PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will make its 2021 season debut Thursday (Sept. 2) when the Gorillas travel to Warrensburg, Mo., to face MIAA rival University of Central Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.

The Gorillas, one of only 10 NCAA Division II football schools to play a limited schedule last fall due to the Covid-19 pandemic, posted a 2-2 record in 2020.

Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is embarking upon its 114th season of intercollegiate football at the institution.  The Gorillas have accumulated 721 victories, posting a 721-356-48 overall mark.

Pitt State returns seven seniors to the squad and 23 letterwinners from the 2019 season to provide veteran leadership to the squad.

Central Missouri  finished the 2019 season with an 11-2 overall overall record. The Mules shared the MIAA title (with Northwest Missouri) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. UCM enters the season ranked No. 13 in the preseason American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division II Top 25 poll.

The Coaches
Brian Wright enters his second season as head coach at Pittsburg State.

era to Pitt State football. He was hired as the program's 15th all-time head coach on December 7, 2019. Wright led the Gorillas to a 2-2 record during the abbreviated 2020 season. He has a 6-2 record as a collegiate head coach.

Wright came to Pitt State after serving the past four seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Toledo.

In his four seasons with the Rockets, Wright helped guide offenses that have been among the best in the Mid-American Conference while boasting four NFL draft picks.

Prior to coming to Toledo, Wright coached at Florida Atlantic for four seasons as the Owls' offensive coordinator. He stepped in as interim head coach for the final four games of the 2013 season, leading the Owls to four consecutive victories and bowl eligibility (6-6) for the first time since 2008.

Prior to his stint at Florida Atlantic, Wright spent two seasons at Montana State as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.

Before heading west to Montana State, Wright served nine years at perennial FCS power Youngstown State.

Wright joined the Penguins' staff in 2001 as quarterbacks coach, also working as offensive coordinator from 2005-09. He began his collegiate coaching career at Walsh (Ohio) University as a graduate assistant in 1995-96.

After a year as a graduate assistant at YSU in which the Penguins won the NCAA Division I-AA national title, Wright returned to Walsh in 1998 and served until 2000. 

Thursday's action will mark Wright's first match-up against Central Missouri.

Jim Svoboda enters his 11th season directing the Mules program and his 18th year as a collegiate coach.  Svoboda (Northwestern College, '83) has a 81-36-0 (.692) record leading the Mules and a 133-55-0 (.707) career mark. He is 5-5 all-time vs. Pitt State.

Gorillas on the Road
Historically, Pitt State has posted an impressive record in road games. The Gorillas have posted a 103-33-1 (.755) record in its last 137 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season. The Gorillas are 39-10 (.796) in their last 49 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010.

The Pitt State - Central Missouri Series
This will be the 58th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Mules in a series that dates all the way back to the 1916 season.  Pitt State holds a decided 43-12-2 (.759) advantage in the series, including a 21-6-2 record against UCM at Warrensburg, Mo.

In 2019, UCM posted a 36-28 victory over Pitt State on Oct. 26 at Warrensburg to claim the Mules third straight win over the Gorillas at Audrey J. Walton Stadium.

Gorillas in Season Openers
Pitt State has compiled a 69-39-5 (.633) record in season openers over the program's 113-year history. Since the 1978 campaign, Pitt State has built a 35-7-1 (.826) record in season openers with a 20-4 (.833) record the past 24 seasons. The Gorillas are 10-1 (.909) in their last 11 road season openers dating back to the 1997 season.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are entering their 114th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 721-356-48 overall record, winning 66.2 percent of their 1,125 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. The Gorillas enter the 2021 ranked 30th 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 (647), Carson-Newman (643) and Central Oklahoma (638).

UCM has a 567-518-51 (.522) record in 123 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
The Pitt State offense features a healthy mix of veteran players and newcomers as the Gorillas prepare to open the 2020 campaign against the Lopers.

The Gorillas will look to a trio of quarterbacks who all possess valuable game experience to lead the offensive unit in 2021:  redshirt sophomore Mak Sexton, redshirt junior Matt Harman and second-year freshman Chad Dodson Jr.

Sexton (6-1, 206) started all four games for the Gorillas during the 2020 campaign. The Leander, Texas, native completed 85 of 142 passes (.599) for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns. He has passed for 2,703 yards and 21 touchdowns in 15 career games.

Harman (6-3, 209) enters his fifth and final year in the Pitt State program. The Cashion, Okla., native has played in 18 games, completing 54 of 104 passes (.519) for 733 yards and four touchdowns.

Dodson (5-11, 191) saw action in one game as a true freshman in 2020, completing three of seven passes (.429) for 50 yards.

Up front, the Gorillas return a stable of veteran lineman. At the tackles, redshirt sophomore Trase Jeffries (6-4, 268), sophomore Kieven Myers (6-5, 345), redshirt freshman Riley Teutsch (6-5, 296) and second year freshman Shane Rance (6-6, 290) all gained valuable experience for Pitt State in 2020, while redshirt sophomore Cooper Schettler (6-4, 280) and second year freshman Sergio Garcia (6-5, 300) return as guards. Redshirt sophomore Michael Toney (6-3, 322) and second year freshman Evan Taylor (6-1, 292) also return at center.

The Gorillas have added a pair of junior transfers in Kory Woodruff (6-5, 349) and Chimemela Okorafor (6-6, 331) in addition to a strong freshman class of offensive linemaen. Woodruff was an NAIA All-America selection at Briar Cliff University in 2019.

In the backfield, the Gorillas return a pair of All-MIAA performers in senior running backs Tyler Adkins and Tucker Horak. Adkins (5-10, 220) rushed the ball 64 times for a team-leading 299 yards (4.7 ypc) and three touchdowns in 2020. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native has compiled 1,901 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in 33 career games. Horak (5-10, 195) has 248 carries for 1,389 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Rossville, Kan., native also has 1,765 career all-purpose yards to his credit.

A young stable of running backs, led by second year freshman Caleb Lewis (5-11, 183), redshirt sophomore Luke Hardman (6-0, 184) and redshirt freshman Noah Hernandez (5-10, 193) also will look to challenge for playing time for the Gorillas.

Senior Jalen Martin, redshirt juniors Bryce Murphy and Elijah Harris and redshirt freshman Christian Carter will look to lead a talented wide receiving corps.

Martin (6-3, 210) caught a team-leading 29 passes for 312 yards (10.8 ypc) and two scores in 2020, after transferring to Pitt State from Iowa State University. Murphy (6-2, 205) also made 14 catches for 192 yards (13.7 ypc) and one score in 2020. Murphy has 59 career receptions for 751 yards and five touchdowns. Harris (5-10, 179), who missed the 2020 campaign due to injury, has 21 career grabs for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Carter (6-0, 167) made a splash in 2020 with 11 catches for 209 yards (19.0 ypc) and two scores in three games played.

Redshirt sophomore Payton Copher (6-0, 197), sophomore transfer Payton Bowens (6-0, 169) and second year freshman Jake Bogdon (5-10, 176) also figure to see significant action for the Gorillas.

At tight end, sophomores Kaizer Newell, Lawrence Harris Jr. and Devon Garrison and second year freshman Mario Kirby Jr. (6-1, 245) figure to battle for playing time.

Newell (6-2, 256) has made three career starts between the 2019 and 2020 seasons and he has three career receptions for 42 yards (14.0 ypc). Newell and Harris (6-3, 244) have both appeared in 12 career games for the Gorillas. Garrison (6-6, 221) also played in all four games in 2020.

The Pitt State Defense
The Gorillas return eight players that started three or more games on the defensive side of the ball during the four-game Covid-19 shortened 2020 campaign, led by All-America senior linebacker Morgan Selemaea.

Selemaea (5-11, 201) made a team-leading 30 tackles (14 solo) with two pass break-ups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick in 2020. The Harrisonville, Mo., native has 30 career starts with 168 career tackles (99 solo), 24.0 tackles-for-loss, 13.0 quarterback sacks, six interceptions and 14 pass break-ups.

In addition to Selemaea, the Gorillas welcome back a veteran linebackers group.

Redshirt freshmen Luke Jennings and Alex Gaskill enjoyed strong 2020 campaigns. Jennings (6-4, 217) made 16 tackles (12 solo) with 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a fumble recovery, while Gaskill (6-3, 199) posted 15 stops with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and an interception.

Redshirt freshmen Mahcel Johnson (6-4, 210) and Dubem Okonkwo (6-0, 218) made 12 tackles apiece in 2020, while sophomore Elijah Robinson (6-2, 213) posted 10 stops and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Redshirt sophomore P.J. Sarwinski (6-1, 207) also was credited with eight tackles last year.

Redshirt freshmen Jack Barkley (6-1, 216) and Jake Burke (6-2, 238) and second year freshmen K'Von Hamilton (6-1, 234) and Brandon Stegall (6-2, 210) also figure to vie for playing time for the Gorillas.

On the defensive line, the Gorillas return a pair of All-MIAA performers in defensive end Kaden Roy and defensive tackle Zeke Wall.

Roy (6-5, 245) made a team-leading 86 tackles at linebacker in 2019 before moving to defensive end a year ago. The Webb City, Mo., native made 15 stops in 2020 with 1.5 tackles-for-loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Wall (6-1, 269) posted 35 tackles (15 solo) with 4.5 tackles-for-loss in 2019 and he added 16 stops (five solo) and a forced fumble in 2020.

Junior defensive end Keiondre Hall (6-4, 235) has 10.5 career tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks to his credit. Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Dalton Davis (6-4, 250) started three games for the Gorillas in 2020. Second year freshman nose guard Cole Sample (6-3, 309) also returns after gaining valuable playing time a year ago.

Junior defensive end Nathan Woods (6-4, 244), redshirt freshman nose guard Christian Roth (5-11, 268), redshirt freshman defensive tackle Malik Wooley (6-4, 2520) and sophomore transfer defensive tackle Daryl French (6-3, 272) also are expected to vie for significant action for the Gorillas.

In the secondary, the Gorillas welcome back three veteran cornerbacks in senior William Bazzle IV and sophomores Gasevan McGrue and Rico Payton, while senior transfers Jordan Hendy and Dallis Flowers also are expected to vie for significant action.

Bazzle (6-2, 203) mas made seven starts in 34 career games. He has made 64 tackles with three interceptions and nine pass breakups. McGrue (5-9, 169) started all four games in 2020, making 14 tackles and two pass breakups. Payton (6-1, 176) rejoins the Pitt State squad after opting out of the Covid-19 shortened 2020 campaign. He posted 14 tackles and four pass breakups for the Gorillas in 2019.

Hendy (6-0, 180) transferred to Pitt State in January from the University of Toledo, where he played the past two seasons. Flowers (6-2, 190) transferred to Pitt State in August after earning NAIA All-America honors the past two seasons at Grand View University.

Redshirt freshmen Antione Nunn Jr. (5-9, 170) and Dominique Shelmon (6-0, 178) also will challenge for playing time at cornerback for the Gorillas.

At safety, the Gorillas welcome back senior Markel Roby, juniors Brandon Mlekus and Adam Smith and sophomore Jeffrey Fordjour.

Roby (6-0, 200) made nine tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in 2020, his first year with the squad. Mlekus (5-11, 204) started all four games at strong safety in 2020, after moving back to defense from the quarterback position where he started 10 games in 2019. Mlekus shared the team tackle lead with 30 stops and he also made a pass breakup.

Smith (5-10, 185) did not see action in 2020, but he made 18 stops with an interception and a pass breakup in 2019. Fordjour (6-1, 205) posted 11 tackles in 2020, including a pair of tackles-for-loss. 

Sophomore Jared Flood (5-10, 186) and second year freshman Kade Hicks (6-0, 183) also figure to challenge for playing time.

Pitt State Special Teams
The Gorillas will look to redshirt freshman Gentry Cole (5-9, 165), second year freshmen Jaden Snyder and Dominik Stadlman and freshman transfer Cross Holmes to handle the squad's punting and place kicking duties.

Stadlman (6-1, 168) punted eight times for a 40.0 yard average in 2020, while Snyder (5-7, 167) connected on a pair of field goals on the season. Holmes (5-10, 187) transferred to Pitt State in August after two years at the University of Memphis.