PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will wrap up regular action Saturday (Nov. 16) when the Gorillas play host to MIAA rival Missouri Southern State University. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (CST) at Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium.

Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is competing in its 112th season of intercollegiate football at the institution.  The Gorillas have accumulated 718 victories, posting a 718-354-48 overall mark.

Pitt State opened the 2019 campaign with a 37-35 road win over the University of Central Oklahoma on Sept. 5 at Edmond, Okla. The Gorillas posted five consecutive victories before dropping five straight decisions including a 49-38 road loss to Washburn University last Saturday (Nov. 9).

Missouri Southern is 2-8 on the season. The Lions have lost seven of their last eight games including a 29-6 home loss to Emporia State last Saturday at Joplin, Mo.

The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his 10th season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled an 81-35 (.698) 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.

In 2017, 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. Last year, the Gorillas posted an 8-3 record and narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA-II playoffs.

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 10th meeting vs. the Lions.  He is 8-1 vs. MSSU. 

Jeff Sims is in his first season season as head coach at MSSU. Sims came to MSSU after four seasons as head coach at Garden City Community College. He also has been a head coach in the junior college ranks at Fort Scott Community College and Mesabi Range College. Sims has a 2-8 record in his short tenure at MSSU. This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State - Southern Series
This will be the 52nd 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 41-9-1 advantage in the series.

The Gorillas are 21-3-1 vs. the Lions in Pittsburg.

Last year, Pitt State scored on each of its first five possessions and the Gorillas held Missouri Southern scoreless in a 41-0 victory in the regular season finale on Nov. 10 at Fred G. Hughes Stadium at Joplin, Mo.

Pitt State piled up 526 yards of total offense in the contest with 299 ground yards and 227 yards through the air against MSSU.

Quarterback John Roderique completed seven of eight passes for 182 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brenner Clemons.

The running back trio of Tucker Horak, Keynan Scheurich and Tyler Adkins all found the end zone in the contest. Horak carried the ball 11 times for a game-high 81 yards with a three-yard touchdown on the Gorillas' opening possession of the game. Scheurich added 80 yards on 11 carries with a 28-yard scoring jaunt in the second quarter, while Adkins rushed 17 times for 74 yards and a score.

Jared Vincent booted a pair of field goals – from 33 yards midway through the second quarter and from 35 yards on the opening possession of the third quarter.

The Pitt State defense limited the Lions to 139 total yards in the game, including just 24 passing yards.

MSSU's Sean Kelly completed just four of 13 passes for 24 yards and an interception. Dalton James carried the ball 17 times for a team-leading 53 yards.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 355-134-12 (.722) record in 501 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 155 of their last 184 regular season home games, posting a 155-28-1 record (.845) over the last 35 seasons. 

MSSU has posted a 5-27 (.156) road record dating back to the start of the 2014 season.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 308 of its last 378 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 308-68-2 (.817) mark during the past 35 seasons (1985-2019). PSU is 164-28-1 at home, 140-30-1 on the road and 4-10-0 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 262 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 194 of 262 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season).

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are in their 112th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 718-354-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,119 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of just seven 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. Currently, the Gorillas are ranked 31st among all college football programs in all-time victories.

Tuskegee is second on the Division II all-time list with 696 victories, followed by Hillsdale (645), Carson-Newman (640) and Central Oklahoma (638).

MSSU has a 243-289-7 (.457) record in 52 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Quick Strike Offense
The Pitt State offense has exhibited a penchant for being a "quick strike" unit. During the last 15 seasons (2005-19), the Pitt State offense has generated 953 scoring drives (785 TDs, 174 FGs) and averaged just 2:54 of elapsed time per drive. 

2005 97 scoring drives (86 TDs, 11 FGs) 2:40 elapsed time     2013 83 scoring drives (70 TDs, 13 FGs) 2:29 elapsed time
2006 79 scoring drives (72 TDs, 7 FGs)  2:14 elapsed time     2014 74 scoring drives (53 TDs, 21 FGs) 3:06 elapsed time
2007 64 scoring drives (55 TDs, 9 FGs)  3:02 elapsed time     2015 50 scoring drives (41 TDs, 9 FGs)  2:53 elapsed time
2008 69 scoring drives (61 TDs, 8 FGs)  3:23 elapsed time     2016 60 scoring drives (48 TDs, 12 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time
2009 49 scoring drives (44 TDs, 5 FGs)  3:21 elapsed time     2017 56 scoring drives (42 TDs, 14 FGs) 3:18 elapsed time
2010 41 scoring drives (34 TDs, 7 FGs)  3:04 elapsed time     2018 48 scoring drives (37 TDs, 11 FGs) 3:14 elapsed time
2011 78 scoring drives (60 TDs, 18 FGs) 2:54 elapsed time     2019 54 scoring drives (43 TDs, 17 FGs) 2:40 elapsed time
2012 51 scoring drives (40 TDs, 11 FGs) 2:58 elapsed time

The Gorillas have been highly successful when they are quick out of the gates. Pitt State has scored on its opening drive 77 times (64 TDs, 13 FGs) in the last 166 games, posting a 68-9 (.883) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 49-40 (.551) in games it doesn't score on its opening drive during the same span.

Inside The Pitt State Offense / Defense
Senior wide receiver Lorenzo West caught five passes for a career-high 163 yards and a TD vs. NWMSU and he matched that with a six-catch, 163-yard performance vs. WU last week (Nov. 9). For the season, West has a team-leading 45 catches for 1,011 yards (22.5 ypc) and nine touchdowns. The Lawton, Okla., native has made 141 career receptions for 2,419 career yards (17.2 ypc) and 18 touchdowns. He ranks third in PSU history in career receiving yards and second in career receptions. West also has compiled 4,463 career all-purpose yards.

Senior place kicker Jared Vincent set a Pitt State record by converting 17 consecutive field goals between Nov. 3, 2018 and Sept. 28, 2019. The Claremore, Okla., native is 17-for-20 (.850) on field goal attempts on the season. Vincent has converted 43 of 53 (.811) career field goal attempts and 130 of 134 (.970) career PAT tries. He has converted 89 straight PAT tries. A two-time All-MIAA performer, Vincent has scored 248 career points (7.5 ppg).

Senior defensive tackle Simanu'a Thomas has made 26 tackles (14 solo) with 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 quarterback sacks on the season. The Independence, Mo., native is a two-time NCAA Division II All-America and three-time All-MIAA performer. For his career, Thomas has registered 140 career tackles with 38.0 tackles-for-loss, 16.5 quarterback sacks and seven forced fumbles.

Junior linebacker Kaden Roy posted a team-leading 11 tackles vs. FHSU on Oct. 19 – his third straight double digit tackle game. He was credited with a career-high 12 tackles vs. NWMSU on Oct. 12 and 11 stops vs. LU on Oct. 5. He also posted 11 tackles vs. WU last week (Nov. 9). For the season, the Webb City, Mo., native had made a team-high 84 tackles (42 solo) with 6.5 tackles-for-loss.

Scouting The Lions
Senior quarterback Jacob Park (6-4, 225) directs the Missouri Southern offense. Park (6-0, 200) has completed 229 of 441 passes (.519) for 3,225 yards (322.5 ypg) and 21 touchdowns with 21 interceptions.

Redshirt freshman running back Charles West (5-10, 188) has been Park's favorite target. West has caught 40 passes for 348 yards (8.1 ypc) and three touchdowns. Sophomore tight end Brian Boyd Jr. (6-2, 171) has caught 40 passes for 684 yards (17.1 ypc) and two touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Benjamin Phillips (6-3, 193) has 33 receptions for 568 yards (17.2 ypc) and three scores.

West has carried the ball 140 times for 671 yards (6.1 ypc) and five touchdowns, while Park has rushed the ball 69 times for 10 net yards and seven scores.

MSSU is averaging 351.9 passing yards and 464,3 total yards per game on the season. The Lions are scoring 31.6 points per game.

Defensively, MSSU is allowing 41.4 points, 242.2 rushing yards and 475.5 total yards per game.

Sophomore linebacker Richard Jordan Jr. (5-11, 220) has made a team-leading 101 tackles (45 solo) with 8.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 quarterback sacks and two pass break-ups.

Junior defensive end Loren Young (6-2, 236) has made 33 tackles (20 solo), 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 quarterback sacks, while junior cornerback David Rose (6-0, 185) has posted 36 tackles (28 solo), three interceptions and 11 pass break-ups.

Senior Paul Wolff (6-3, 211) has punted 36 times for a 41.2 yard average and he's converted four of seven field goal attempts on the year.

Freshman Josh Mercer (6-0, 165) has averaged 24.7 yards on kickoff returns, while Jaedon Stoshak (6-0, 168) has averaged 4.5 yards on punt returns.