PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will seek its eighth consecutive victory dating back to the 2017 season Thursday (Sept. 6) when the Gorillas travel to Emporia, Kan., to face MIAA rival Emporia State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Welch Stadium.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, has accumulated 706 victories, posting a 706-346-48 overall mark in 111 years of intercollegiate play.
The Gorillas opened the 2018 season with a 21-7 win over the University of Central Oklahoma on Aug. 30 at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium. Pitt State 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.
Emporia State scored a 34-7 season-opening victory on the road against Northeastern State University last Thursday (Aug. 30) at Tahlequah, Okla. The Hornets posted a 6-5 record a year ago.
The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his ninth season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 69-27 (.719) 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 Hornets. He is 3-3 vs. ESU.
ESU's Garrin Higgins is in his 12th year leading the Hornets and his 17th year as a collegiate coach. Higgins (ESU, '92) has compiled a 71-56 (.559) record leading his alma mater as well as a 122-65 (.652) career mark. He is 3-6 vs. Pitt State.
The Pitt State-Emporia State Series
This will be the 96th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Hornets in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season. The Pitt State-Emporia State series is the ninth-longest rivalry in NCAA Division II football.
Pitt State holds a commanding 59-34-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 31-17-1 vs. the Hornets at Emporia all-time.
Pitt State is 31-7 in its last 38 meetings against ESU.
Last year, Pitt State overcame a nearly 24-hour weather delay and a game challenge from Emporia State to claim a 27-10 victory over the Hornets Oct. 21-22.
Lightning halted the contest with the Gorillas leading the Hornets, 24-10, with the ball at the ESU 22 with 10:08 to play in the game. After a six-hour, 39-minute delay, the game was suspended until 2 p.m. Sunday.
When play resumed, the Gorillas ran the ball three times to reach the ESU 14 and Jared Vincent booted a 31-yard field goal to stretch Pitt State's margin to 27-10 with 7:37 remaining.
The Pitt State defense then stopped ESU on its final possession of the game in Gorillas territory. ESU backup quarterback T'Quan Wallace drove the Hornets to the PSU 40, but Morgan Selemaea and Willie Cooper registered sacks, including Cooper's stop on 4th and five at the PSU 40.
The Gorillas, with backup quarterback Thomas LePage subbing for an injured starter John Roderique, then ran out the remaining 5:10 of game clock with a 10-play, 48-yard drive. The Gorillas picked up three first downs on the game-clinching drive, including a LePage to Austin Panko pass to the ESU 2 that sealed the win.
Running back Michael Rose carried the ball 23 times for career-high 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Pitt State defense limited the high-scoring Hornets to 10 points and 344 total yards in the game. The Gorillas held ESU on downs five times in the contest.
Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has posted an 84-27-0 (.757) record in its last 111 road games (including post-season play). The Gorillas are 31-6 (.838) in their last 37 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 95-29-1 (.764) on the road.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 296 of its last 358 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 296-60-2 (.830) mark during the past 34 seasons (1985-2018). PSU is 159-24-1 at home, 133-27-1 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 10 116 times in the last 240 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 183 of 240 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 and Pitt State continues to receive votes after week one action.ESU 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 competing in their 111th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 706-346-48 overall record, winning 66.4 percent of their 1,100 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 (630), Carson-Newman (626) and Central Oklahoma (625).
ESU has a 522-533-45 (.495) record in 121 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 846 scoring drives (701 TDs, 143 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 2 scoring drives (2 TDs, 0 FGs) 5:22 elapsed time
The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 73 times (62 TDs, 11 FGs) in the last 156 games, posting a 65-8 (.890) 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.
Inside The Pitt State Offense / Defense
Senior quarterback John Roderique made his 22nd start under center for the Gorillas against UCO last week. Roderique competed nine of 13 passes for 104 yards and a TD against the Bronchos. The Webb City, Mo., native has passed for 4,783 yards and 32 touchdowns in 25 career games for the Gorillas. He also has rushed for 1,142 yards and 14 TDs, compiling 5,925 yards of total offense (237.0 ypg) and accounting for 56 touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Lorenzo West caught four passes for a team-leading 78 yards and a TD against UCO last week. The Lawton, Okla., native has made 49 receptions for 672 career yards (13.7 ypc) and six touchdowns.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Brenner Clemons enjoyed a successful return from an injury shortened season in 2017 when the Gorillas opened the 2018 campaign against UCO. The Lee's Summit, Mo., native caught four passes for 19 yards against the Bronchos. Clemons, the 2016 MIAA Freshman of the Year, has made 56 career receptions for 743 yards (13.3 ypc) and six touchdowns.
Junior defensive tackle Simanu'a Thomas made a strong debut to the season against UCO, logging seven tackles (three solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks. The Independence, Mo., native earned honorable mention NCAA Division II All-America honors as a sophomore in 2017. For his career, Thomas has registered 80 career tackles (42 solo) with 20.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.0 quarterback sacks.
Junior cornerback KiAnte Hardin enjoyed a solid debut as a Gorilla last Thursday (Aug. 30) against UCO. Hardin, an NCAA Division I transfer from the University of Minnesota who redshirted at PSU in 2017, made two tackles and a pass break-up on defense for Pitt State against the Bronchos. The Webb City, Mo., native also caught one pass for 13 yards as a wide receiver and he returned a punt 59 yards for a touchdown to stake the Gorillas to a 21-0 lead late in the second quarter against UCO.
Scouting Hornets
Senior quarterback Braxton Marstall directs the ESU offense. Marstall (6-2, 207) passed for 2,893 yards and 24 touchdowns as a junior in 2017. He completed 17 of 30 passes for 144 yards and two TDs in the Hornets' season-opening win against NSU on Aug. 30.
Senior running back Landon Nault carried the ball 19 times for 88 yards and two scores against the RiverHawks. Nault (5-9, 193) rushed for a team-leading 640 yards and nine scores last year.
Senior wide receiver Tyler Harris (6-2, 188) caught six passes for 56 yards and two TDs in the season opener to lead ESU's receiving corps. Senior wide receiver Justin Brown made a team-best 86 receptions for 999 yards and eight scores in 2017. Brown (6-2, 193) had three catches for 23 yards against NSU.
Redshirt freshman placekicker Sam Dobbins (6-0, 183) missed a pair of field goal attempts (31, 28) against the RiverHawks and he converted four of five PAT tries in the season opener.
Junior defensive end Parker Bass (6-1, 219) was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Monday (Sept. 3) after registering 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 quarterback sacks against NSU in week one. Bass (6-2, 228) made 27 tackles with 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 QB sacks in 2017.
Junior safety Gary Woods II made a team-leading six stops and a pass break-up against the RiverHawks. Woods (6-0, 189) made 73 tackles (42 solo) with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and three PBUs in 2017.
Harris punted four times for a 38.8-yard average, while senior Jordan Reed (6-1, 165) averaged 18.5 yards on a pair of punt returns.
