No. 10 Gorillas Set to Host Griffons for Hall of Fame Game

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return home to Carnie Smith Stadium to host MIAA rival Missouri Western State University Saturday (Oct. 5). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).

Pitt State, the No. 10 team in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, enters Saturday's action at 3-1 overall (2-1 MIAA). The Gorillas were idle last week after scoring a 39-31 road win over Washburn University at Topeka on Sept. 21.

Missouri Western is off to a 2-3 start to the season (1-3 MIAA). The Griffons dropped a 24-16 home decision to Washburn last Saturday at St. Joseph, Mo. Western, which is seeking to halt a two-game slide, also dropped a 30-27 overtime loss to No. 13 Emporia State University on Sept. 21 at Emporia, Kan.

Saturday's game is Pitt State's annual Hall of Fame Game. Eight individuals will be enshrined into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame during formal ceremonies Friday (Oct. 4) at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts.

The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes: John Brown, football, 2011-13; Amanda Davied, women's basketball, 2000-03; Roddy Gaynor, track & field, 1980-81; Jeremy Jackson, track & field, 2008-10; Mickey Nichol, baseball, 2003-05; Mark Smith, football, 2004-08; Travis Stepps, football, 1997-2001; and Gary Wilson, football/track & field, 1963-66.

The group also will be recognized at halftime of Saturday's game.

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 Missouri Western.

Tyler Fenwick is in his second year leading the Griffons after serving the previous 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 63-55 record as a collegiate head coach.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 373-138-12 (.726) record in 523 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 171 of their last 204 regular season home games, posting a 171-32-1 record (.841) over the last 39 seasons. Pitt State won 14 straight home games before suffering a 24-21 setback the last time out at Carnie Smith Stadium against Emporia State University on Sept. 14.

Missouri Western is 9-10 (.474) in its last 19 road games dating back to the start of the 2021 season.

The Pitt State - Missouri Western Series
This will be the 50th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Griffons in a series that dates back to the 1970 season.
Pitt State holds a 36-13 (.735) advantage in the series, including a 17-6 mark in games played at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Last year, the Missouri Western defense blocked the game-tying point-after conversion attempt midway through the fourth quarter and later forced a fumble on Pitt State's final offensive play to preserve a 31-30 upset win at St. Joseph, Mo., on Nov. 4.
The No. 23 ranked Griffons snapped the No. 2 Gorillas 20-game MIAA winning streak dating back to the 2021 season.

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

Pitt State has posted a 258-67-1 (.793) 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).

MWSU has posted a 192-135-1 (.587) record since joining the MIAA along with Pitt State in 1989.

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 755-363-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,166 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 715 victories, followed by Hillsdale (663), Carson-Newman (658) and Central Oklahoma (656).
MWSU has a 318-264-9 (.546) record in 55 seasons of intercollegiate play.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 336 of its last 406 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 336-68-2 (.830) mark during the past 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 176-29-1 at home, 156-30-1 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 26-4 (.867) 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 78 of 129 passes (.605) for 1,116 yards (279.0 ypg) and eight touchdowns this season.

For his career, he has completed 545 of 871 passes (.626) for 7,329 yards and 64 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 in PSU history for career passing yards and career touchdown passes.

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 30 tackles (13 solo) on the young season. The Webb City, Mo., native also has recorded an interception and a pass breakup.

A three-time All-MIAA performer, Gaskill has made 202 tackles (101 solo) including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded seven interceptions and 21 PBUs. Gaskill currently ranks sixth all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (21) and passes defended (28).

Redshirt senior Christian Carter caught three passes for a team-leading 83 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown connection in Pitt State's last outing against Washburn.

The Kansas City, Mo., native has caught 16 passes for 175 yards (10.9 ypc) and one score on the season.

For his career, Carter has made 110 receptions for 1,478 yards (13.4 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. He has compiled 1,866 career all-purpose yards for the Gorillas. Carter needs 104 receiving yards to break into Pitt State's top 10 list for all-time receiving yards.

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