PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Oct. 19) for a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association match-up against Fort Hays State University.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).

Pitt State, the No. 7 team in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll [for complete poll, see page 6], enters Saturday's action at 5-1 overall (4-1 MIAA). The Gorillas posted 20-10 road win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday (Oct. 12). Pitt State has won three straight games, including a 31-20 home win over Missouri Western State University on Oct. 5.

Pitt State currently sits in third place in the MIAA standings [see page 2], a half-game behind second place Emporia State University (6-1, 5-1 MIAA). The University of Central Oklahoma (6-0, 5-0 MIAA) is unbeaten heading into a non-conference road match-up against Northeastern State University Saturday.

Fort Hays State enters Saturday's tilt at 5-2 overall and 3-2 in MIAA play. The Tigers are coming off a 38-7 home win over Washburn University last Saturday at Hays.

The Coaches
Tom Anthony is in his first year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. Anthony returned to campus after a six-month absence to become the Gorillas 16th all-time head coach in December 2023.

Anthony, who served as Pitt State's defensive coordinator from 2020-22, replaced Brian Wright who accepted the head football coach position at NCAA FCS member Northern Arizona University. Wright fashioned a 33-8 record the previous four seasons (2020-23).

Anthony joined Wright on his initial staff in December 2019 as defensive coordinator. He was elevated to the role of associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. Anthony helped fashion one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II during his three years with the Gorillas. He stepped away from his position in June 2023 to pursue a non-coaching professional opportunity in Ohio.

In 2022, Anthony's Pitt State defensive squad led the MIAA in scoring defense (14.1 ppg) and ranked second in the conference in total defense (282.6 ypg), rushing defense (93.0 ypg), passing defense (189.6 ypg) and sacks (31). The Gorillas ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense and 19th nationally in total defense. Pitt State was one of just four defensive units to return four or more interceptions for touchdowns in 2022.

This will be Anthony's first match-up against Nebraska-Kearney.

Chris Brown is in his 13th season as head coach at FHSU. Brown (Pitt State, 1996) has compiled an 86-56-0 (.606) record leading the Tigers. Brown, a three-time All-America free safety for the Gorillas from 1993-95, came to FHSU after serving as defensive coordinator at Washburn from 2002-10. This will be his 12th meeting vs. his alma mater. Brown is 5-6 vs. Pitt State.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 374-138-12 (.725) record in 524 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 172 of their last 205 regular season home games, posting a 172-32-1 record (.841) over the last 39 seasons.

Pitt State won 14 straight home games before suffering a 24-21 setback against Emporia State University at Carnie Smith Stadium on Sept. 14.

Fort Hays State is 15-15 (.500) in its last 30 road games dating back to the start of the 2018 season.

Pitt State on Homecoming
Saturday's game is the Gorillas Homecoming contest. The Gorillas are 59-13-2 in Homecoming games since the 1949 season.

This will mark the 16th all-time Pitt State Homecoming battle between the Gorillas and the Tigers. Pitt State has compiled a 12-3-1 record against FHSU on its Homecoming, but the Tigers have spoiled the last two Homecoming match-ups with a 41-40 win on Oct. 19, 2019, and a 54-41 win on Oct. 8, 2016.

The Pitt State - Fort Hays State Series
This will be the 82nd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Tigers in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season.

Pitt State holds a commanding 49-23-9 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 25-11-3 vs. the Tigers in Pittsburg all-time. Pitt State is 23-5-1 in its last 29 overall meetings against Fort Hays State.

Last year, the No. 3 ranked Gorillas scored the game's final 30 points to post a 40-14 road win over the Tigers on Sept. 7, 2023, at Lewis Field Stadium.

Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. completed 26 of 36 passes for 239 yards and two scores, including a 24-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to tight end Devon Garrison midway through the third quarter.

Defensively, the Gorillas limited FHSU to just one first down and 35 total yards of offense in the second half. The Tigers mustered just 212 total yards in the game (47 rushing yards).

Pitt State in the MIAA
Pitt State has enjoyed consistent success in the MIAA during the past three decades.

Pitt State has posted a 260-67-1 (.794) record against its MIAA opponents since joining the conference in 1989. The Gorillas have won 14 MIAA titles since joining the conference, including consecutive MIAA crowns past two years (2022-23).

FHSU has posted an 81-90-0 (.474) record since joining the MIAA in 2006.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are competing in their 117th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 757-363-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,168 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 717 victories, followed by Hillsdale (664), Carson-Newman (660) and Central Oklahoma (658).

FHSU has a 498-490-44 (.504) record in 112 seasons of intercollegiate play.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 338 of its last 408 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 338-68-2 (.831) mark during the past 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 177-29-1 at home, 157-30-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

Scouting the Gorillas
Senior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. is in his third season directing the Pitt State offense. Dodson (5-11, 202) has fashioned a 28-4 (.875) record as the Gorillas starting quarterback, leading the Gorillas to a pair of MIAA titles and NCAA-II playoff appearances the past two seasons.

The Jacksonville, Fla., native has completed 120 of 200 passes (.600) for 1,593 yards (265.5 ypg) and 10 touchdowns this season.

For his career, he has completed 587 of 942 passes (.623) for 7,806 yards and 66 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 in PSU history for career passing yards and career touchdown passes; and he moved into third place following the UNK game in career total offense (7,966 yards).

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 37 tackles (16 solo) on the season. The Webb City, Mo., native also has recorded two  interceptions and two pass breakups.

A three-time All-MIAA performer, Gaskill has made 209 tackles (104 solo) including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded eight interceptions and 22 PBUs. Gaskill currently ranks sixth all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (22) and passes defended (30).

Redshirt senior Christian Carter has caught 29 passes for 269 yards (9.3 ypc) and one score on the season.

For his career, the Kansas City, Mo., native has made 123 receptions for 1,572 yards (12.8 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. He has compiled 1,977 career all-purpose yards for the Gorillas. Carter needs 10 receiving yards to break into Pitt State's top 10 list for all-time receiving yards.

Redshirt junior defensive lineman Jeremy Sharp logged a career high four tackles (two solo) with 2.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 QB sacks Saturday vs. UNK.

The Peculiar, Mo., native has posted 10 tackles (five solo) on the season with 4.0 TFLs and 2.0 QB sacks. He has made 32 career stops (12 solo) with 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 QB sacks.