PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team returns to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Nov. 2) to play host to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rival University of Central Missouri.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. (CDT) 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. 5 team in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, enters Saturday's action at 7-1 overall (6-1 MIAA). The Gorillas posted a 35-21 road win over previously unbeaten University of Central Oklahoma in their last action last Saturday (Oct. 26). Pitt State, which has recorded five straight wins, climbed to the top of the MIAA standings with the win over the Bronchos.

Central Missouri is 5-3 on the season and 3-3 in MIAA play. The Mules, the defending MIAA co-champions from 2023 along with the Gorillas, have won two straight games including a 31-28 victory over Washburn University last Saturday at Warrenburg, Mo.

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 Missouri.

Josh Lamberson is in his third season as head coach at UCM and his sixth year as a collegiate head coach. Lamberson (NWMSU, '05) compiled a 24-41 (.217) career record including a 4-29 mark in three seasons as head coach at MIAA rival Nebraska-Kearney from 2015-17.
He served as associate head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Abilene Christian from 2018-21. Lamberson also served as offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at UCM from 2010-14.

This will be his sixth meeting vs. Pitt State. He is 0-5 against the Gorillas.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 375-138-12 (.726) record in 525 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 173 of their last 206 regular season home games, posting a 173-32-1 record (.842) over the last 40 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.

Central Missouri is 7-9 (.438) in its last 16 road games dating back to the start of the 2022 season under Coach Lamberson.

The Pitt State - Central Missouri Series
This will be the 61st all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Mules in a series that dates all the way back to the 1916 season.

Pitt State holds a commanding 46-12-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 24-6-0 vs. the Mules in Pittsburg all-time.

Last year, the Pitt State defense thwarted a potential game-winning 2-point conversion try with 25 seconds remaining in regulation as the No. 3 ranked Gorillas fended off upset-minded UCM, 38-37, on Sept. 16 at Audrey J. Walton Stadium at Warrensburg.

Pitt State took the lead, 38-31, on quarterback Chad Dodson Jr.'s two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mario Kirby Jr. with 1:48 to play in the game.

The Mules promptly drove 65 yards in eight plays wth running back Marcellous Hawkins scoring on a one-yard plunge to draw UCM within a point. After a timeout, the Mules tried to power Hawkins into the end zone on the 2-point try but a host of Gorillas met him short of the goal-line.

Dodson passed for 286 yards and three touchdowns in the contest, teaming with wide receiver Kolbe Katsis nine times for 200 yards and a score.

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

Pitt State has posted a 262-67-1 (.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).

UCM has posted a 201-128-1 (.610) 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 759-363-48 overall record, winning 66.9 percent of their 1,170 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 719 victories, followed by Hillsdale (666), Carson-Newman (661) and Central Oklahoma (660).

UCM has a 591-537-51 (.523) record in 126 seasons of intercollegiate play.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 340 of its last 410 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 340-68-2 (.832) mark during the past 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 178-29-1 at home, 158-30-1 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 30-4 (.882) 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 150 of 265 passes (.566) for 2,013 yards (251.6 ypg) and 11 touchdowns this season.

For his career, he has completed 617 of 1007 passes (.613) for 8,226 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 (8,446 yards).

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 51 tackles (21 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 223 tackles (109 solo) including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded eight interceptions and 15 PBUs.

Redshirt senior Jack Roberts has caught 29 passes for 449 yards (15.5 ypc) and four scores on the season, including the game-winning grab with 1:00 to play in regulation against FHSU on Oct. 19. 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 70 receptions for 949 yards (13.6 ypc) and eight TDs. He needs 51 yards to join the 1,000-yard receiving club.

Redshirt senior defensive end Malik Berry was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after posting six tackles, 1.5 TFLs and two pass breakups against UCO last Saturday (Oct. 26).

The Lawrence, Kan., native has posted 17 tackles (six solo) in six games played this fall with 3.5 tackles-for-loss, four PBUs and six QB hurries.