PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to St. Joseph, Mo., Saturday (Nov. 4) to face Missouri Western State University in a key MIAA match-up. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (CDT) at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

The Gorillas are 9-0 on the season (8-0 MIAA) and alone atop the MIAA standings. Pitt State leads its closest conference foe (Central Missouri) by one game with two games remaining in the regular season.

A Pitt State victory over the Griffons Saturday would secure the Gorillas at least a share of the 2023 MIAA Championship – the program's second straight MIAA title. Pitt State has captured 13 MIAA crowns since joining the MIAA, and the NCAA Division II ranks, in 1989.

The Gorillas, one of eight remaining unbeaten teams in Division II, posted a 55-6 Homecoming victory over the University of Sioux Falls last Saturday (Oct. 28).

Pitt State held steady at No. 2 in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division II Top 25 poll released Monday (Oct. 30). Also on Monday, the Gorillas debuted at No. 1 in the first set of NCAA Super Regional Rankings. The top seven teams in the Super Region Three at the end of the season qualify to the 28-team NCAA Division II national playoff field.

Pitt State captured the 2022 MIAA Championship while posting a 12-1 record a year ago. The Gorillas advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs before falling to eventual national champion Ferris State, 17-14.

Missouri Western is 7-2 overall and 6-2 in MIAA play after posting a 44-0 home win over Northeastern State University last Saturday (Oct. 28). The Griffons debuted at No. 23 in this week's Division II top 25 poll.

The Coaches
Brian Wright is in his fourth season as head coach at Pittsburg State. He has a 31-6 (.838) record leading the Gorillas and a 35-6 (.854) mark as a collegiate head coach.

Wright was hired as the program's 15th all-time head coach on December 7, 2019. He 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.

Last year, Wright led the Gorillas to a 12-1 record and an 11-0 unblemished MIAA Championship, garnering 2022 MIAA Coach of the Year honors. He led Pitt State to a 12-1 record as the Gorillas made their 19th all-time trip to the NCAA-II postseason. Pitt State dropped a 17-14 decision to eventual national champion Ferris State University in the second round of the NCAA-II playoffs.

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.

Saturday's action will be Wright's fourth meeting against MWSU. He is 3-0 vs. the Griffons.

Tyler Fenwick is in his first year leading the Griffons after serving the past three seasons as head coach at NCAA Division II member Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also spent  six years as head coach at Missouri University of Science & Technology from 2013-18. Fenwick has a 60-50 record as a collegiate head coach.

Prior to leading the Miners, Fenwick served as offensive coordinator at MWSU from 2007-12, helping the Griffons to three NCAA-II playoff appearances and three postseason bowl games.

The Pitt State - Western Series
Saturday's action will mark the 49th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Griffons in a series that dates back to the 1970 season.

Pitt State holds a 36-12 (.750) advantage in the series, including seven straight road wins over the Griffons at Spratt Memorial Stadium dating back to 2011. The Gorillas are 20-6 overall on the road against MWSU.

Last year, Pitt State exploded for 21 third-quarter points to pull away for a 28-16 victory over MWSU on Oct. 22.

The No. 5 ranked Gorillas trailed 10-7 at halftime against a Griffons team that possessed the ball for more than 21 minutes in the first two quarters.

Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. tossed a pair of touchdowns in the pivotal third quarter to spark the comeback. Dodson completed 12 of 23 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns in the contest.

Pitt State in the MIAA
Pitt State has enjoyed consistent success in the MIAA during the past three decades.
Pitt State, which has won 20 consecutive MIAA games dating back to the 2021 campaign, has posted a 255-65-1 (.796) record against its MIAA opponents since joining the conference in 1989. The Gorillas have won 13 MIAA titles since joining the conference, including the 2022 MIAA crown last year.
Western has posted a 190-131-1 (.592) record in MIAA action since the start of the 1989 season.The Griffons shared the 2003 MIAA crown and claimed the 2012 MIAA title.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are competing in their 116th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 750-360-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,158 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of just nine 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 714 victories, followed by Hillsdale (662), Carson-Newman (654) and Central Oklahoma (652).

MWSU has a 315-259-9 (.548) record in 54 seasons of intercollegiate play.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 332 of its last 400 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 332-66-2 (.833) mark during the past 38 seasons (1985-2023). PSU is 174-28-1 at home, 154-29-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

Gorillas on the Road
Historically, Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games.

The Gorillas have posted a 117-35-1 (.768) record in its last 153 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season.

The Gorillas are 53-12 (.815) in their last 65 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010, including a 17-3 (.850) record in four seasons under head coach Brian Wright.

MWSU has compiled a 12-10 (.545) home record since the start of the 2019 season.

Pitt State vs. Ranked Opponents
Saturday's game will mark the 117th time the Gorillas face a top 25 NCAA Division II opponent. Pitt State is 62-54-0 (.534) in those contests. The Gorillas are 38-36 (.514) vs. ranked MIAA opponents. This will be the first time since 2013 Pitt State faces a ranked Griffons squad.

Gorillas Play Ahead
Pitt State has capitalized on first half leads to take control of several games this season.

The Gorillas, who lead all NCAA Division II squads in time of possession (35:13), have trailed for just 3:03 of game clock in their last five games. Pitt State has played in the lead for an average of 49:08 per game in those contests.

While the Gorillas have scored on their opening drive just once this season – vs. MSSU on Oct. 14 – the Pitt State defense has allowed just 48 first-half points to date (5.3 ppg).

Pitt State has trailed in just four games this season for a total of 72 minutes, 39 seconds out of a possible 540 minutes overall.

Scouting the Gorillas
Junior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. leads a Pitt State offense that averaged 37.1 points and 419.2 total yards per game on the season.

Dodson improved to 22-1 (.957) as the Gorillas starter following Pitt State's week nine home win vs. Sioux Falls. Dodson completed 10 of 14 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown in the contest. He has completed 153 of 224 passes (.683) for 1,744 yards and 12 TDs on the season.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native has completed 401 of 649 (.618) career passes for 5,318 yards and 48 touchdowns. He ranks third in Pitt State history for career TD passes and sixth for career passing yards.
Dodson earned third-team All-MIAA honors in 2022, passing for 2,975 yards and 29 TDs.

Senior tight end Devon Garrison caught seven passes for a career high 111 yards and two touchdowns against Emporia State on Oct. 7 – his first career 100-yard game.

For the season, Garrison has 34 grabs for a team-leading 553 yards (16.3 ypc) and five touchdowns. He ranks second in NCAA Division II to date in tight end receiving yards and tight end scoring. Garrison also ranks eighth in the MIAA in receiving yards (61.4 ypg).

For his career, the Elk River, Minn., native has 78 catches for 1,279 yards (16.4 ypc) and 14 touchdowns. He needs six yards to pass Blaise Bauer (1985-88) for the Pitt State career receiving record for a tight end. Bauer caught 44 passes for 1,284 yards.

Senior running back Antwan Squire has carried the ball a team-leading 101 times for 540 yards (5.3 ypc) and six touchdowns on the season. He also has caught 16 passes for 150 yards (9.4 ypc) and one TD.

The Suitland, Md., native ranks seventh in the MIAA in rushing, averaging 60.0 yards per game. He carried the ball 31 times for 135 yards (4.4 ypc) and one touchdown in six games played in 2022.

Freshman placekicker Austin Schmitt is 10-for-12 on field goal attempts on the season. He currently leads the MIAA and ranks 10th in D2 in field percentage (.833 pg).

The Grain Valley, Mo., native also has connected on all 36 of his PAT trys. He's scored a team-leading 66 points to date (7.3 ppg).

The Pitt State defense has allowed an MIAA low 15.3 points per game on the season and just 283.4 total yards per game to date.

Redshirt junior linebacker Jack Barkley leads the Pitt State defense with 63 tackles (28 solo) on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native also has 7.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 quarterback sacks and three pass breakups to his credit.

Barkley ranks fifth in the MIAA in stops this season, averaging 7.3 tackles per game. He earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 5, after posting a career-best 14 tackles (seven solo) and 3.5 tackles-for-loss in the Gorillas' 34-7 season opening win over Washburn (Aug. 31).

For his career, Barkley has compiled 128 tackles (51 solo) with 9.0 tackles-for-loss, one interception and four pass breakups.

Redshirt junior linebacker Luke Jennings was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23 after posting seven tackles (four solo), a pass breakup and a forced fumble against NWMSU.

Jennings, an All-MIAA selection in 2022, returned to the Pitt State lineup Oct. 7 after missing four games. The Gardner, Kan., native has made 28 tackles (12 solo) in five games played on the season.

Sophomore safety Jordan Rogers leads the MIAA and ranks fourth in NCAA Division II this season with five interceptions. The Bellmead, Texas, native logged a takeaway in each of Pitt State's first five games, including a "pick six" against NSU on Sept. 30.

For the season, Rogers has made 21 tackles (15 solo) with 4.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 quarterback sack and three pass breakups. He missed the MSSU game due to injury.

Scouting The Griffons
Senior quarterback Armani Edden directs the Missouri Western offense. Edden (5-10, 177) has completed 155 of 232 passes (.668) for 1,858 yards (206.4 ypg) and 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. He also has carried the ball 41 times for 164 net yards (4.0 ypc).

Redshirt freshman running back Seth Cromwell (5-10, 218) has  rushed the ball 81 times for 483 yards (6.0 ypc) and 11 touchdowns to lead a Griffons ground game that averages 199.2 rushing yards per game. Junior running back Brandon Hall (5-10, 194) also has rushed for 458 yards (6.3 ypc) and one score, while senior running back Jared Scott (6-0, 218) has 417 rushing yards (5.9 ypc) and eight touchdowns.

Junior wide receiver Jonas Bennett has been Edden's favorite receiving target. Bennett (6-0, 207) has caught 48 passes for 628 yards (13.1 ypc) and four TDs, averaging 69.8 receiving yards per game. Junior wide receiver Traveon James (6-0, 201) also has made 29 receptions for 309 yards (10.7 ypc) and two scores.

Western is averaging 232.9 passing yards and 430.3 total yards per game on the season. The Griffons are scoring 38.9 points per game.

Defensively, Western is allowing 21.4 points, 114.4 rushing yards and 374.8 total yards per game.

Junior defensive end Dakari Streeter (6-2, 269) leads NCAA Division II in quarterback sacks with 10.0 on the season. Streeter has logged 27 tackles (14 solo), including 11.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Sophomore safety TreVon Holmes (5-11, 193)has made a team-leading 59 tackles (36 solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions, while senior cornerback Taylor Williams (6-1, 183) has recorded 19 tackles (14 solo), four interceptions and three pass breakups.

Senior Evan Williams (6-0, 173) has punted 27 times for a 42.0 yard average, placing 10 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.

Junior Cody Watson (6-4, 193) has converted 11 of 17 field goal attempts on the season. Watson ranked 15th in Division II in field goals (1.22 pg). He has scored a team-leading 76 points (8.4 ppg).