PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will make its 2023 season debut Thursday (Aug. 31) when the Gorillas play host to MIAA rival Washburn University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Carnie Smith Stadium.

Pitt State enters the 2023 season with high aspirations following a 12-1 season a year ago. The Gorillas, the No. 4 ranked team in the 2023 AFCA NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 poll, posted an unblemished 11-0 regular season record en route to capturing the MIAA crown. Pitt State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II national playoffs before falling to eventual national champion Ferris State, 17-14.

The Gorillas return 14 players (seven offense, seven defense) who started four or more games during the 2022 campaign and 11 players who received All-MIAA accolades a year ago.

Washburn finished the 2022 season with a 7-4 overall overall record.

The Coaches
Brian Wright enters his fourth 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. In 2022, 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.
Wright has a 22-6 (.786) record leading the Gorillas and a 26-6 (.813) 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.

Thursday's action will mark Wright's third match-up against WU. He is 1-1 against the Ichabods.

Craig Schurig begins his 20th season directing the Ichabods program and his 20th year as a collegiate coach.  Schurig (Colorado Mines, '87), who became head coach at Washburn in 2002 after eight seasons as an assistant at Pitt State (1994-2001), has a 137-91-0 (.601) record leading the Ichabods. He is 10-9 all-time vs. Pitt State.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 366-137-12 (.722) record in 515 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 165 of their last 197 regular season home games, posting a 165-31-1 record (.840) over the last 37 seasons. Pitt State posted an unblemished 7-0 record at home in 2022.

WU is 28-22 (.560) in its last 50 road games dating back to the start of the 2013 season.

The Pitt State - Washburn Series
This will be the 93rd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Ichabods in a series that dates all the way back to the 1921 season.

The two teams met annually from 1941-2011, but did not face one another in 2012-13 thanks to an unbalanced MIAA schedule. Pitt State holds a commanding 64-27-1 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 31-13-1 vs. the Ichabods in Pittsburg.

Last year, Pitt State jumped out to a 30-13 halftime advantage and the Gorillas held off Washburn in the second half for a 37-23 road win on Nov. 5 at Yager Stadium.

Pitt State secured the program's 13th MIAA Championship with the win – the first outright conference crown since the Gorillas 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship season and the first MIAA title overall since 2014 (when Pitt State shared the trophy with NWMSU).

Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. overcame three interceptions by passing for 229 yards and three touchdowns. He tossed a pair of scores to tight end Devon Garrison and a third score to wide receiver Mark Wheeland. Wheeland caught three passes for a season high 72 yards. Garrison had five grabs for 61 yards.

Gorillas in Season Openers
Pitt State has compiled a 71-39-5 (.639) record in season openers over the program's 115-year history.

Since the 1978 campaign, Pitt State has built a 37-7-1 (.833) record in season openers with a 22-4 (.846) record the past 26 seasons. The Gorillas are 15-3 (.833) 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 embarking upon their 116th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 741-360-48 overall record, winning 66.6 percent of their 1,149 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 707 victories, followed by Hillsdale (658), Carson-Newman (650) and Central Oklahoma (648).

WU has a 577-595-44 (.493) record in 130 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
Junior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. will seek to build upon the momentum from an All-MIAA campaign leading the Gorillas in 2022 as he begins his second season starting under center.

Dodson (5-11, 205) completed 206 of 363 passes for 2,975 yards (228.9 ypg) and 29 touchdowns in 2022, earning third-team All-MIAA recognition. The Jacksonville, Fla., native helped the Gorillas to victories in each of his first 13 starts at quarterback, starting with the 2021 season finale vs. Fort Hays State. For his career, Dodson has completed 251 of 432 passes (.581) for 3,624 yards (190.7 ypg) and 36 touchdowns with 11 interceptions in 19 games played. He is 13-1 (.929) as Pitt State's starting quarterback.

Junior Darius Bowers (6-1, 206) also saw action in six games in a reserve role in 2022. He completed 12 of 16 passes (.750) for 98 yards on the season. Bowers will provide quality depth behind Dodson, along with redshirt freshmen Ty Pennington (6-3, 207) and Jake Wright (6-0, 190) who both gained valuable experience in their initial seasons in the Pitt State program in 2022.

Up front, the Gorillas return a stable of veteran linemen, including All-America redshirt senior Trase Jeffries, and the Gorillas infused a trio experienced transfers into the group in January. Jeffries (6-4, 322), a two-time first-team All-MIAA performer and a first-team All-America selection in 2022, has started 28 consecutive games for the Gorillas.

Sixth-year super senior Cooper Schettler (6-4, 292) has made 33 career starts during his Pitt State career, while super senior Michael Toney (6-2, 317) has made 22 career starts. Senior Kieven Myers (6-4, 317) has started 11 career games, while redshirt sophomore Riley Teutsch (6-5, 311), another 11-game starter and an All-MIAA performer in 2021, returns after a medical redshirt season in 2022.

Other veteran returners include sophomore Drew Daniels, sophomore Braden Stein (6-7, 312) and junior Evan Taylor. Daniels (6-2, 300) started five games as a freshman in 2022, while Stein (6-7, 312) added a pair of starts a year ago. Taylor (6-1, 303) has seen action in 24 games for the Gorillas.

Graduate transfer Zane Madison (6-3, 297) joined the Gorillas from West Texas A&M University, while sophomore transfers Landon Blubaugh (6-3, 280) and Aidan Chance (6-4, 305) came to Pitt State from NCAA Division I Northwestern State University and Western Illinois University. All three players enjoyed successful spring camps and will be expected to vie for action this fall. Redshirt junior Joel Stevens (6-8, 300) also transferred to Pitt State from Indiana State University and will look to be an impact performer for the Gorillas this fall.

In the backfield, the Gorillas welcome back a trio of players that logged 30 or more carries in 2022:  redshirt sophomore Cleo Chandler Jr., redshirt junior Noah Hernandez and senior Antwan Squire.

Chandler (5-11, 200) carried the ball 62 times for 220 yards (3.5 ypc) and four touchdowns as a redshirt freshman in 2022. Hernandez (5-10, 195) added 43 carries for 180 yards (4.2 ypc) and a score in eight games played. He has 69 career rushes for 270 yards (3.9 ypc) and three touchdowns. Squire (5-9, 195) rushed 31 times for 135 yards (4.4 ypc) and a score in an injury-shortened 2022 campaign.
Junior Adam Albertini (5-8, 172) also adds depth to the experienced group.

Sophomore Kolbe Katsis will seek to lead the Gorillas wide receiving corps into the 2023 campaign.

Katsis (6-1, 182) garnered MIAA Freshman of the Year honors, as well as honorable mention All-MIAA recognition, in 2022 when he caught 22 passes for 505 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 23.0 yards per catch for the season. He also averaged 32.8 yards per kickoff return.

Senior Jamahl Horne (5-10, 192), redshirt junior Jack Roberts (6-3, 197), junior Jake Bogdon (5-10, 179) and sophomore Greyson Holbert (5-11, 185) also saw significant action for the Gorillas last year. Roberts caught 10 passes for 121 yards (12.1 ypc) and a score, while Horne added eight grabs for 57 yards (7.1 ypc) and a touchdown. Redshirt freshmen Kam Gillispie (6-0, 196) and Kuron Parchmon (5-11, 168) also will look to be an impact performer for the Gorillas this fall.

At tight end, senior Devon Garrison (6-6, 240) is back after enjoying an All-America junior campaign in 2022. The Elk River, Minn., native caught 35 passes for 614 yards (17.5 ypc) and seven touchdowns last year, earning first-team All-MIAA and first-team NCAA Division II All-America accolades. He ranked second nationally among tight ends in receiving yards and led the nation among tight ends for touchdown receptions.

Junior Dallas Bond also returns off an injury shortened 2022 campaign. Bond (6-3, 232) caught six passes for 63 yards (10.5 ypc) and two scores in seven games played. Senior Steele Roring (6-5, 252) and junior Mario Kirby Jr. (6-0, 233) also figure to see significant action for the Gorillas.

The Pitt State Defense
The Gorillas return seven players that started five or more games on the defensive side of the ball during the 2022 campaign, led by All-America candidate linebacker Dubem Okonkwo.

Okonkwo (6-0, 228), a redshirt junior, made 39 tackles (24 solo) with a team-leading 15.0 tackles-for-loss and 10.5 quarterback sacks last year, garnering first-team All-MIAA accolades.

The Gorillas welcome back two more All-MIAA performers in the linebacker corps – redshirt juniors Alex Gaskill and Luke Jennings. Gaskill posted 63 tackles (36 solo) with 14.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks and two interceptions last year, while Jennings added 37 stops (21 solo) with 5.5 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles. Gaskill was selected a third-team All-MIAA honoree, while Jennings was tabbed to the honorable mention list.

Redshirt junior Jack Barkley also is expected to be an impact performer. Barkley (6-1, 220) made 22 tackles (nine solo) and two pass breakups a year ago. Juniors Thomas Cook (6-1, 213) and Durbie McReynolds (6-2, 183) also return with veteran experience, while redshirt sophomore transfer Cole Cucitrone (6-1, 225) joins the Gorillas from Jackson State University.

In the secondary, the Gorillas welcome back a pair of All-MIAA performers in redshirt senior cornerback Rico Payton and senior safety Michael Lacey.

Payton (6-0, 182) earned second-team All-MIAA honors in 2022 after posting 14 tackles (11 solo) with four pass breakups and a fumble recovery. He has registered 14 PBUs in 30 career games played. Lacey (5-10, 188) garnered third-team All-MIAA accolades by making 33 tackles (25 solo), an interception, eight pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Redshirt sophomore Jalen Fuksa and redshirt juniors Antione Nunn Jr. also bring starting experience to the cornerbacks room. Fuksa (5-11, 170) made 20 tackles (14 solo) with six pass breakups while starting all 13 games last year, while Nunn (5-10, 170) compiled 17 tackles (12 solo) with three interceptions and seven PBUs while starting four games for the Gorillas.

Redshirt junior Dominique Shelmon and sophomore T.J. Tate also return veteran experience. Shelmon (6-0, 184) posted 13 tackles (six solo) and one PBU last year, while Tate (6-2, 194) also logged significant action as a redshirt freshman in 2022.

Sophomore Ryan Medeiros and redshirt freshman Bryce Johnson return to the secondary with valuable experience at safety positions. Medeiros (6-0, 192) logged 11 tackles including 1.5 tackles-for-loss in 2022, while Johnson is coming off a highly productive redshirt season for the Gorillas.

Sophomore Carson Otworth transferred to Pitt State from NCAA Division II member West Texas A&M University in January and enjoyed a solid spring camp with the Gorillas. Otworth (6-1, 190) posted 44 tackles (32 solo), 2.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception and six PBUs for the Buffs last year.

On the defensive line, the Gorillas welcome back a trio of standout veterans in juniors Cole Sample, Brandon Stegall and Trent Thompson.

Sample (6-3, 309), an interior lineman, earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors last year, posting 20 tackles (seven solo) with 3.0 tackles-for-loss. Stegall, an end, made 37 tackles (16 solo) with 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 quarterback sacks and one pass breakup. Thompson (6-4, 254) posted 25 tackles (eight solo) with 7.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks.

Sophomore Jeremy Sharp (6-3, 289) also brings significant game experience to the Pitt State interior defensive line. Sophomores Zac Coenen (6-0, 223), Kyjuan Rodgers (6-4, 265) and Ely Wilcox (6-4, 228) all bring veteran presences to the defensive end spot.

Additionally, redshirt junior Malik Berry (6-4, 250) has transferred to Pitt State from Indiana State University and will look to be an impact performer for the Gorillas this fall.

Pitt State Special Teams
The Gorillas return their core special teams unit members: senior placekicker/kickoff specialist Gentry Cole, junior punter Dominik Stadlman and junior longsnapper Timmy Malinowski.

Cole (5-9, 170) averaged 56.6 yards on kickoffs with 22 touchbacks among his 73 kicks in 2022 and will look to handle the Gorillas placekicking duties this fall. Stadlman (6-2, 167) punted 50 times for a 36.5 yard averge. He had four punts of 50 or more yards and placed 15 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line. Malinowski (6-0, 201) has exclusively handled the Gorillas' long snapping chores the past two years.

Katsis ranked among the national leaders in kickoff returns in 2022, averaging 32.8 yards per kickoff return including a 98-yard touchdown.
Medeiros averaged 7.4 yards on punt returns a year ago.