PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will make its 2018 season debut Thursday (Aug. 30) when the Gorillas play host to MIAA rival University of Central Oklahoma. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is embarking upon its 111th season of intercollegiate football at the institution. The Gorillas have accumulated 705 victories, posting a 705-346-48 overall mark.
Pitt State returns 15 players who started four or more games (five offense, 10 defense) in 2017, including eight returning All-MIAA performers and one returning All-America selection.
The Gorillas posted an 8-4 record in 2017 with six straight victories to end the year including a 48-31 win in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl over Arkansas Tech University in the season finale.
Central Oklahoma also finished the 2017 season with an 8-4 overall overall record and the Bronchos won their final six games to overcome a 2-4 start. UCO, which returns 14 starters (five offense, nine defense) defeated Tarleton State University, 38-31, in the inaugural Corsicana Bowl to culminate the 2017 season.
The Coaches
Tim Beck enters his ninth season as head coach at Pitt State with a 68-27 (.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 eighth meeting vs. the Bronchos. He is 6-1 vs. UCO.
UCO's Nick Bobek is in his seventh year leading his alma mater and his seventh 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 30-37 (.448) record. This will be his seventh meeting vs. Pitt State.
He is 1-5 vs. the Gorillas.
The Pitt State-Central Oklahoma Series
This will be the 16th 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 a 9-4-1 advantage in the series, including seven wins in the last nine years. The Gorillas are 5-3-0 against the Bronchos in games played in Pittsburg.
Last year, freshman linebacker Kaden Roy picked up a blocked punt and returned it 25 yards for a fourth quarter touchdown that helped propel Pitt State to a 31-28 victory over the University of Central Oklahoma on Sept. 9.
The Gorillas led 24-21 when Josh Hornback blocked Jay Tedesco's punt attempt at the UCO 36 yard line. Roy's ensuing touchdown scamper put the Gorillas up 31-21 with 9:35 to play in the game.
UCO hit a desperation 86-yard touchdown pass from Chas Stallard to J.T. Luper with 2:39 remaining to give the Bronchos a final chance, but Pitt State picked up a critical first down on a Thomas LePage 17-yard keeper and the Gorillas ran out the remainder of the clock to preserve the win.
LePage, starting in place of injured quarterback John Roderique, completed 12 of 21 passes for 174 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to Brenner Clemons. He also rushed the ball seven times for a career-high 97 yards as the Gorillas piled up 229 yards on the ground in the contest.
The Pitt State defense limited UCO to 87 net rushing yards on 31 carries. The Gorillas sacked Stallard four times.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 349-130-12 (.724) record in 491 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 149 of their last 174 regular season home games, posting a 149-24-1 record (.859) over the last 34 seasons.
Central Oklahoma is 14-19 (.424) in 33 road games under Coach Bobeck since 2012.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 295 of its last 357 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 295-60-2 (.829) mark during the past 33 seasons (1985-2017). PSU is 158-24-1 at home, 133-27-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
Gorillas in Season Openers
Pitt State has compiled a 67-38-5 (.632) record in season openers over the program's 110-year history.
Since the 1978 campaign, Pitt State has built a 33-6-1 (.838) record in season openers with an 18-3 (.857) record the past 21 seasons. The Gorillas also have compiled a 19-2 (.905) record in home season openers dating back to the 1978 season
Pitt State in the AFCA Top 25 Poll
Pitt State has been ranked in Division II's top 10 116 times in the last 239 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 183 of 239 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).
The Gorillas were preseason ranked among "others receiving votes" in the NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Poll.
UCO also comes into Thursday's contest receiving votes in the national poll.
All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are entering their 111th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 705-346-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,099 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 686 victories, followed by Hillsdale (629), Carson-Newman (626) and Central Oklahoma (625).
UCO has a 625-411-47 (.599) 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 844 scoring drives (701 TDs, 143 FGs) and averaged just 2:56 of elapsed time per drive. [Overtime scoring drives not included in elapsed time figures.]
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
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 72 times (61 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 155 games, posting a 64-8 (.889) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 47-36 (.566) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.
The Pitt State Offense
Senior John Roderique returns to lead the Pitt State offense for a fourth season. A two-time All-MIAA performer, Roderique will seek to return to form after battling injuries in 2017.
Roderique (6-5, 220) made six starts a year ago, passing for 919 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 335 yards and a score.
The Webb City, Mo., native has passed for 4,679 yards and 31 touchdowns in 24 career games for the Gorillas. He also has rushed for 1,119 yards and 14 TDs, compiling 5,798 yards of total offense (241.6 ypg) and accounting for 55 touchdowns.
Up front, the Gorillas return a pair of All-MIAA performers from 2017 in junior tackle Ryan Dodd (6-5, 300) and sophomore guard Zach Thomas (6-4, 311).
Pitt State also welcomes back a pair of seniors – guard Alex Jones (6-5, 326) and tackle Tyler Stiff (6-5, 280) – who have made 10 or more career starts. Sophomores Evan
Applegate (6-6, 287) and Tanner Gulick (6-3, 269) and redshirt freshmen Justin Knighton-Smith (6-3, 267) and Minsok Lee (6-4, 282) also figure to battle for significant action.
Junior center Benton Sinclair (6-0, 272) also returns and figures to contend for a starting role this fall.
The Gorillas offensive line cast average 6 feet, 4 inches and 298 pounds.
In the backfield, the Gorillas will look to a talented group of underclassmen to carry the load.
Sophomore Tucker Horak is the Gorillas' top returning ground gainer. Horak (5-10, 182) carried the ball 72 times for 375 yards (5.2 ypc) and one touchdown in 2017.
Junior Keynan Scheurich (5-11, 206) rushed 37 times for 174 yards and six scores, while sophomore D'Vontae Brown (5-11, 226) added six touchdowns in short-yardage situations a year ago. Sophomore Tyler Adkins (5-10, 194), a leading candidate for the starting role in week one, also saw action in seven games a year ago, rushing 14 times for 62 yards (4.4 ypc).
Junior Lorenzo West and redshirt sophomore Brenner Clemons lead a talented wide receiving corps.
West (5-11, 171) caught 40 passes for 517 yards (18.4 ypc) and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2017, while Clemons (6-3, 206) averaged 82.5 yards per game before suffering a season-ending injury that forced him to exercise a medical redshirt. He caught 42 passes for 559 yards and four scores in 2016, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors.
Junior Dash Cameron (5-10, 189), sophomore Brendan Franklin (6-3, 183) and redshirt freshmen Elijah Harris (5-10, 171) and Bryce Murphy (6-2, 186) also figure to vie for action for the Gorillas.
Franklin caught 15 passes for 146 yards (9.7 ypc) and one TD in 2017.
At tight end, senior Andy Otting (6-4, 238), junior Jackson Krull (6-7, 248) and redshirt sophomore Cole Baughman (6-7, 245) figure to battle for playing time.
The Pitt State Defense
The Gorillas return 10 players that started four or more games in 2017 of the defensive side of the ball, led by an All-America defensive lineman in junior Simanu'a Thomas.
Thomas (6-1, 288) made 36 tackles (21 solo) with 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 quarterback sacks in 2017, earning first-team All-MIAA honors. He also recorded an interception and a pass break-up and he forced a fumble and recovered another.
Additionally, the Gorillas welcome back four All-MIAA performers in the secondary: senior safety Marcus Brantley, senior cornerback Carnell Lewis, junior safety Josh Hornback and sophomore safety Morgan Selemaea.
rantley (5-10, 190) logged 66 tackles (39 solo) with 6.5 tackles-for-loss in 11 games last year. He also recorded two pass break-ups, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles while earning second-team All-MIAA recognition.
Lewis (6-0, 184) registered 28 tackles (24 solo) with one interception and nine pass break-ups before suffering a season-ending injury in week nine.
Hornback (6-2, 171) made a team-leading 70 tackles (44 solo) in 2017. He recorded two interceptions, two pass break-ups and blocked a pair of kicks.
Selemaea (5-11, 196) enjoyed a solid debut in his freshman season, recording 40 tackles (28 solo) with 9.0 tackles-for-loss and an MIAA leading 8.0 quarterback sacks in 10 games played.
Lewis, Hornback and Selemaea all garnered honorable mention All-MIAA recognition.
Senior Bradley Payne (6-1, 262), sophomore Gage Kaiser (6-2, 250) and redshirt freshman Christian Willis (6-1, 265) join Thomas on the interior defensive line. Payne earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2017, making 26 tackles (12 solo) and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.
Senior José Speer (6-3, 231), junior Ned Bingaman (6-5, 241) and sophomore Levi Wyrick (6-5, 230) all return to the defensive end post.
Bingaman started all 12 games in 2017, making 30 tackles (12 solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss. Wyrick started nine times, recording 19 stops (13 solo) with 2.5 TFLs.
Junior transfer Cole Morris (6-4, 218) also joins the defensive end cast along with redshirt junior Elijah Jeffcoat (6-3, 200) and redshirt freshman Keiondre Hall (6-4, 210).
In the secondary, senior Matt Magee (6-0, 199) and junior Creighton Sanders (6-1, 189) also return at the safety positions, while senior Paul Davis (5-10, 173), junior Keeyon Incle (6-0, 174) and sophomore Tyshawn Johnson (5-11, 157) return at cornerback.
Sanders made 49 tackles with two pass break-ups and two forced fumbles last year, while Davis logged 19 tackles, three interceptions and four pass break-ups.
Junior transfer KiAnte Hardin also figures to impact Pitt State's cornerback corps. Hardin (5-11, 180) played two years at the University of Minnesota (2015-16). He started seven of eight games as a sophomore in 2016, making 39 tackles with two interceptions and six pass break-ups.
At linebacker, the Gorillas return a pair of veteran players in seniors Demetrius Bernard and Darian Taylor.
Bernard, an honorable mention All-MIAA selection as a sophomore in 2015, made 40 tackles (25 solo) last year with 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 quarterback sacks.
Taylor (6-3, 214) made 54 tackles (36 solo) with 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 quarterback sacks, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors last fall.
Senior Carter Anchors (6-1, 200), juniors Jacob Carpenter (6-2, 230) and Brett McDonald (6-2, 224) and sophomore Kaden Roy (6-5, 227) also return to the linebacking corps.
Pitt State Special Teams
Senior Carter Anchors returns for a fourth season to handle Pitt State's punting duties. Anchors (6-1, 200) earned third-team All-America and first-team All-MIAA honors in 2016. He punted 42 times for a 37.1-yard average with 16 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line last year.
Sophomore Jared Vincent (5-11, 179) returns to handle placekicking duties. Vincent converted 14 of 17 (.824) field goals and 44 of 48 PATs in 2017.
Sophomore Todd Morrow (5-10, 173) is expected to handle the Gorillas' kickoff chores for a second straight season, while senior Conner Kaifes (6-1, 206) is expected to handle Pitt State's deep snapping chores again this fall.
Juniors Lorenzo West and KiAnte Hardin are leading candidates to handle the Gorillas' kick returning chores. West returned 13 kickoffs for a 19.7-yard average in 2017. He averaged 27.2 yards on 19 kickoff returns in 2016.
Hardin and sophomore Tucker Horak figure to serve as the Gorillas' primary punt returners.
Scouting the Bronchos
Central Oklahoma returns five starters from an offensive unit that 37.7 points and 468.3 yards of total offense per game.
Sophomore quarterback Keats Calhoun is expected to direct the UCO offense this fall. Calhoun (6-1, 200) saw limited action in three games as a redshirt freshman for the Bronchos in 2017. The left-hander competed three of four passes for 26 yards and a TD.
Senior running back Clay McKenzie returns following a medical redshirt season in 2017. McKenzie (5-11, 200) has compiled 2,645 rushing yards with 37 career TDs.
Junior wide receiver L'Elliott Curry is the Broncho's top statistical returning wide receiver. Curry (6-2, 215) caught 32 passes for 600 yards (18.8 ypc) and six TDs in 2017.
UCO welcomes back nine starters to a defensive cast that allowed 27.0 points and 422.7 yards of total offense per game a year ago.
Senior linebacker Colton Lindsey led the team with 100 tackles (39 solo) last year. Lindsey (6-4, 220) made 6.5 tackles-for-loss, registered three pass break-ups and forced two fumbles as well.
Senior linebacker Alex Figueroa (6-4, 240) also posted 79 tackles (37 solo) with a team-leading 11.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 quarterback sacks last season.
