PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will make its 2022 season debut Thursday (Sept. 1) when the Gorillas play host to MIAA rival University of Central Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Carnie Smith Stadium.
The Gorillas posted an 8-3 record in 2021, finishing fourth in the MIAA standings.
Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, is embarking upon its 115th season of intercollegiate football at the institution. The Gorillas have accumulated 729 victories, posting a 729-359-48 overall mark.
Pitt State returns 15 players (eight offense, seven defense) who started four or more games during the 2021 campaign and 11 players who received All-MIAA accolades a year ago.
Central Missouri finished the 2021 season with a 4-7 overall overall record.
The Coaches
Brian Wright enters his third season as head coach at Pittsburg State.
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; and he guided Pitt State to an 8-3 mark in 2021. He has a 10-5 (.667) record leading the Gorillas and a 14-5 (.737) mark as a collegiate head coach.
Wright came to Pitt State after serving the previous four seasons as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at the University of Toledo.
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.
Tonight's action will mark Wright's second match-up against UCM. He is 1-0 against the Mules.
Josh Lamberson enters his first season as head coach at UCM and his fourth year as a collegiate head coach. Lamberson (NWMSU, '05) compiled a 4-29 (.121) record at head coach at MIAA rival Nebraska-Kearney from 2015-17. He served as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Abilene Christian from 2018-21. Lamberson also served as offensive cordinator and recruiting coordinator at UCM from 2010-14.
This will be his fourth meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 0-3 against the Gorillas.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 359-137-12 (.720) record in 508 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 159 of their last 191 regular season home games, posting a 159-31-1 record (.835) over the last 36 seasons.
UCM has posted an 8-9 (.471) road record since the start of the 2018 season.
The Pitt State - Central Missouri Series
This will be the 59th 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 44-12-2 (.776) advantage in the series, including a 22-6-0 record against UCM in Pittsburg.
Last year, quarterback Mak Sexton passed for 247 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Gorillas to a 35-16 victory over preseason No. 13 ranked Central Missouri in the season opener at Warrensburg, Mo., on Sept. 2.
The Gorillas scored twice in the final 4:35 of the second quarter to build a 21-3 halftime advantage as Sexton tossed first half touchdown passes to Christian Carter, Mario Kirby and Elijah Harris.
The Pitt State defense forced a pair of interceptions in the game and twice halted UCM drives on downs in the contest.
Gorillas in Season Openers
Pitt State has compiled a 70-39-5 (.633) record in season openers over the program's 114-year history.
Since the 1978 campaign, Pitt State has built a 36-7-1 (.826) record in season openers with a 21-4 (.840) record the past 25 seasons. The Gorillas are 14-3 (.824) in home season openers since joining NCAA Division II and the MIAA in 1989.
All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are entering their 115th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 729-359-48 overall record, winning 66.3 percent of their 1,136 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 2022 ranked 30th among all college football programs in all-time victories.
Tuskegee is second on the Division II all-time list with 699 victories, followed by Hillsdale (653), Carson-Newman (644) and Central Oklahoma (642).
UCM has a 571-525-51 (.520) record in 124 seasons of intercollegiate play.
Scouting the Gorillas
Sophomore quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. will seek to lead the Pitt State offense in 2022 after gaining valuable on-field experience for the Gorillas as a second-year freshman in 2021.
Dodson (5-11, 191) saw action in five games during his rookie campaign, including earning the start under center in the regular season finale – a 34-24 road win over Fort Hays State University. The Jacksonville, Fla., native completed 42 of 62 passes (.677) for 599 yards and seven touchdowns on the season with just two interceptions, compiling a 179.7 passer rating on the year.
Incoming freshmen Ty Pennington and Jake Wright and sophomore transfer Darius Bowers also will vie for action at quarterback.
Pennington (6-3, 195) was the Oklahoma Class 6A District 2 Offensive Most Valuable Player as a senior at Sand Springs High School last fall. As a three-year starter for the Sandites, he compiled 6,455 passing yards with 54 touchdowns.
Wright (6-0, 185) earned first-team All-State honors at Houston's St. Thomas Catholic High School, completing 227 of 317 passes (.716) for 3,750 yards and 43 touchdowns with just one interception.
Bowers (6-2, 210). joined the Gorillas over the summer from NCAA FCS member University of Central Arkansas. The Fayetteville, Ark., native saw action in three games for the Bears in 2021, completing 10 of 20 passes (.500) for 133 yards and a touchdown. He was a two-time Arkansas Class 7A All-State performer, passing for 192 of 272 passes for 2,991 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior in 2018.
Up front, the Gorillas return a stable of veteran lineman. At the tackles, redshirt juniors Trase Jeffries (6-4, 268) and Kieven Myers (6-4, 345) return along with redshirt sophomore Riley Teutsch (6-5, 296) and sophomore Shane Rance (6-6, 290). The guards feature senior Kory Woodruff (6-5, 349), redshirt junior Michael Toney (6-3, 322), sophomore Evan Taylor (6-1, 292) and redshirt freshman Braden Stein, while redshirt junior Cooper Schettler (6-4, 290) and sophomore transfer Shahzada Durrani (6-3, 310) are expected to handle the responsibilities at center.
Jeffries garnered first-team All-MIAA honors for the Gorillas a year ago, while Teutsch and Woodruff received honorable mention All-MIAA recognition.
In the backfield, the Gorillas return an All-MIAA performer in sophomore Caleb Lewis as well as a stable of talented players around him.
Lewis (5-11, 183) saw action in all 11 games in 2021, carrying the ball 123 times for 522 yards (4.2 ypc) and three touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 106 yards (7.6 ypc) as well, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors at the end of the season.
Sophomore Noah Hernandez (5-10, 193) also competed in 10 games a year ago, compiling 88 rushing yards and a pair of scores among his 25 carries, while sophomore Adam Albertini (5-9, 179) saw limited action for the Gorillas as well.
The Gorillas also added an explosive runner in January in junior transfer Antwan Squire. Squire (5-9, 200) rushed 90 times for 494 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore at Lackawanna College in 2021.
Graduate Elijah Harris, redshirt senior Bryce Murphy and redshirt sophomore Christian Carter will look to lead a talented wide receiving corps.
Harris (5-10, 179) caught 37 passes for 660 yards (17.8 ypc) and seven scores in 2021, providing a consistent deep threat for the Gorillas and earning honorable mention All-MIAA accolades. Murphy (6-2, 205) also made 14 catches for 270 yards (19.3 ypc) and two touchdowns, while Carter (6-0, 167) posted 33 catches for 415 yards (12.6 ypc) and three touchdowns.
Murphy has 73 career receptions for 1,021 yards (14.0 ypc) and seven touchdowns, while Harris has 58 grabs for 943 yards (16.3 ypc) and nine scores.
Sophomore Jake Bogdon (5-10, 176), redshirt sophomore Jack Roberts (6-3, 192), redshirt freshman Kolbe Katsis (6-1, 166) also figure to see significant action for the Gorillas.
At tight end, junior Kaizer Newell, redshirt junior Devon Garrison and sophomore Dallas Bond figure to battle for playing time.
Newell (6-2, 256) has made 13 career starts between the 2019 and 2021 seasons and he has 14 career receptions for 156 yards (11.1 ypc) and three touchdowns. Newell received honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2021. Garrison (6-6, 221) caught eight passes for 99 yards and two scores a year ago, while Bond (6-4, 223) saw action in nine games as a true freshman in 2021.
The Pitt State Defense
The Gorillas return seven players that started four or more games on the defensive side of the ball during the 2021 campaign, led by All-America graduate linebacker P.J. Sarwinski.
Sarwinski (6-0, 207) made a team-leading 84 tackles (51 solo) with 12.0 tackles-for-loss (3.5 quarterback sacks), an interception and two pass break-ups. The Galena, Kan., native parlayed his breakthrough junior season into first-team All-MIAA and honorable mention NCAA Division II All-America honors.
Redshirt senior Morgan Selemaea also returns after battling back from a medical redshirt season in 2021. Selemaea (5-11, 201), an All-America performer as a sophomore in 2018, played in two games in 2021 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The Harrisonville, Mo., native has made 32 career starts with 188 tackles (103 solo), 24.0 tackles-for-loss, 13.0 quarterback sacks, six interceptions and 15 pass breakups.
In addition to Sarwinski and Selemaea, the Gorillas welcome back a veteran linebackers group.
Redshirt sophomore Luke Jennings received honorable mention All-MIAA honors in 2021, while redshirt sophomores Alex Gaskill, Dubem Okonkwo and Jack Barkley also played significant roles in the Gorillas linebacking corps a year ago.
Jennings (6-4, 217) made 42 tackles (24 solo) in eight games played, while Gaskill (6-3, 199) posted 34 tackles (18 solo), two interceptions and four pass break-ups. Okonkwo (6-0, 218) finished the season with 29 tackles (22 solo) and 3.0 quarterback sacks and Barkley (6-1, 216) contributed 39 tackles (22 solo) and an interception.
Sophomores Thomas Cook (6-1, 209) and Durbie McReynolds (6-2, 175) also are expected to see significant action for the Gorillas this fall.
On the defensive line, the Gorillas will be led by two-time All-MIAA performer Zeke Wall.
Wall (6-1, 276) made 36 tackles (16 solo) from his defensive tackle position in 2021, registering 6.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.0 quarterback sacks to earn third-team All-MIAA honors. The Webb City, Mo., native has compiled 107 career tackles (44 solo) with 16.0 TFLs and 6.5 QB sacks.
Redshirt sophomore Christian Roth (5-11, 266) and sophomores Cole Sample, Quentin Bunten (6-0, 281) and Trent Thompson (6-3, 258) also will battle for playing time on the interior defensive line, while redshirt senior Nathan Woods (6-4, 228), senior Keiondre Hall, junior Elijah Robinson (6-2, 213), redshirt sophomore Mahcel Johnson (6-4, 210) and sophomore Brandon Stegall will challenge for playing time at defensive end.
Sample (6-3, 309) started four games in 2021, posting 16 tackles (four solo) at nose guard, while Stegall (6-2, 210) also made 16 tackles (13 solo) with 1.0 quarterback sack from his end position. Hall (6-5, 235) also contributed 12 tackles (seven solo) with 4.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 quarterback sacks. The Columbia, Mo., native has 14.5 career tackles-for-loss and 8.5 career quarterback sacks to his credit.
In the secondary, the Gorillas welcome back a quartet of veteran safeties in graduate Brandon Mlekus and redshirt senior Adam Smith, junior Jeffrey Fordjour and redshirt sophomore Ian Watts.
Mlekus (5-11, 204) earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors as a junior in 2021, registering 68 tackles (41 solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss, an interception and five pass breakups. He enters the 2022 campaign with 109 career tackles and seven pass breakups.
Fordjour (6-1, 205) started three games in 2021, making 11 tackles (four solo) and one pass breakup. Watts (6-2, 187) recorded six tackles, an interception and a pass breakup in nine games played last year, while Smith (5-10, 185) contributed four tackles on the season.
Junior transfer Michael Lacey and redshirt freshmen Jordan Rogers (5-11, 172) and Ryan Medeiros (6-0, 180) also are expected to factor in the mix at safety this fall. Lacey (5-10, 185) joined the Gorillas over the summer from the University of Toledo.
At cornerback, the Gorillas welcome back redshirt junior Rico Payton as well as redshirt sophomores Antoine Nunn Jr. and Dominique Shelmon and redshirt freshman Jaylen Fuksa.
Payton (6-1, 176) started two games as a redshirt sophomore in 2021, recording 12 tackles (eight solo), six pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Nunn (5-9, 170) and Shelmon (6-0, 178) both competed in nine games.
Pitt State Special Teams
The Gorillas return all of their core special teams unit members: sophomore placekickers Cross Holmes, Jaden Snyder and Gentry Cole, sophomore punter Dominik Stadlman and sophomore longsnapper Timmy Malinowski.
Holmes (5-10, 187) garnered first-team All-MIAA and honorable mention NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2021. He led Division II in field goals per game (2.0 pg, in nine games played), converting 18 of 23 attempts. Holmes also was a perfect 22-for-22 in PAT tries.
Snyder (5-7, 167) made one of two field goal attempts and 17 of 19 PAT tries on the season, while Cole (5-9, 165) averaged 55.9 yards on kickoffs with 23 touchbacks among his 67 kicks on the season.
Stadlman (6-1, 168) averaged 39.3 yards per punt on the season. He had four punts of 50 or more yards and placed nine kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line. Malinowski (6-1, 187) exclusively handled the Gorillas' long snapping chores as a true freshman in 2021.
