PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Oct. 20) to host the University of Central Missouri in the Gorillas' Homecoming Game. Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. (CDT) with the match-up serving as the NCAA Division II Showcase contest as the national game of the week.
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Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, has accumulated 710 victories, posting a 710-348-48 overall mark in 111 years of intercollegiate play.
The Gorillas, who bring a 5-2 record into Saturday's action are seeking to halt a two-game losing streak after opening the season 5-0. Pitt State dropped a 50-21 road decision to Fort Hays State University last Saturday (Oct. 13) at Hays, Kan. The Gorillas have won 11 games in a row dating back to the 2017 campaign before suffering a home loss to Northwest Missouri State University on Oct. 6.
Central Missouri brings a 3-4 record into Saturday's match-up. The Mules also are seeking to halt a two-game slide after dropping a 33-26 road decision to the University of Central Oklahoma on Oct. 6 and a 41-23 home decision to Emporia State University last Saturday.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his ninth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 73-29 (.716) 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 ninth meeting vs. the Mules. He is 4-4 vs. UCM.
Jim Svoboda is in his ninth season directing the Mules program and his 17th year as a collegiate coach. Svoboda (Northwestern College, '83) has a 68-32-0 (.680) record leading the Mules and a 120-51-0 (.702) career mark. He is 4-4 all-time vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-UCM Series
This will be the 55th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Mules in a series that dates all the way back to the 1916 season. Pitt State holds a decided 41-11-2 (.778) advantage in the series, including a 21-6-0 record against UCM in Pittsburg.
Last year, Central Missouri scored 19 unanswered points in the second half to rally from a 16-9 deficit en route to a 28-23 season opening victory over Pitt State on Aug. 31 at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.
The Gorillas scored a pair of TDs – on a 2-yard run by Kiah Kintchen and a 5-yard run by D'Vontae Brown – and added a 36-yard Jared Vincent for their first-half scoring.
The Pitt State defense forced a pair of turnovers in the opening half on interceptions by Juanté Baldwin and Demetrius Bernard. Pitt State starting quarterback John Roderique left the game late in the second quarter and did not return.
The Mules tied the score at 16-16 on Brook Bolles 33-yard touchdown pass to Seth Hebert, and Alex Langer added field goals of 20 and 28 yards to take a 22-16 lead.
After UCM held Pitt State on downs at midfield with 3:54 to play in the game, Devante Turner broke loose for a 50-yard touchdown scamper and a 28-16 Mules lead 10 seconds later.
The Gorillas tried to rally in the game's final minutes as back-up quarterback Thomas LePage converted a 29-yard touchdown pass to Brenner Clemons on a 4th and 13 play with 1:23 to play. The Mules recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt to seal the victory.
LePage completed 12 of 26 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown for the Gorillas, while Roderique was seven for 12 passing for 102 yards to start the game. Tucker Horak carried the ball 13 times for a team-leading 66 yards.
Bolles finished the game 15 of 37 passing for 226 yards and one TD with two interceptions in the game. Koby Wilkerson rushed the ball 13 times for a game-high 122 yards.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 351-131-12 (.723) record in 494 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason).The Gorillas have won 151 of their last 177 regular season home games, posting a 151-25-1 record (.856) over the last 34 seasons.
UCM is 20-16 (.556) in road games since the start of the 2012 season and the Mules are 0-3 on the road this year.
PSU on Homecoming
Pitt State has posted a 55-12-12 (.772) record in Homecoming games since 1949. The Gorillas have posted an 11-3 record on Homecoming since 2004. This will be the third time Pitt State has hosted UCM on Homecoming with the Gorillas defeating the Mules, 9-7, on Oct. 13, 1990, and 19-17 on Oct. 23, 1993.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 300 of its last 364 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 300-62-2 (.827) mark during the past 34 seasons (1985-2018). PSU is 160-25-1 at home, 136-28-1 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 246 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 188 of 246 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).
The Gorillas slipped out of this week's NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Monday (Oct. 15) following their loss to FHSU. [for complete poll, see page 5]
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 710-348-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,106 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 689 victories, followed by Hillsdale (635), Carson-Newman (630) and Central Oklahoma (629).
UCM has a 563-515-51 (.519) record in 123 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 876 scoring drives (727 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 25 scoring drives (21 TDs, 4 FGs) 3:43 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 162 games, posting a 66-8 (.892) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 50-38 (.568) 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 28th start under center for the Gorillas against FHSU last week. The Webb City, Mo., native has passed for 5,438 yards and 37 touchdowns in 31 career games for the Gorillas. He also has rushed for 1,248 yards and 18 TDs, compiling 6,686 yards of total offense (215.7 ypg) and accounting for 55 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 38 grabs for 522 yards and four TDs on the season, ranking fourth in the MIAA in receiving yards (74.6 ypg) to date. The Lawton, Okla., native has made 83 receptions for 1,116 career yards (13.4 ypc) and nine touchdowns. West tied the PSU single-game record with 13 receptions against FHSU last week, equalling the mark set by John Brown vs. Missouri on Oct. 20, 2012.
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 20 passes for 256 yards and three TDs on the season. Clemons, the 2016 MIAA Freshman of the Year, has made 72 career receptions for 980 yards (13.6 ypc) and nine touchdowns.
Junior safety Creighton Sanders made a team-leading 11 tackles (seven solo) vs. FHSU last Saturday. The Wichita, Kan., native has made a team-high 42 tackles (19 solo) on the season. For his career, Sanders has made 105 tackles (63 solo) with 4.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception, four pass break-ups and three forced fumbles.
Sophomore safety Morgan Selemaea has made 33 tackles (21 solo) on the season with 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks and five 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 73 tackles (50 solo), 14.5 tackles-for-loss, 12.5 QB sacks, one interception, seven pass break-ups and three forced fumbles.
Senior punter Carter Anchors ranks 19th in Division II with a 42.5-yard average. The Kansas City, Mo., native has punted 32 times with seven kicks of 50+ yards and 11 kicks placed inside the opponent 20-yard line. He ranks fourth all-time in PSU history with a 40.6-yard career average.
Scouting the Mules
Redshirt freshman quarterback Jeremy Hunt directs the UCM offense. Hunt (6-4, 225) has completed 107 of 203 passes (.527) for 1,792 yards (298.7 ypg) and 15 touchdowns and rushed the ball for 92 net yards and three scores. He currently leads the MIAA in passing yards.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Shae Wyatt (5-11, 180) has been Hunt's favorite target, catching a team-leading 31 passes for 637 yards (20.5 ypc) and three touchdowns. Wyatt ranks second in the MIAA in receiving yards (91.0 ypg).
Senior wide receiver Kyrion Parker (6-4, 200) also has made 21 grabs for 466 yards (22.2 ypc) and six TDs, while senior tight end Seth Hebert (6-4, 245) has caught 14 passes for 163 yards (11.6 ypc) and three scores.
Sophomore running back Devante Turner (5-9, 185) has carried the ball 94 times for 488 yards (5.2 ypc) and five touchdowns, while sophomore running back Koby Wilkerson (6-0, 190) has added 62 carries for 338 yards (5.5 ypc) and four TDs to UCM's ground totals. Turner also has nine receptions out of the backfield for 138 yards (15.3 ypc) and one score.
UCM is averaging 324.4 passing yards and 528.6 total yards per game – both MIAA highs. The Mules are scoring an MIAA-leading 37.1 points per game as well.
Defensively, UCM is allowing 21.9 points, 135.3 rushing yards and 346.4 total yards per game.
Sophomore linebacker John Embrey (6-1, 255) and senior safety Dylan Albertson (6-2, 225) share the team tackles lead with 44 stops apiece. Embrey has made 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 quarterback sacks and three pass break-ups as well.
Sophomore Zach Davidson has punted 21 times for a 43.0-yard average, while senior Alex Langer has converted nine of 12 field goals on the season.
Turner has averaged 24.1 yards on kickoff returns for the Mules, while redshirt freshman Ryan Sass averages 9.5 yards on punt returns.
