PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Brandenburg Field/Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Sept. 21) to face MIAA rival Northeastern State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).

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 715 victories, posting a 715-349-48 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 then notched a 47-23 victory over Emporia State University in their home debut last Saturday (Sept. 14).

Pitt State climbed one spot to No. 22 in this week's AFCA/NCAA Division II Top 25 poll following the Gorillas home win over the Hornets.

Northeastern State has dropped a pair of lopsided decisions to Emporia State University and No. 21 University of Central Missouri to open the season. The RiverHawks fell, 70-7, to the Mules last Thursday (Sept. 12) in their home debut at Tahlequah, Okla.

The Coaches
Tim Beck is in his 10th season as head coach at Pitt State. He has compiled a 78-30 (.722) 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 eighth meeting vs. the RiverHawks.  He is 7-0 vs. NSU. 

NSU's J.J. Eckert is in his first year leading his alma mater. Eckert (NSU, '97) spent the previous 12 seasons as head coach at Kilgore College, compiling a 72-53 record in the NJCAA ranks for the Rangers. Prior to that, he served as head coach at Garden City Community College for two years (2005-06). This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State-Northeastern State Series
This will be the 35th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the RiverHawks in a series that dates back to the 1912 season.

Pitt State holds a 20-12-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas have won all eight of the contests between the two schools since 1970.

Last year, Pitt State scored the game's final 24 points and held Northeastern State scoreless in the second half to claim a 45-7 road win Saturday on Sept. 15.

The win helped the No. 23 ranked Gorillas improve to 3-0 on the season. Pitt State secured its ninth straight victory dating back to the 2017 campaign. NSU dropped to 0-3 on the year.

Quarterbacks John Roderique and B.J. Bradbury each threw touchdown passes – Roderique an 18-yard connection to Lorenzo West and Bradbury a 14-yard strike to Brenner Clemons.

Roderique added a two-yard scoring run for the game's first points. He completed 12 of 16 passes for 108 yards in the contest and added 44 yards on the ground.

Tyler Adkins rushed the ball 17 times for a career-high 125 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run. Kiah Kintchen added eight carries for 49 yards, including a four-yard touchdown run.

Matt Magee added a defensive score, returning a second-quarter interception 45 yards for a touchdown.

Jared Vincent booted a career-long 51-yard field goal to complete the scoring.

The Gorillas limited the RiverHawks to 196 yards of total offense in the contest, including 29 net rushing yards. Pitt State registered four interceptions, five quarterback sacks and 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage in the contest.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 353-132-12 (.722) record in 497 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 153 of their last 180 regular season home games, posting a 153-26-1 record (.853) over the last 35 seasons. 

NSU has lost 17 consecutive road games dating back to the start of the 2016 season.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 305 of its last 368 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 305-63-2 (.832) mark during the past 35 seasons (1985-2019). PSU is 162-26-1 at home, 139-28-1 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 254 polls and the Gorillas have been ranked in the top 25 poll in 190 of 254 weeks overall (dating back to the 1999 season). [for complete poll, see page 5]

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 715-349-48 overall record, winning 66.5 percent of their 1,112 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 692 victories, followed by Hillsdale (639), Carson-Newman (634) and Central Oklahoma (634).

NSU has a 445-442-30 (.502) record in 101 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 907 scoring drives (746 TDs, 161 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 14 scoring drives (7 TDs, 7 FGs) 2:55 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 74 times (62 TDs, 12 FGs) in the last 158 games, posting a 66-8 (.892) record in those games. By contrast, Pitt State is 48-36 (.571) 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 four passes for a game-high 88 yards last week vs. ESU. For the season, West has a team-leading eight catches for 160 yards. He currently ranks fourth in the MIAA in receiving yards (80.0 ypg). The Lawton, Okla., native has made 104 career receptions for 1,568 career yards (15.1 ypc) and nine touchdowns. He ranks ninth in PSU history in career receiving yards and sixth in career receptions. West, who currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in kickoff returns (41.8 ypr), also has compiled 3,334 career all-purpose yards.

Senior place kicker Jared Vincent converted four field goals against ESU last week and scored 17 points in the victory over the Hornets to earn MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The Claremore, Okla., native is a perfect 7-for-7 on field goal attempts this season. He currently leads NCAA Division II in field goals (3.5 pg). Vincent has converted 33 of 40 (.825) career field goal attempts and 104 of 108 (.963) career PAT tries. A two-time All-MIAA performer, Vincent has scored 193 career points (7.7 ppg).

Senior defensive tackle Simanu'a Thomas made 2.5 quarterback sacks in the home opener vs. ESU. 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 121 career tackles with 34.5 tackles-for-loss and 15.0 quarterback sacks.

Senior cornerback KiAnte Hardin was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week Monday after registering two interceptions and a pass break-up in the Gorillas win vs. ESU. Hardin returned one interception 45 yards for a touchdown. The Webb City, Mo., native has posted four interceptions and five pass break-ups in eight career games for the Gorillas.

Scouting the RiverHawks
Sophomore quarterback Jake Pruitt directs the NSU offense. Pruitt (6-3, 204) has completed 29 of 46 passes (.630) for 232 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions in the RiverHawks first two games.

Sophomore wide receiver Kobe Bryer (5-10, 182) has been Pruitt's target. He has caught eight passes for 48 yards (6.0 ypc). Sophomore wide receiver Mark Wheeland (6-2, 185) has caught five passes for 76 yards (15.2 ypc) and a touchdown.

Redshirt freshman running back Isaiah Davis (5-11, 215) has carried the ball 19 times for 59 yards (3.1 ypc) and a touchdown, while senior running back Kevin Jackson (5-9, 195) has rushed the ball 16 times for 18 net yards.

NSU is averaging 124.0 passing yards and 189.5 total yards per game early in the season. The RiverHawks are scoring 10.5 points per game.

Defensively, NSU is allowing 60.5 points, 251.0 rushing yards and 581.0 total yards per game. The RiverHawks rank last in the MIAA in scoring defense and total defense to date.

Junior linebacker Daxx McCalister (6-0, 222) has made a team-leading 15 tackles (14 solo) with a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. He ranks eighth in the MIAA in tackles (7.5 pg).

Sophomore cornerback Ty Nichols (6-0, 185) made 12 tackles (11 solo), a forced fumble and four pass deflections, while senior safety Ashton Antwine (5-11, 200) had posted 10 tackles (nine solo), including 1.0 tackle-for-loss, an interception and a pass break-up. Nichols currently ranks second in the MIAA in passes defended.

Junior Tim Davis (5-10, 215) has punted 18 times for a 34.6 yard average, while sophomore Brady Ellsworth (5-9, 165) has converted all three of his PAT tries on the season.