PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Allendale, Mich., Saturday (Nov. 25) to face Grand Valley State University from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in second-round action of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program and the No. 7 ranked team in the final regular season AFCA/Division II Top 25 poll [for complete poll, see page 5], posted a 35-14 home win over the University of Indianapolis in the first round of the playoffs last Saturday (Nov. 18).

Grand Valley State, the No. 2 ranked team in NCAA Division II, claimed a 21-14 first round playoff win over GLIAC foe Ferris State University last Saturday.

Pitt State is 11-1 on the season. The Gorillas finished the regular season with an unblemished 10-1 record and shared the 2023 MIAA Championship.

Grand Valley State is 10-1 overall. The Lakers posted a 9-1 record in the regular season with their lone loss, a 31-28 decision, coming to Colorado School of Mines, the current No. 1 team in NCAA Division II, in the season opener at Golden, Colo., on Aug. 31.

Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 1 p.m. (EST) at GVSU's Lubbers Stadium.

Game Tickets / Game Info
Tickets can be purchased for the game in advance online at https://gvsutickets.universitytickets.com/w/ or by contacting the GVSU Athletics Ticket Office at (616) 331-3200. General admission tickets are $20. Game day ticket sales begin at 11 a.m. at the stadium.

Pitt State fans have several options to follow the game remotely:  Live Audio, Live Stats and Live Web Stream.

The Gorillas action can be heard locally on ESPN 100.7 FM Radio, online at espn1007.com/ or through the ESPN 100.7 or KSHQ app for phones or mobile devices. A live web stream is available at vcloud.blueframetech.com/broadcast/ppv/755726. Streaming cost is $10.55.

The Coaches
Brian Wright is in his fourth season as head coach at Pittsburg State. He has a 33-7 (.825) record leading the Gorillas and a 37-7 (.841) 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.

He has guided the Gorillas to a 10-1 record this fall, leading the program to its second straight MIAA Championship campaign.

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 first meeting against Grand Valley State.

Scott Wooster is in his first season as head coach at Grand Valley, after serving as offensive line coach/run game coordinator for the Lakers for the previous three seasons. Prior to joining the GVSU staff, Wooster spent 11 years at his alma mater, Wayne State University, including seven years as offensive line coach.

This will be his first meeting vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State - Grand Valley Series
This will be the first all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Lakers.

Pitt State has faced a GLIAC foe just twice previously, with the Gorillas meeting Wayne (Mich.) State University in the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship Game at Florence, Ala., and Ferris State University in the second round of the 2022 NCAA-II playoffs at Big Rapids, Mich.

The Gorillas defeated the Wildcats, 35-21, to claim the 2011 national crown. The Bulldogs beat Pitt State, 17-14, last year en route to their second straight national title.

Pitt State-GVSU in the NCAA-II Playoffs
Pitt State is making its 20th appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs since joining the NCAA ranks 35 years ago, prior to the 1989 season.
The Gorillas have compiled a 27-17 (.614) mark in the NCAA-II playoffs.

Pitt State captured the 1991 and 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships and finished as the National Runner-Up in 1992, 1995 and 2004.

GVSU is making its 22nd appearance in the NCAA-II playoffs. The Lakers are 38-17 (.691) overall, including a 24-5 (.828) home record. GVSU has made six appearances in the NCAA-II National Championship Game, claiming four National Championships in five years (2002-03, '05-06).

Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games over the past 30 years.

The Gorillas have posted a 117-36-1 (.763) record in its last 154 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season. The Gorillas are 53-13 (.803) in their last 66 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010, including a 17-4 (.810) record in four seasons under head coach Brian Wright.

GVSU has compiled a 45-4 (.918) home record since the start of the 2015 season. The Lakers are 7-0 at home this season.

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 752-361-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,161 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 (664), Carson-Newman (655) and Central Oklahoma (653).

GVSU has a 441-150-3 (.741) record in 51 seasons of intercollegiate play. The Lakers sport the best all-time winning percentage among all NCAA Division II programs.

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

The Gorillas, rank second among NCAA Division II squads in time of possession (34:23), have trailed for just 16:34 of game clock in their last eight games. Pitt State has played in the lead for an average of 45:57 per game in those contests.

While the Gorillas have scored on their opening drive just twice this season – vs. MSSU on Oct. 14 and vs. MWSU on Nov. 4 – the Pitt State defense has allowed just 74 first-half points to date (6.2 ppg).
Pitt State has trailed in just five games this season for a total of 86 minutes, 10 seconds out of a possible 720 minutes overall.

Saturday's game may prove to be a test of wills as the Lakers have been extremely efficient in the first half of games. GVSU has outscored its opponents 136-7 in the first quarter of games and the Lakers have averaged a 26-8 halftime advantage this year.

Scouting the Gorillas
Junior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. leads a Pitt State offense that averages 34.9 points and 401.2 total yards per game on the season.

Dodson (5-11, 205) has compiled a 23-2 (.920) record as the Gorillas starter. He missed the regular season finale vs. UCO on Nov. 11 but he returned to pass for 282 yards and three TDs vs. UIndy.
Dodson, who earned second-team All-MIAA honors earlier this week, completed 20 of 28 passes against the Greyhounds. He has completed 193 of 276 passes (.699) for 2,351 yards and 18 TDs on the season.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native has completed 441 of 701 (.629) career passes for 5,925 yards and 54 touchdowns. He ranks third in Pitt State history for career TD passes and fourth for career passing yards.

Dodson earned third-team All-MIAA honors in 2022, passing for 2,975 yards and 29 TDs.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Ty Pennington started for the Gorillas under center in Pitt State's 20-10 victory over UCO on Nov. 11. The Sand Springs, Okla., native completed 18 of 30 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

For the season, Pennington (6-3, 207) has played in all 12 games and completed 46 of 67 passes (.687) for 447 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. He also has carried the ball 74 times for 344 yards (4.6 ypc) and four scores.

Senior tight end Devon Garrison has caught a team-leading 48 passes for 780 yards (16.3 ypc) and five touchdowns. The Elk River, Minn., native ranks second in NCAA Division II in tight end receiving yards and third nationally in tight end scoring. Garrison, who garnered first-team All-MIAA honors for a second straight seasons, ranks seventh in the MIAA in receiving yards (65.0 ypg).

Garrison (6-6, 240) caught five passes for 90 yards against Missouri Western on Nov. 4 to set the Pitt State career receiving record for a tight end. He now has 92 catches for 1,506 yards (16.4 ypc) and 14 touchdowns. Blaise Bauer (1985-88) formerly held the Pitt State record with 44 receptions for 1,284 yards.

Garrison earned first-team All-MIAA and NCAA-II All-America honors as a junior in 2022 when he caught 35 passes for 614 yards (17.5 ypc) and seven touchdowns.

Senior running back Antwan Squire (5-9, 195) has carried the ball a team-leading 130 times for 649 yards (5.0 ypc) and six touchdowns in 11 games played. He also has caught 18 passes for 179 yards (9.9 ypc) and one TD.

The Suitland, Md., native ranks eighth in the MIAA in rushing, averaging 59.0 yards per game. He carried the ball 31 times for 135 yards (4.4 ypc) and one touchdown in six games played in 2022.

Squire received honorable mention All-MIAA recognition earlier this week.

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kolbe Katsis has made 43 receptions for 586 yards (13.6 ypc) and four touchdowns on the season.

The Owasso, Okla., native earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors when he caught nine passes for a career-best 200 yards and a touchdown in Pitt State's week three win vs. Central Missouri. Katsis became just the sixth receiver in Pitt State history to record a 200-yard game.

Katsis also has returned 12 kickoffs for 346 yards (28.8 ypr), including a 100-yard return for a touchdown vs. Sioux Falls on Oct. 28. The MIAA coaches voted him a third-team All-MIAA honoree at both wide receiver and return specialist.

For his career, Katsis has caught 65 passes for 1,091 yards (16.8 ypc) and nine touchdowns. He also has averaged 31.1 yards on 27 career kickoff returns with two TDs.

Three members of the Pitt State offensive line earned All-MIAA honors:  redshirt senior tackle Trase Jeffries, graduate center Zane Madison and sophomore guard Drew Daniels.

Jeffries (6-4, 322), a two-year team captain, was a unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native has earned first-team All-MIAA honors each of the past three seasons. An All-America performer in 2022, Jeffries has made 40 consecutive starts for the Gorillas.

Madison (6-3, 297), who transferred to Pitt State in January from West Texas A&M University, garnered second-team All-MIAA honors, while Daniels (6-2, 300) received honorable mention All-MIAA recognition.
Freshman placekicker Austin Schmitt is 15-for-18 on field goal attempts on the season. He leads the MIAA and eighth in D2 in field percentage (.833 pg). The Grain Valley, Mo., native also ranks second in the MIAA and 17th in D2 in field goals per game (1.25 pg).

Schmitt (6-1, 170), who garnered second-team All-MIAA honors, has scored a team-leading 89 points (7.4 ppg).

The Pitt State defense has allowed an MIAA low 16.1 points per game on the season and just 289.7 total yards per game to date. The Gorillas rank 12th in D2 in scoring defense. Pitt State also leads Division II in passes intercepted (21) and ranks fifth nationally in turnover margin (+19, +1.58 pg).

Redshirt junior linebacker Jack Barkley leads the Pitt State defense with 91 tackles (45 solo) on the season. The Tulsa, Okla., native also has 11.0 tackles-for-loss, 5.0 quarterback sacks, an interception and three pass breakups to his credit.

Barkley (6-1, 220), a first-team All-MIAA selection, ranks third in the conference in stops this season, averaging 7.6 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). Barkley matched his career high with 14 stops, 2.0 quarterback sacks and an interception vs. UIndy last week.

For his career, Barkley has compiled 156 tackles (66 solo) with 13.0 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and four pass breakups.

Senior safety Michael Lacey was an unanimous first-team All-MIAA selection. The Cleveland, Ohio, native has registered 42 tackles (25 solo) with 5.0 tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, 10 pass breaksups and two fumble recoveries on the season.

A two-time All-MIAA performer, Lacey (5-10, 188) ranks fifth in the MIAA in passes defended (12, 1.0 pg).

Redshirt senior Rico Payton ranks fourth in the MIAA in passes defended (13, 1.1 pg). The St. Louis, Mo., native has made 33 tackles (23 solo) with four interceptions and nine PBUs to date.

Payton (6-0, 182) was voted a first-team All-MIAA performer this fall. He has compiled 43 career tackles with five interceptions and 23 PBUs.

Redshirt junior defensive end Dubem Okonkwo garnered first-team All-MIAA honors for a second straight season in 2023. The Kansas City, Mo., native has registered 25 tackles (12 solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 quarterback sacks and 11 quarterback pressures.

Okonkwo (6-0, 228) has compiled 95 career tackles (69 solo) with 21.0 tackles-for-loss and 15.5 quarterback sacks.

Sophomore safety Jordan Rogers leads the MIAA and ranks seventh in NCAA Division II this season with six 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 (5-10, 178) has made 33 tackles (25 solo) with 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 quarterback sack and five pass breakups. He was a third-team All-MIAA selection.

Redshirt sophomore Ryan Medeiros has averaged an MIAA leading 10.4 yards per punt return this season. He garnered honorable mention All-MIAA honors as a return specialist.
Medeiros (6-0, 192) also has posted 32 tackles (13 solo) and three PBUs from his safety position.