PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Joplin, Mo., to face MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University in the regular season finale for both schools.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CST) at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, has accumulated 712 victories, posting a 712-349-48 overall mark in 111 years of intercollegiate play.
The Gorillas, who bring a 7-3 record into Saturday's action, are seeking to bounce back from a 40-23 home loss to Washburn University last Saturday (Nov. 3). Pitt State opened the season 5-0 climbing to No. 8 in the AFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll before posting a 2-3 mark since that time.
The Gorillas had 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.
Missouri Southern brings a 1-9 record into Saturday's match-up. The Lions have dropped 20 of their last 21 games dating to the start of the 2017 season.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his ninth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 75-30 (.714) 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 Lions. He is 7-1 vs. MSSU.
Joe Bettasso was named MSSU's interim head coach on Sept. 18, 2018, following the resignation of Lions' head coach Denver Johnson. Bettaso came to Southern for the 2018 season after three years at McKendree University where he served as the Bearcats' defensive coordinator. This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-Southern Series
This will be the 50th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Lions in a series that dates back to the 1968 season – Southern's first year as a four-year school. Pitt State holds a commanding 40-9-1 advantage in the series.
The Gorillas are 20-3-1 vs. the Lions in Pittsburg.
Last year, quarterback Thomas LePage passed for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for a third score to help lead Pitt State to a 56-7 victory over Missouri Southern in the regular season finale on Nov. 11.
The Gorillas (7-4, 7-4 MIAA) closed out the regular season with five consecutive victories after a 2-4 start to the year. The Lions (0-11, 0-11 MIAA) wrapped up a winless campaign in falling to Pitt State in the annual Miner's Bowl in front of 7,039 fans at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
LePage completed 10 of 17 passes for 163 yards. He tossed a 43-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lorenzo West and a two-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Austin Panko in a 28-point second quarter as Pitt State built a 35-0 halftime cushion. LePage also scored on an eight-yard run in the second period.
Running back Michael Rose carried the ball 20 times for a game-high 134 yards, scoring on runs of five yards for the Gorillas first score of the game and four yards in the third quarter. Rose eclipsed 1,000 yards for the season on his 20th and final carry of the game – his four-yard touchdown run that staked Pitt State to a 49-0 lead with 4:11 to play in the third period.
Keynan Scheurich also scored on a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter as the Gorillas rushed for 244 yards in the game and compiled 479 yards of total offense. Panko finished the game with four catches for 108 yards.
Cornerback Juanté Baldwin intercepted an errant T.J. Fleeton pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 13:09 to play in the third quarter. Reserve tight end Bryce Barto also scored on a 19-yard touchdown pass from back-up quarterback Quez Allen with 1:36 to play in the game.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted an 87-28-0 (.757) record in its last 115 road games (including post-season play). The Gorillas are 34-7 (.829) in their last 41 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 98-30-1 (.764) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 302 of its last 367 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 302-63-2 (.826) mark during the past 34 seasons (1985-2018). PSU is 161-26-1 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 249 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 188 of 249 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 712-349-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,109 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 (638), Central Oklahoma (632) and Carson-Newman (631).
MSSU has a 241-280- 7 (.463) record in 51 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 892 scoring drives (738 TDs, 154 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 56 scoring drives (42 TDs, 14 FGs) 3:18 elapsed time
2011 78 scoring drives (60 TDs, 18 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time 2018 41 scoring drives (32 TDs, 9 FGs) 3:03 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 165 games, posting a 68-8 (.895) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 50-39 (.562) 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 on Oct. 27. He missed last week's game vs. WU but is expected to return to the Gorillas lineup Saturday. 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 49 grabs for 764 yards and four TDs on the season, ranking third in the MIAA in receiving yards (76.4 ypg) to date. The Lawton, Okla., native has made 94 receptions for 1,358 career yards (14.4 ypc) and nine touchdowns. West caught seven passes for a career-high 161 yards vs. WU last week. He tied the PSU single-game record with 13 receptions against FHSU on Oct. 13, equalling the mark set by John Brown vs. MWSU on Oct. 20, 2012. West also returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against MWSU two weeks ago, earning MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Junior defensive tackle Simanua' Thomas was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts vs. UCM on Oct. 20. 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 39 stops (19 solo), including 13.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 QB sacks. He ranks second in the MIAA in TFLs and ranks third in the conference in sacks. For his career, Thomas has made 112 tackles (58 solo) with 30.5 TFLs and 12.5 QB sacks.
Sophomore safety Morgan Selemaea has made 46 tackles (29 solo) on the season with 9.0 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 86 tackles (58 solo), 18.0 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 Lions
Junior quarterback Sean Kelly directs the MSSU offense. Schurig (6-2, 200) has completed 102 of 20 passes (.500) for 859 yards (85.9 ypg) and eight interceptions in eight starts for the Lions. He also has rushed for 114 net yards and three touchdowns.
Senior wide receiver Eric Dedrick Jr. (6-5, 235) has caught 21 passes for a team-leading 221 yards (10.5 ypc), while sophomore running back Dalton James (6-0, 200) has 23 grabs for 125 yards (5.4 ypc).
James has carried the ball 178 times for 686 yards (3.9 ypc) and two touchdowns, while junior running back Caleb Batie (5-9, 210) has added 63 carries for 267 yards (4.2 ypc).
MSSU is averaging 125.9 rushing yards and 239.6 total yards per game. The Lions are scoring 8.13 points per game as well.
Defensively, MSSU is allowing 46.9 points, 284.0 rushing yards and 565.2 total yards per game.
Senior linebacker Justin Legier (6-0, 215) has made a team-leading 74 tackles (41 solo) on the season with 5.0 tackles-for-loss.
Junior safety Deshon Cowling (6-0, 176) has made 57 tackles (29 solo) with 4.0 tackles-for-loss, one interception and three pass break-ups, while senior cornerback Korenzo Credit (5-11, 175) has added 24 tackles, three interceptions and five pass break-ups.
Junior Riley Hathorn has punted 77 times for a 41.1-yard average, while junior Paul Wolff has converted six of nine field goal attempts and all nine of his PAT tries.
Junior Cole Dunbar (5-9, 165) has averaged 19.7 yards on kickoff returns, while sophomore Shemar Coleman (5-11, 180) has averaged 4.1 yards on punt returns.
