PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Kearney, Neb., Saturday (Nov. 4) for an MIAA match-up against the University of Nebraska-Kearney.Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at UNK's Cope Stadium.
Pitt State enters Saturday's contest with a 5-4 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 on Oct. 14 and Pitt State followed that up with a 27-10 road win over Emporia State University on Oct. 21. The Gorillas extended their winning streak to three games with a 20-10 home win over previously No. 1 ranked Northwest Missouri State University last Saturday (Oct. 28), snapping the Bearcats 38-game winning streak.
Pitt State became just the 33rd team across all levels of NCAA football to reach 700 all-time wins.
UNK is 3-6 on the season. The Lopers dropped a hard-fought 35-31 road decision to Lindenwood University last Saturday (Oct. 28) at St. Charles, Mo.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his eighth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 66-27 (.710) 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 fourth meeting vs. UNK. He is 4-0 vs. the Lopers.
Josh Lynn is in his first season as head coach at UNK and his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. Lynn has a 3-6 record in his short tenure leading the Lopers and a 30-31 (.492) overall mark.
Lynn (E. New Mexico, 2000) posted a 27-25 record in five seasons leading his alma mater, Eastern New Mexico (2012-16). This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State - Nebraska-Kearney Series
This will be the 20th meeting between the Gorillas and the Lopers in a series that dates back to the 1974 season, but it will be just the fifth meeting between the two squads since 1988.
Pitt State holds a 12-7 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, quarterback John Roderique accounted for four touchdowns – two through the air and two on the ground – to help lead Pitt State to a 52-21 victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 5 in Pittsburg.
The Gorillas scored the game's final 28 points to break open a 24-21 contest. Pitt State held UNK scoreless over the final 34 minutes of the game.
Roderique passed for 276 yards, including touchdown strikes of 73 yards to Levi Copelin and 60 yards to Austin Panko, and he added a game-high 87 rushing yards including scores from two and three yards out.
Darrius White returned an interception 23 yards for a touchdown and the Pitt State defense limited UNK to 39 net rushing yards in the game. The Gorillas orced three turnovers in the contest.
Copelin finished the game with four catches for 106 yards, while Panko had four grabs for 93 yards.
Dre Holman carried the ball 12 times for 83 yards, while Keynan Scheurich and Steven Sullivan added touchdown runs for the Gorillas.
Chad Levin booted a 42-yard field goal in the contest.
Ethan Fugitt made a team-leading nine tackles for the Gorillas, while Heath Wilson added five stops, including a pair of quarterback sacks and three total tackles-for-loss..
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted an 83-27-0 (.755) record in its last 110 road games (including post-season play). The Gorillas are 30-6 (.833) in their last 36 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 94-29-1 (.762) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 293 of its last 355 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 293-60-2 (.828) mark during the past 33 seasons (1985-2017). PSU is 157-24-1 at home, 132-27-1 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 702-346-48 overall record, winning 66.2 percent of their 1,096 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 684 victories, followed by Hillsdale (627), Carson-Newman (624) and Central Oklahoma (622).
UNK has a 530-338- 27(.607) 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 13 seasons (2005-17), the Pitt State offense has generated 825 scoring drives (682 TDs, 143 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 37 scoring drives (23 TDs, 14 FGs) 3:28 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 152 games, posting a 64-8 (.889) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 44-36 (.550) 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 a career-high 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Emporia State on Oct 21. He became the first Pitt State back since 2008 to record a 200-yard rushing game. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has 160 carries for 776 yards (4.9 ypc) on the season, averaging 97.0 rushing yards per game. He currently ranks third in the MIAA in rushing yards. For his career, Rose has gained 2,034 yards on 394 carries (5.2 ypc) with 17 touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Austin Panko has amassed 106 career receptions for 1,595 yards (15.0 ypc) and 12 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 seventh on the list. Panko also broke into Pitt State's top 10 list for career receptions against NSU on Sept. 16. His 106 receptions currently ranks fifth all-time at PSU.
Sophomore safety Josh Hornback was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Monday (Oct. 30) for his play against Northwest Missouri. The Wichita, Kan., native posted four tackles and snared a pair of interceptions in the contest. For the season, Hornback has made a team-leading 56 tackles (33 solo) with 1.5 TFLs, two interceptions, two pass breakups and two blocked kicks.
Sophomore placekicker Jared Vincent was selected the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 23 after booting a pair of field goals against ESU. The Claremore, Okla., native converted a 31-yard field goal with 7:27 remaining in the game to give Pitt State a three-possession lead over ESU on the fourth play after the game was resumed Sunday following an overnight weather delay. For the season, he has made 14 of 16 field goals (.875) and 25 of 28 PAT tries (.893), scoring a team-leading 67 points (7.4 ppg). Vincent leads the MIAA and ranks fifth in Division II in field goal percentage. He ranks second in the MIAA and eighth in Division II in field goals (1.6 pg).
Scouting the Lopers
Sophomore quarterback Steve Worthing directs the UNK offense. Worthing (6-2, 190) has completed 120 of 226 passes (.531) for 1,378 yards (153.1 ypg) and eight touchdowns with six interceptions. He also has carried the ball 90 times for 258 yards (2.9 ypc) and two scores.
Sophomore running back Thomas Russell (6-1, 205) has rushed the ball 149 times for 563 yards (3.8 ypc) and three touchdowns, while senior running back Darrien Daniels (5-9, 175) has carried the ball 64 times for 256 yards (4.0 ypc) and two scores.
Junior slot receiver Marvin Marshall (5-10, 155) has caught 19 passes for 204 yards (10.7 ypc) and one touchdown, while junior tight end Alex Harms (6-2, 240) has 16 grabs for 259 yards (16.2 ypc) and one score.
The UNK offense is averaging 18.2 points and 316.1 total yards (159.7 passing).
Sophomore inside linebacker Sal Silvio (5-10, 205) has made a team-leading 73 tackles (44 solo) with 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks, while sophomore defensive end Allieu Hinwa (6-4, 260) has posted 28 tackles (15 solo) with 6.0 TFLs and 4.5 quarterback sacks. Junior cornerback Malik Webb (6-1, 190) has made 21 tackles (18 solo) with a team-high three interceptions and five pass breakups.
As a unit, the UNK defense is allowing 29.02 points and 354.7 total yards (257.1 passing).
Senior Brendan Wentling has converted two of eight field goals on the season and nine of 11 PAT tries. Redshirt freshman Grant Buschkoetter has punted 50 times for a 36.7-yard average.
