Gorillas to Host Defending Champ Bisons in NCAA-II Playoffs Saturday

PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will make its 21st all-time appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday (Nov. 23) when the Gorillas host Harding University of the Great American Conference (GAC) in a first-round game at Carnie Smith Stadium.

Pittsburg State, the winningest all-time NCAA Division II program, qualified for the 28-team playoffs after finishing the regular season with an 8-2 record (7-2 MIAA). The Gorillas, ranked No. 13 in the final regular season AFCA/Division II Top 25 poll, posted a 23-7 road victory over Northwest Missouri State University in their last action on Nov. 16.

Harding qualified for post-season play by finishing the regular season with a 10-1 record and claiming a share of the 2024 GAC Championship, along with playoff qualifier Ouachita Baptist University. The Bisons, the No. 4 team in D2 and the defending NCAA Division II National Champion, wrapped up their regular season slate with a 57-27 home win over Arkansas Tech University in their last action on Nov. 16.

Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 1 p.m. (CST).

Tickets
Tickets are $12 for reserved seats, $10 for general admission and $5 for PSU Students (with I.D.). All tickets on game day will be $12. The PSU Ticket Office is open until the close of business Friday (Nov. 22). Online ticket sales are available at www.pittstate.edu/tickets.
For additional ticket information, please call (620) 235-4796.

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 Harding.

Paul Simmons is in his eighth season as Harding's head coach, after serving as an assistant coach for the Bisons for the previous 11 years. Simmons (Harding, '95) has compiled a 75-14 (.843) record at at his alma mater, including an 8-4 mark in NCAA-II postseason play. He was selected the 2023 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association, the Don Hansen Football Committee and D2Football.com.

This will be Simmons' first meeting vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State - Harding Series
This will be second all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bisons.

Pitt State posted a 59-42 win over Harding in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Division II playoffs at Carnie Smith Stadium. The Gorillas rallied from a 21-0 deficit by scoring 38 unanswered points against the Bisons between the second and third quarters to take control.

Pitt State quarterback Anthony Abenoja passed for 279 yards and four touchdowns in the game, connecting with wide receiver Austin Panko for 84 yards and three scores.

Pitt State-Harding in the NCAA-II Playoffs
Pitt State is making its 21st appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs since joining the NCAA ranks 36 years ago, prior to the 1989 season.
The Gorillas have compiled a 27-18 (.600) mark in the NCAA-II playoffs.

Pitt State captured the 1991 and 2011 NCAA Division II National Championships and finished as the National Runner-Up in 1992, 1995 and 2004.

Harding is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA-II playoffs. The Bisons have compiled a 10-7 (.588) postseason record, including a 4-0 mark en route to the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championship.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 375-139-12 (.724) record in 526 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason).

The Gorillas have posted a 27-8 (.771) all-time record in home playoff games, including a 20-5 (.800) mark in NCAA-II postseason play. Pitt State is 11-1 in home playoff games since 2001 and riding a seven-game home win streak.

Harding is 36-8 (.818) in its last 44 road games dating back to the start of the 2017 season under Coach Simmons.

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

Pitt State has posted a 263-68-1 (.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 in 2022-23.

Gorillas vs. GAC Foes
Pitt State has a 12-4-2 (.742) all-time record against GAC foes, including a 5-0-0 record in the NCAA era.

The Gorillas defeated Harding, 59-42, in the NCAA playoffs in 2014 and Pitt State posted a 48-31 win over Arkansas Tech in the 2017 Live United Bowl.
Pitt State also met Arkansas-Monticello in the 1988 NAIA playoffs, scoring a 23-7 win in that match-up.

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 760-364-48 overall record, winning 66.9 percent of their 1,172 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 (669), Carson-Newman (663) and Central Oklahoma (663).
Harding has a 403-311-16 (.563) record in 74 seasons of intercollegiate play.

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 31-5 (.861) record as the Gorillas starting quarterback, leading the Gorillas to a pair of MIAA titles and three NCAA-II playoff appearances during the past threee seasons.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native has completed 178 of 320 passes (.556) for 2,341 yards (234.1 ypg) and 12 touchdowns this season. He earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors earlier this week.

For his career, he has completed 645 of 1,062 passes (.607) for 8,554 yards and 68 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 (8,771 yards). Dodson is a three-time All-MIAA performer (2022-24).

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 60 tackles (28 solo) on the season. The Webb City, Mo., native also has recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups.

A four-time All-MIAA performer, Gaskill has made 232 tackles (116 solo) including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded eight interceptions and 15 PBUs.

Graduate tight end Will Huggins, redshirt senior wide receiver Jack Roberts and redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kuron Parchmon all garnered All-MIAA honors from the Gorillas receiving corps. Huggins was selected to the first-team All-MIAA squad, Roberts received second-team All-MIAA recognition and Parchmon was tabbed to the honorable mention All-MIAA list.

Huggins (Lenexa, Kan.) has caught 21 passes for 389 yards (18.5 ypc) and one touchdown on the season, while Roberts (Overland Park, Kan.) has a team-leading 33 catches for 510 yards (15.4 ypc) and four scores on the season. He currently ranks 13th in the MIAA in receiving yards (51.0 ypg). Robert has 74 career receptions for 1,010 yards (13.6 ypg) and eight touchdowns. Parchmon has made 29 catches this fall for 498 yards (17.2 ypc) and three touchdowns.

Redshirt senior Noah Hernandez and redshirt junior Cleo Chandler Jr. both garnered All-MIAA honors out of the Pitt State backfield. Hernandez was selected a third-team All-MIAA all-purpose back, while Chandler gained honorable mention All-MIAA honors at running back.

Hernandez (Tulsa, Okla.) has carried the ball 141 times for 534 yards (3.8 ypc) and six touchdowns on the season. He's also caught 16 passes out of the backfield for 140 yards and an additional score. Hernandez has 283 career carries for 1,231 yards (4.3 ypc) and 12 touchdowns. He also has 30 receptions for 264 yards (8.8 ypc) and three scores.

Chandler (Cleburne, Texas) has rushed the ball 108 times for 459 yards (4.3 ypc) and four touchdowns to date. He has 260 career carries for 1,070 yards (4.1 ypc) and 15 TDs.

Up front, a trio of Pitt State offensive lineman earned All-MIAA honors: senior Landon Blubaugh (1st-team All-MIAA), junior Drew Daniels (2nd-team All-MIAA) and redshirt senior Riley Teutsch (honorable mention All-MIAA).

Blubaugh (Keller, Texas), Daniels (Andover, Kan.) and Teutsch (Catoosa, Okla.) have helped pave the way up front for the Gorillas to average 26.1 points and 378.0 total yards per game. Daniels also earned second-team All-MIAA honors a year ago, while Teutsch was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection in 2021.

A trio of Gorillas earned All-MIAA honors on defense: redshirt senior linebacker Jack Barkley, redshirt junior defensive back Jordan Rogers and senior defensive lineman Cole Sample.

Barkley (Tulsa, Okla.) has made 46 tackles (28 solo) with 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks and three pass breakups in nine games played, while Rogers (Waco, Texas) has recorded 34 tackles (21 solo), 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 quarterback sacks, three interceptions and four pass breakups. Sample (Jarbalo, Kan.) has posted 33 tackles (11 solo), 4.0 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks.

Barkley, an NCAA Division II All-America selection in 2023, has posted 206 career tackles (108 solo) with 21.5 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 quarterback sacks, three interceptions and eight pass breakups. He was a first-team All-MIAA pick in 2023.

Rogers recorded an MIAA-leading six interceptions in 2023. He has logged 69 career tackles (47 solo) with 9.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 quarterback sacks, nine interceptions and nine pass breakups.

Sample, a three-time All-MIAA performer as an interior lineman, has made 97 career tackles (30 solo), 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 quarterback sacks. He was a third-team All-MIAA selection in 2023 and an honorable mention All-MIAA receipient in 2022.

Redshirt junior Jaylen Fuksa earned second-team All-MIAA honors as a defensive back and honorable mention All-MIAA accolades as a return specialist.
Fuksa (Frisco, Texas) has made 28 tackles (21 solo), 1.5 tackles-for-loss and six pass breakups on the season. He also has averaged 35.0 yards on seven kickoffs, including an 85-yard return for a touchdown.

A second-team All-MIAA selection in 2023, Fuksa has posted 79 career tackles (54 solo), 4.0 tackles-for-loss, one interception and 25 pass breakups. He's averaged 31.8 yards on 12 career kickoff returns.

Graduate punter Casey Rauch was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. Rauch (Alexandria, Ky.) has punted the ball 37 times for a 40.1 yard average with 16 kicks placed inside the opponent 20 yard line. He was a first-team NAIA All-America selection in 2023 at Concordia University Ann Arbor.

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