PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Hays, Kan., Saturday (Oct. 8) for a key MIAA match-up against Fort Hays State University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at Lewis Field Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, has accumulated 710 victories, posting a 710-347-48 overall mark in 111 years of intercollegiate play.
The Gorillas had an 11-game losing streak snapped in a 31-7 home decision against No. 16 Northwest Missouri State University last Saturday (Oct. 6) in Pittsburg. Pitt State had opened the 2018 campaign with five consecutive wins. The Gorillas closed out 2017 with six straight wins including a 48-31 victory in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl over Arkansas Tech University in the season finale.
Despite the loss, Pitt State is tied for first place in the MIAA standings with NWMSU and ranked No. 18 in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll.
Fort Hays State brings a 4-2 record into Saturday's action. The defending MIAA champion Tigers dropped a 28-24 road decision to Emporia State University last Saturday at Emporia, Kan.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his ninth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 73-28 (.723) 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. In 2016, the Gorillas battled key injuries once again and Pitt State posted a 7-4 season.
Last year, Pitt State posted six straight wins to end the season with an 8-4 record including a victory in the 2017 Agent Barry Live United Bowl.
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 seventh meeting vs. the Tigers. He is 3-3 vs. FHSU.
Chris Brown is in his seventh season as head coach at FHSU. Brown (Pitt State, 1996) has compiled a 53-32-0 (.624) record leading the Tigers. Brown, a three-time All-America free safety for the Gorillas from 1993-95, came to FHSU after serving as defensive coordinator at Washburn from 2002-10. This will be his seventh meeting vs. his alma mater. Brown is 3-3 vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-Fort Hays Series
This will be the 77th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Tigers in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season.
Pitt State holds a commanding 46-21-9 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 22-11-6 vs. the Tigers at Hays all-time, with an 11-1-1 mark since 1979.
Pitt State is 20-3-1 in its last 24 overall meetings against Fort Hays State.
Last year, Kenneth Iheme rushed for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 11:34 to play in the game, as No. 11 Fort Hays State rallied for a 21-17 victory over Pitt State on Oct. 7.
The Tigers scored the game's final 21 points to overcome a 17-0 deficit against the Gorillas.
Pitt State struck first on John Roderique's 32-yard touchdown pass to Austin Panko with 4:28 to play in the first quarter. Simanu'a Thomas added a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown for the Gorillas with 0:29 remaining in the opening period.
Jared Vincent's 47-yard field with 10:18 left in the second quarter extended Pitt State's lead to 17-0.
The Tigers started their rally with a 47-yard touchdown run by Iheme with 6:06 left in the second period – one play after a Pitt State fumble.
The Gorillas pinned the Tigers at the FHSU 1 with 1:54 remaining in the first half, but Iheme broke loose for a 27-yard run and FHSU back-up quarterback Jacoby Williams – playing for an injured Dustin Mezera – tossed a 70-yard touchdown pass to Matt Wendelberger with 48 ticks remaining.
Both the Tigers and Gorillas missed field goals in the third and fourth quarters, before FHSU went in front, 21-17, on Iheme's two-yard touchdown run that capped a six-play, 80-yard drive.
Pitt State's final drive ended with the Gorillas being held on downs at the FHSU 18 as time expired.
Roderique completed 12 of 28 passes for 139 yards in the contest. He also carried the ball 28 times for 131 yards. Michael Rose also rushed the ball 25 times for 90 yards, while Panko caught four passes for a team-leading 64 yards.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted an 86-27-0 (.761) record in its last 113 road games (including post-season play). The Gorillas are 33-6 (.846) in their last 39 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 25 years (1994-pres.), the Gorillas are an equally impressive 97-29-1 (.768) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 300 of its last 363 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 300-61-2 (.829) mark during the past 34 seasons (1985-2018). PSU is 160-25-1 at home, 136-27-1 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 10 118 times in the last 245 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 188 of 245 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).
The Gorillas slipped 10 spots from No. 8 to No. 18 in this week's NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Monday (Oct. 8).
All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are competing in their 111th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 710-347-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,105 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 688 victories, followed by Hillsdale (634), Carson-Newman (629) and Central Oklahoma (628).
FHSU has a 465-466-44 (.499) record in 103 seasons of intercollegiate play.
Quick Strike Offense
The Pitt State offense has exhibited a penchant for being a "quick strike" unit. During the last 14 seasons (2005-18), the Pitt State offense has generated 873 scoring drives (724 TDs, 149 FGs) and averaged just 2:39 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 56 scoring drives (42 TDs, 14 FGs) 3:18 elapsed time
2011 78 scoring drives (60 TDs, 18 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time 2018 22 scoring drives (18 TDs, 4 FGs) 3:47 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 74 times (63 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 161 games, posting a 66-8 (.892) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 50-37 (.575) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
Inside The Pitt State Offense / Defense
Senior quarterback John Roderique made his 27th start under center for the Gorillas against NWMSU last week. The Webb City, Mo., native has passed for 5,260 yards and 35 touchdowns in 30 career games for the Gorillas. He also has rushed for 1,208 yards and 18 TDs, compiling 6,468 yards of total offense (215.6 ypg) and accounting for 53 touchdowns. Roderique became just the fifth QB in Pitt State history to eclipse 5,000 career passing yards.
Junior wide receiver Lorenzo West has a team-leading 25 grabs for 426 yards and three TDs on the season, ranking fifth in the MIAA in receiving yards (71.0 ypg) to date. The Lawton, Okla., native has made 70 receptions for 1,020 career yards (14.6 ypc) and eight touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Brenner Clemons has enjoyed a successful return from an injury shortened season in 2017. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native has caught 18 passes for 227 yards and two TDs on the season. Clemons, the 2016 MIAA Freshman of the Year, has made 70 career receptions for 951 yards (13.6 ypc) and eight touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Demetrius Bernard made a team-leading 10 tackles with 3.0 tackles-for-loss vs. NWMSU last Saturday. The O'Fallon, Mo., native has made 26 tackles (13 solo) on the season. For his career, Bernard has made 145 tackles (90 solo) with 20.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks.
Sophomore safety Morgan Selemaea has made 30 tackles (20 solo) on the season with 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks and four pass break-ups. The Harrisonville, Mo., native led the MIAA in QB sacks as a freshman in 2017 with 8.0 in 10 games. For his career, Selemaea has made 70 tackles (48 solo), 14.5 tackles-for-loss, 12.5 QB sacks, one interception, six pass break-ups and three forced fumbles.
Senior punter Carter Anchors leads the MIAA and ranks 10th in Division II with a 43.5-yard average. The Kansas City, Mo., native has punted 28 times with seven kicks of 50+ yards and 10 kicks placed inside the opponent 20-yard line. He has a 40.7-yard career punting average.
Scouting the Tigers
Senior quarterback Jacob Mezera directs the FHSU offense. Mezera (6-5, 215) has completed 128 of 224 passes (.571) for 1,475 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions. Mezera ranks second in the MIAA in passing yards (245.8 ypg).
Junior wide receiver Harley Hazlett (6-3, 230) has been Mezera's favorite target, catching a team-leading 35 passes for 320 yards (9.1 ypc) and two touchdowns. Hazlett ranks second in the MIAA in receptions (5.8 pg). Junior tight end Matt Wendelberger (6-1, 250) also has made 27 grabs for 408 yards (15.1 ypc) and three TDs. Wendelberger ranks seventh in the MIAA in receiving yards (68.0 ypg).
Junior running back Charles Tigner (5-9, 180) has carried the ball 91 times for 531 yards (5.8 ypc) and two touchdowns, ranking second in the MIAA in rushing (88.5 ypg).
FHSU is averaging 285.0 passing yards and 407.5 total yards per game. The Tigers are scoring 26.2 points per game.
Defensively, FHSU is allowing 18.5 points, 149.5 rushing yards and 351.3total yards per game.
Senior linebacker Jose Delgado (5-11, 205) has made a team-leading 57 tackles (26 solo) on the season while senior safety Connor Shedeed (5-11, 190) has posted 43 tackles (24 solo) with three interceptions and three pass breakups.
Delgado ranks sixth in the MIAA in tackles, while Shedeed is tied for second in the conference in interceptions and tied for sixth in the league in passes defended (1.0 pg).
Senior Dante Brown has converted 13 of 16 field goals (.812) on the season. He also has punted 38 times for a 42.7-yard average. He leads the MIAA in field goals (2.2 pg) and ranks third in the conference in punting.
Junior Layne Bieberle has averaged 12.7 yards on 18 punt returns
