 101 career receptions for 1,531 yards (15.2 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. The Lee's Summit, Mo., entered the Gorillas' all-time top 10 list for receiving yards following the Washburn game on Sept. 30 and he currently ranks eighth on the list. Marques Nelson (2005-08) is seventh on the list with 82 grabs for 1,582 yards. Panko also broke into Pitt State's top 10 list for career receptions against NSU on Sept. 16. His 101 receptions currently ranks in a tie for fifth all-time at PSU – along with Caleb Farabi (2005-08).
Junior safety Marcus Brantley posted his second double-digit tackle game of the season with a team-leading 11 stops against Missouri Western last Saturday. The Tempe, Ariz. native has made 45 tackles (24 solo) on the season with 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He made a season-high 15 tackles against Lindenwood on Sept. 23. Brantley earned honoroable mention NJCAA All-America honors as a sophomore at Mesa Community College in 2016.
Sophomore placekicker Jared Vincent has converted 10 of 12 field goals (.833) and 20 of 23 PAT tries (.870) on the season, scoring a team-leading 50 points (7.1 ppg). Vincent ranks third in the MIAA in field goals (1.43 pg) and second in the conference in field goal percentage. The Claremore, Okla., native ranks sixth in the MIAA in scoring – fourth in the league in kick scoring.
Scouting the Hornets
Junior quarterback Braxton Marshall directs the ESU offense. Marhall (6-2, 207) has completed 179 of 285 passes (.628) for 2,314 yards (330.6 ypg) and 19 touchdowns with one interception. He also has rushed the ball 49 times for 177 yards (3.6 ypc). Marshall leads the MIAA in passing yards and total offense (355.9 ypg).
Junior running back Landon Nault (5-9, 193) has rushed the ball 93 times for 406 yards (4.4 ypc) and six touchdowns, while junior Kai Callins (5-10, 193) has carried the ball 77 times for 276 yards (3.6 ypc) and four TDs.
Junior wide receiver Justin Brown (6-2, 193) has caught a team-leading 56 passes for 616 yards (11.0 ypc) and six scores, while senior wide receiver Louis Dailey (5-11, 170) has 28 grabs for 492 yards (17.6 ypc) and six touchdowns.
The ESU offense is averaging 35.6 points and 497.4 total yards (334.9 passing).
Senior linebacker Gabe Cleveland (6-1, 217) has made an MIAA-leading 72 tackles (40 solo) with 6.0 tackles-for-loss and one interception, while sophomore defensive end Tre-Vaun Ammons (6-4, 225) has posted 30 tackles (17 solo) with with 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 QB sacks.
As a unit, the ESU defense is allowing 29.0 points and 409.9 total yards (280.1 passing) per game.
Senior Austin Morton (5-9, 171) has converted five of 11 field goals on the season and 31 of his 33 PAT tries. Senior Justin Marcha (6-1, 220) has punted 26 times for a 45.5-yard average with eight kicks of 50+ yards and seven kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.
