PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium for an MIAA match-up against Washburn University. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, has accumulated 712 victories, posting a 712-348-48 overall mark in 111 years of intercollegiate play.
The Gorillas, who bring a 7-2 record into Saturday's action, are seeking their third straight victory after claiming a 34-14 road win over Missouri Western State University Saturday (Oct. 27). Pitt State opened the season 5-0 climbing to No. 8 in the AFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll before suffering back-to-back losses to Northwest Missouri State University and Fort Hays State University.
The Gorillas had won 11 games in a row dating back to the 2017 campaign before suffering the home loss to Northwest Missouri on Oct. 6.
Washburn brings a 4-5 record into Saturday's match-up. The Ichabods are seeking to halt a two-game losing streak after suffering a 34-31 overtime loss to Emporia State University last Saturday at Topeka.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his ninth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 75-29 (.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. 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 eighth meeting vs. the Ichabods. He is 3-4 vs. WU.
Craig Schurig is in his 16th season directing the Ichabods program and his 16th year as a collegiate coach. Schurig (Colorado Mines, '87), who became head coach at Washburn in 2002 after eight seasons as an assistant at Pitt State (1994-2001), has a 114-78-0 (.594) record leading the Ichabods. He is 7-8 all-time vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-Washburn Series
This will be the 89th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Ichabods in a series that dates all the way back to the 1921 season.
The two teams met annually from 1941-2011, but did not face one another in 2012-13 thanks to an unbalanced MIAA schedule.
Pitt State holds a commanding 63-24-1 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 31-11-1 vs. the Ichabods in Pittsburg.
Last year, Washburn scored a pair of long touchdowns in a 13-second span of the third quarter to turn a 17-7 deficit into a 21-17 lead as the Ichabods eventually claimed a 35-20 road win over Pitt State on Sept. 30 at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Zach Willis broke loose for a 53-yard touchdown run to help WU pull within three points, 17-14, with 6:01 remaining in the third quarter. Willis' run came one play after the Gorillas were flagged for an offsides penalty on an unsuccessful third-down play.
The Ichabods' Perry Schmiedeler then converted a successful onside kick attempt and recovered the ball at the WU 46. Quarterback Blake Peterson tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Carey Woods on the next play to move in front 21-17.
Pitt State pulled within a point, 21-20, on Jared Vincent's 23-yard field goal with 14:49 to play in the game, but Willis broke loose again for a 40-yard touchdown run and a 28-20 WU lead with 12:47 to go. Mickeel Stewart added a 19-yard touchdown run for the Ichabods for the game's final margin.
The Gorillas tried to rally down the stretch but quarterback John Roderique fumbled at the WU 1 and the Ichabods recovered the ball in their end zone to halt a drive and Roderique was intercepted in WU territory on Pitt State's final drive of the game.
Roderique finished the game eight of 16 passing for 98 yards and he added 87 rushing yards on 17 carries. Michael Rose carried the ball 25 times for 101 yards.
Willis rushed the ball eight times for a game-high 122 yards and two touchdowns for the Ichabods, while Peterson completed 16 of 30 passes for 182 yards and a score.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 352-131-12 (.723) record in 495 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 152 of their last 178 regular season home games, posting a 152-25-1 record (.857) over the last 34 seasons.
WU is 15-19 (.441) in road games since the start of the 2012 season and the Ichabods are 1-3 on the road this year.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 302 of its last 366 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 302-62-2 (.828) mark during the past 34 seasons (1985-2018). PSU is 161-25-1 at home, 137-28-1 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 248 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 188 of 2487 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season). The Gorillas slipped out of the NCAA Division II Top 25 poll following their loss to FHSU on Oct. 13.
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 712-348-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,108 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 690 victories, followed by Hillsdale (637), Carson-Newman (631) and Central Oklahoma (631).
WU has a 554-582-44 (.488) record in 127 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 887 scoring drives (736 TDs, 151 FGs) and averaged just 2:56 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 36 scoring drives (30 TDs, 6 FGs) 3:11 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 76 times (65 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 164 games, posting a 68-8 (.895) 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 30th start under center for the Gorillas against MWSU last week. The Webb City, Mo., native has passed for 5,698 yards and 39 touchdowns in 33 career games for the Gorillas. He also has rushed for 1,281 yards and 19 TDs, compiling 6,979 yards of total offense (211.5 ypg) and accounting for 58 touchdowns. Roderique climbed to No. 3 on Pitt State's career passing yards chart with his 106-yard effort vs. UCM. He needs 134 more passing yards to eclipse Neal Philpot (2001-04, 5831 yards) for No. 2 on the list.
Junior wide receiver Lorenzo West has a team-leading 42 grabs for 603 yards and four TDs on the season, ranking fifth in the MIAA in receiving yards (67.0 ypg) to date. The Lawton, Okla., native has made 87 receptions for 1,197 career yards (13.8 ypc) and nine touchdowns. West tied the PSU single-game record with 13 receptions against FHSU on Oct. 13, equalling the mark set by John Brown vs. Missouri on Oct. 20, 2012. He also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against MWSU last week, earning MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Sophomore running back Tucker Horak carried the ball 19 times for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns in the Gorillas win against UCM on Oct. 20, earning co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Rossville, Kan., native has rushed 79 times for 413 yards (5.2 ypc) and three scores on the season. He has 146 career carries for 788 yards (5.4 ypc) and four touchdowns.
Junior defensive tackle Simanua' Thomas was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. UCM. He posted five tackles (three solo) with 2.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles. For the season, the Independence, Mo., native has made 33 stops (16 solo), including 12.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 QB sacks. He leads the MIAA in TFLs and ranks second in the conference in sacks. For his career, Thomas has made 106 tackles (55 solo) with 29.5 TFLs and 12.5 QB sacks.
Sophomore safety Morgan Selemaea has made 43 tackles (26 solo) on the season with 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 quarterback sacks and six 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 83 tackles (55 solo), 17.5 tackles-for-loss, 12.5 QB sacks, two interceptions, eight pass break-ups and three forced fumbles. He returned a fumble recovery 18 yards for a touchdown against UCM on Oct. 20.
Scouting the Ichabods
Sophomore quarterback Mitch Schurig directs the WU offense. Schurig (6-2, 195) has completed 108 of 178 passes (.607) for 1,543 yards (220.4 ypg) and 12 touchdowns with six interceptions in six starts for the Ichabods. He passed for 397 yards and four TDs last week against Emporia State.
Senior wide receiver James Brania-Hopp (6-0, 200) a team-leading receptions for 992 yards and seven touchdowns. Brania-Hopp leads the MIAA in receiving, averaging 110.2 yards per game. He caught eight passes for 217 yards and three TDs last week against the Hornets.
Sophomore running back Hunter Browning (5-11, 195) has carried the ball 85 times for 360 yards (4.2 ypc) and two touchdowns, while sophomore running back Curtis Whitten (5-9, 205) has added 63 carries for 218 yards (3.5 ypc) and three TDs to WU's ground totals.
WU is averaging 257.7 passing yards and 408.7 total yards per game. The Ichabods are scoring 28.3 points per game as well.
Defensively, WU is allowing 25.6 points, 222.4 passing yards and 364.0 total yards per game.
Senior linebacker Austin Tillman (6-1, 220) has made a team-leading 83 tackles (41) on the season with 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 quarterback sacks.
Senior safety Heath Tucker (6-3, 205) has made 42 tackles (27 solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and five pass break-ups, while senior cornerback Corey Ballentine (6-0, 204) has added 37 tackles, two interceptions and four pass break-ups.
Senior Perry Schmiedeler has punted 43 times for a 41.8-yard average. He's also converted six of 12 field goals on the season.
Ballentine has averaged 19.5 yards on kickoff returns, while junior Josh Wright (5-10, 175) averages 3.8 yards on punt returns.
