PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team returns to the friendly confines of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Sept. 23) for an MIAA match-up against Lindenwood University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
Pitt State enters Saturday's contest with a 2-1 record. The Gorillas are seeking to become the first Division II team to reach 700 all-time victories with a victory over the Lions. Only 32 schools across all divisions of the NCAA have eclipsed 700 all-time wins.
After opening the season with a hard-fought 28-23 road loss to No. 21 University of Central Missouri on Aug. 31, the Gorillas have posted back-to-back wins over the University of Central Oklahoma (21-28) on Sept. 9 and Northeastern State University (68-21) last Saturday (Sept. 16).
LWU brings a 1-2 record into Saturday's action. The Lions sandwiched a 49-10 home win over Northeastern State on Sept. 7 in between losses to Central Oklahoma (35-14 on Aug. 31) and Washburn University (26-16 on Sept. 16).
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his eighth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 62-24 (.721) 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. Lindenwood. He is 4-1 vs. the Lions.
LWU's Jed Stugart is in his first year leading the Lions and his eighth season as a collegiate head coach after spending the past seven seasons at Division II University of Sioux Falls (S.D.). Stugart has a 1-2 record in his short tenure at Lindenwood and a 66-19 (.776) career mark.
This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-Lindenwood Series
This will be the sixth all-time meeting between Pitt State and Lindenwood. The Gorillas lead the series, 4-1, including four straight wins by an average score of 46-15.
Last year, Pitt State scored the first 13 and the final 23 points of the game en route to a lopsided 50-19 road win over Lindenwood on Sept. 24.
Sophomore quarterback John Roderique completed 18 of 29 passes for 279 yards and two touchdowns in his return from a hand injury that sidelined him since the final play of the first quarter in Pitt State's season opening loss to Central Missouri. He also carried the ball 10 times for a game-high 56 yards while accounting for 335 yards of total offense.
The Pitt State defense registered three interceptions, including a pick six by junior lineback Ethan Fugitt in his first career start for the Gorillas. PSU also scored a special teams safety when LWU's long snapper shot the ball out of the back on the end zone on a third quarter punt attempt.
Junior Austin Panko sparked the Gorillas with a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter and he added an 81-yard scoring reception from Roderique in the second quarter. He finished the game with five catches for a career-high 134 yards receiving.
Senior Levi Copelin also posted his fourth straight 100-yard receiving game with eight grabs for 126 yards. He hauled in a 48-yard scoring grab from Roderique which staked the Gorillas to a 27-13 lead with 8:29 to play in the second quarter.
Mason Bendigo completed just nine of 24 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. LWU reserve quarterback Allen Thigpen was three of four passing for 14 yards with an interception.
Fugitt made a team-leading eight tackles for Pitt State, which limited the Lions to 57 net rushing yards in the contest. Connor Harris made a game-high 17 stops for Lindenwood, coming up one tackle short of breaking the NCAA all division career tackles record.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 346-128-12 (.724) record in 486 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 146 of their last 169 regular season home games, posting a 146-22-1 record (.867) over the last 34 seasons.
Lindenwood is 9-18 (.333) in 27 road games since joining the MIAA in 2012.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 290 of its last 349 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 290-57-2 (.834) mark during the past 33 seasons (1985-2017). PSU is 155-22-1 at home, 131-26-1 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 699-343-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,090 all-time games.
Pittsburg State is one of just five NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 600 all-time victories and the Gorillas are bidding to become just the 33rd program across all levels of college football to reach the 700-win plateau.
Tuskegee is second on the Division II all-time list with 679 victories, followed by Hillsdale (624), Carson-Newman (620) and Central Oklahoma (618).
LWU has a 146-153-2 (.488) record in 28 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 804 scoring drives (671 TDs, 133 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 16 scoring drives (12 TDs, 4 FGs) 2:37 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 71 times (60 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 146 games, posting a 63-8 (.887) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 42-33 (.560) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
Inside The Pitt State Offense
Senior quarterback Thomas LePage completed 10 of 16 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns for the Gorillas against NSU – his ninth career start under center for Pitt State. LePage (6-3, 204) has passed for 1,936 yards and 15 touchdowns in 26 career games for the Gorillas. The Jefferson City, Mo., native has compiled a 6-3 record as Pitt State's starting quarterback.
Senior wide receiver Austin Panko has amassed 90 career receptions for 1,392 yards (15.5 ypc) and 10 touchdowns. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native 27 more receiving yards to break into the Gorillas' all-time top 10 list for receiving yards. Pierce Curran (2004-07) is currently 10th on the list with 97 grabs for 1,419 yards. Panko also broke into Pitt State's top 10 list for career receptions against NSU. His 90 receptions currently rank ninth all-time as PSU – he needs just three receptions to climb as high as No. 7 on the list.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Sophomore safety Josh Hornback has made a team-leading 21 tackles (13 solo) in the Gorillas' first three games. The Wichita, Kan., native was named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 11) after he blocked a punt that led to the decisive points in Pitt State's 31-28 victory over Central Oklahoma on Sept. 9.
Junior cornerback Juanté Baldwin blocked a pair of punts that led to two touchdowns for the Gorillas in their lopsided road win against Northeastern State last Saturday. The Kansas City, Mo., native was named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts against NSU. He has made 10 tackles (five solo) on the season with an interception, one pass break-up and the two blocked kicks. Baldwin redshirted for the Gorillas in 2016 after transferring to Pitt State from Friends University.
Junior linebacker Demetrius Bernard enjoyed a solid outing against NSU last Saturday, making five tackles (four solo) including 2.0 TFLs and 1.0 quarterback sack. The O'Fallon, Mo., native also broke up a pass and forced a fumble teammate Marcus Brantley returned for a touchdown. Bernard has made 11 tackles (five solo) on the season with an interception. He has made 90 tackles (57 solo) in 25 career games.
Scouting the Lions
Junior quarterback Najee Jackson directs the LWU offense. Jackson (6-2, 200) completed 44 of 79 passes (.557) for 546 yards (182.0 ypg) and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He also has rushed the ball 27 times for 139 yards (5.1 ypc).
Senior running back Calen Campbell (5-9, 185) has rushed the ball 32 times for a team-leading 189 yards (5.9 ypc) and three touchdowns. Senior Shakeem Wharton (5-9, 211) also has carried the ball 22 times for 161 yards (7.3 ypc) and two scores on the year.
Senior wide receiver Deantrell Prince (5-11, 213) has caught 11 passes for a team-best 199 yards (18.1 ypc) and two scores, while senior wide receiver DeSean Warren (5-11, 170) has nine grabs for 129 yards (14.3 ypc) and a touchdown.
The LWU offense is averaging 26.3 points and 422.7 total yards (220.3 rushing).
Freshman linebacker Drew Sears (6-2, 215) has made a team-leading 31 tackles (17 solo) with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and one pass break-up, while freshman defensive end Arsante Conners (6-2, 219) has posted 12 tackles (eight solo) with 3.0 TFLs and 1.0 quarerback sack to date.
As a unit, the LWU defense is allowing 23.7 points and 352.7 total yards (190.7 rushing) per game.
Junior placekicker Travis Spraul (6-1, 175) has converted three of four field goals on the season, while junior Michael Crowder (6-1, 175) has punted 13 times for a 36.9-yard average.
