PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Edmond, Okla., Saturday (Oct. 26) for a key NCAA Division II Top 10 and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association match-up against the University of Central Oklahoma.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. (CDT) at Chad Richison Stadium with the contest airing on live television – in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area on KMCI, 38 The Spot – as the MIAA Football Game of the Week.

Pitt State, the No. 6 team in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, enters Saturday's action at 6-1 overall (5-1 MIAA). The Gorillas moved into sole possession of second place in the MIAA standings following their 18-17 come-from-behind win over Fort Hays State University last Saturday (Oct. 19) at Carnie Smith Stadium.

Pitt State has won four straight games since dropping a 24-21 home decision to Emporia State University on Sept. 14.

Central Oklahoma enters Saturday's tilt at 7-0 overall, 5-0 in MIAA play and ranked No. 9 in this week's national poll. The Bronchos, the lone remaining unbeaten team in the MIAA, posted a wild 64-57 non-conference road win over Northeastern State University last Saturday at Tahlequah, Okla. UCO is averaging a whopping 55.4 points per game through its first seven contests.

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 Central Oklahoma.

Adam Dorrel is in his third season at UCO. He took over the Bronchos program after serving as head coach for five seasons at Abilene Christian. Prior to ACU, Dorrel led his alma mater, Northwest Missouri, to three NCAA Division II National Championships and fashioned a 76-8 record leading the Bearcats from 2011-16.

He has a 118-54-0 (.686) career coaching record. This will be his 10th meeting vs. Pitt State. Dorrel is 4-5 against the Gorillas.

Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games over the past 31 years.

The Gorillas have posted a 120-37-1 (.763) record in its last 158 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season. The Gorillas are 56-14 (.800) in their last 70 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010.

UCO has posted a 13-2 (.867) home record the past three seasons under Coach Dorrel.

The Pitt State - Central Oklahoma Series
This will be the 21st all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bronchos in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season.

Pitt State holds a 15-4-1 advantage in the series, including seven straight wins and 12 victories in the last 13 meetings. The Gorillas are 8-1-1 against the Bronchos in games played at Edmond.

Last year, an opportunistic Pitt State defense forced seven turnovers to help propel the Gorillas to a 20-10 victory over Central Oklahoma in the regular season finale on Nov. 11.

Pitt State clinched a share of the 2023 MIAA Championship with the victory over the Bronchos.

Quarterback Ty Pennington, subbing for an injured starter Chad Dodson Jr., led the Gorillas on four scoring drives in the contest. He passed for 108 yards, including a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Steele Roring.

Running back Cleo Chandler Jr. carried the ball 15 times for 85 yards and a five-yard TD jaunt that gave the Gorillas a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

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

Pitt State has posted a 261-67-1 (.795) 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).

UCO has posted a 59-64-0 (.480) record since joining the MIAA in 2012.

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 758-363-48 overall record, winning 66.9 percent of their 1,169 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 718 victories, followed by Hillsdale (665), Carson-Newman (661) and Central Oklahoma (660).

UCO has a 660-450-47 (.591) record in 118 seasons of intercollegiate play.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 339 of its last 409 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 339-68-2 (.831) mark during the past 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 178-29-1 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 29-4 (.878) 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 138 of 235 passes (.587) for 1,790 yards (255.7 ypg) and 11 touchdowns this season.

For his career, he has completed 605 of 977 passes (.619) for 8,003 yards and 67 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 in PSU history for career passing yards and career touchdown passes; and he ranks third in school history in career total offense (8,206 yards).

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 46 tackles (17 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 218 tackles (105 solo) including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded eight interceptions and 23 PBUs. Gaskill currently ranks fifth all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (23) and passes defended (31).

Redshirt senior Jack Roberts has caught 28 passes for 438 yards (15.6 ypc) and four scores on the season, including the game-winning grab with 1:00 to play in regulation against FHSU last Saturday. He currently ranks 10th in the MIAA in receiving yards, averaging 62.6 yards per game.

For his career, the Overland Park, Kan., native has made 69 receptions for 938 yards (13.6 ypc) and eight TDs. He needs 62 yards to join the 1,000-yard receiving club.

Redshirt junior return specialist Ryan Medeiros is averaging 11.4 yards on punt returns this season. The Prosper, Texas native currently leads the MIAA and ranks 14th in NCAA Division II among players with a qualified number of returns.

Medeiros has 45 career punt returns for a 9.8 yard average.