PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will make its home debut Saturday (Sept. 9) when the Gorillas host MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is 0-1 on the season. The Gorillas dropped a hard-fought 28-23 decision to No. 21 University of Central Missouri in their season opener on Aug. 31 at Warrensburg, Mo.
UCO brings a 1-0 record into Saturday's action. The Bronchos opened the year with a 35-14 home win over Lindenwood University on Aug. 31 at Edmond, Okla.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his eighth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 60-24 (.714) career record.
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.
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. the Bronchos. He is 5-1 vs. UCO.
UCO's Nick Bobek is in his sixth year leading his alma mater and his sixth 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 23-33 (.411) record. This will be his sixth meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 1-4 vs. the Gorillas.
The Pitt State-Central Oklahoma Series
This will be the 15th 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 an 8-4-1 advantage in the series, including six wins in the last eight years. The Gorillas are 4-3-0 against the Bronchos in games played in Pittsburg.
Last year, senior linebacker Spencer Brown returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown with 1:30 to play in the game to seal a 45-31 road victory for Pitt State over Central Oklahoma.
The Gorillas broke a 31-31 tie on Kiah Kintchen's one-yard run with 1:56 to play in the contest against the Bronchos. Pitt State drove 67 yards on 12 plays on the go-ahead series, devouring just over five minutes of fourth-quarter play clock. Chad Levin's extra point hit the left upright giving the Gorillas a 37-31 advantage.
Four plays later, Brown tipped and intercepted T.J. Eckert's fourth-down pass attempt and returned it for the clinching score. After allowing 411 yards of total offense to UCO through three periods, the Pitt State defense limited the Bronchos to 50 yards in the final period.
Quarterback Thomas LePage, starting for an injured John Roderique, completed 17 of 27 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He helped Pitt State battle back from an early 14-3 deficit to eventually take a 24-21 lead with 1:12 to play in the first half.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 345-128-12 (.724) record in 485 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 145 of their last 168 regular season home games, posting a 145-22-1 record (.866) over the last 33 seasons.
Central Oklahoma is 11-16 (.407) in 27 road games under Coach Bobeck since 2012.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 288 of its last 347 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 288-57-2 (.833) mark during the past 33 seasons (1985-2017). PSU is 154-22-1 at home, 130-26-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
Gorillas in Home Openers
Pitt State has compiled a 26-2 (.929) record in home openers since joining the MIAA and NCAA Division II in 1989.
The Gorillas had posted 10 straight home-opening victories before suffering a 34-27 loss to Central Missouri last year (Sept. 1). The only other home-opening loss on Pitt State's docket since 1989 was a 44-31 decision to Delta State in the 2005 season opener.
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 697-343-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,088 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 678 victories, followed by Hillsdale (623), Carson-Newman (619) and Central Oklahoma (618).
UCO has a 618-407-47 (.598) record in 112 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 792 scoring drives (662 TDs, 130 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 4 scoring drives (3 TDs, 1 FGs) 2:36 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 70 times (59 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 144 games, posting a 62-8 (.886) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 41-33 (.554) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
Inside The Pitt State Offense
Redshirt freshman running back Tucker Horak enjoyed a successful collegiate debut for the Gorillas against UCM. Horak (5-10, 187) carried the ball a team-leading 13 times for 66 yards while starting in his first career game for Pitt State. The Rossville, Kan., native also caught two passes for nine yards out of the backfield and punted the ball five times for a 35.4-yard average.
Sophomore wide receiver Brenner Cleomons made a team-leading six catches for 76 yards (12.6 ypc), including a diving 29-yard touchdown on a fourth-down play in the game's final two minutes against UCM. The Lee's Summit, Mo., garnered MIAA Freshman of the Years honors in 2016 when he caught 42 passes for 559 yards (13.3 ypc) and four touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Thomas LePage completed 12 of 26 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown in a relief appearance for the Gorillas in their season opener against UCM. LePage (6-3, 204) has passed for 1,588 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 career games for the Gorillas. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns against UCO on Sept. 8, 2016. The Jefferson City, Mo., native has compiled a 4-3 record as Pitt State's starting quarterback.
Inside The Pitt State Defense
Junior cornerback Juanté Baldwin enjoyed a successful debut for the Gorillas. Baldwin (5-11, 188) recorded a first quarter interception that led to a Pitt State field goal. The Kansas City, Mo., native made two tackles in the contest and also added a PBU. Baldwin redshirted for the Gorillas in 2016 after transferring to Pitt State from Friends University.
Sophomore defensive tackle Simanu'a Thomas was credited with four tackles (two solo) with 1.0 tackle-for-loss against UCM. The Independence, Mo., native also blocked a PAT try against the Mules. Thomas earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors as a true freshman in 2016 when he made 37 tackles (18 solo) with 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 quarterback sacks.
Senior linebacker Ethan Fugitt made four stops (two solo) against UCM. The Oak Grove, Mo., native now has 104 career tackles (46 solo) with 8.0 TFLs. Fugitt made 90 tackles as a junior in 2016, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors.
Scouting the Bronchos
Senior quarterback Chas Stallard directs the UCO offense. Stallard (6-0, 210) completed 11 of 22 passes (.500) for 157 yards and four touchdowns in the Bronchos season opener against Lindenwood. He also rushed the ball 11 times for 73 yards.
Senior running back Clay McKenzie rushed the ball 21 times for a game-high 94 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. McKenzie (5-11, 209) gained 785 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a junior in 2016. He has 2,624 career rushing yards with 36 TDs.
Senior wide receiver Josh Crockett (6-4, 195) caught four passes for 68 yards including a pair of touchdowns in the season opener. He posted 742 receiving yards with five scores in 2016.
Senior safety Riley Galyon (5-11, 190) made a team-leading eight tackles for the Bronchos against Lindenwood. He also added one of the squad's four pass break-ups in the contest. Junior cornerback Stephan Robinson also made four tackles with 1.5 tackles-for-loss for UCO.
As a unit, the UCO defense limited Lindenwood to 235 yards of total offense, including just 93 rushing yards on 25 carries.
The Bronchos compiled 408 yards of total offense against LWU. UCO was extremely efficient on third-down plays, converting 12 of 18 (.667). The Bronchos also held the ball for more than 36 minutes in the contest (36:19).
