PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team ushered in the 2024 campaign and the Tom Anthony coaching era with an emphatic 19-3 victory over Ferris State University Saturday (Aug. 31) before 10,189 fans at Carnie Smith Stadium.
 
The No. 6 ranked Gorillas forced four turnovers – two fumbles and two interceptions – in the contest and limited the No. 3 ranked Bulldogs 171 yards of total offense.
 
Austin Schmitt tied the school single game record by booting four field goals in the contest, connecting on kicks from 33, 22, 36 and 36 yards. He had a fifth attempt blocked early in the second quarter.
 
Pitt State took a 6-3 lead at halftime before pushing its cushion to 16-3 on Cleo Chandler Jr.'s 13-yard touchdown scamper with 5:33 to play in the third quarter.
 
The Gorillas essentially drove the final nail in the coffin with a 15-play, 50-yard drive that ended with Schmitt's final field goal. The drive, which started with 14:54 to play in the game, consumed 9:10 of play clock.
 
Chad Dodson Jr., who improved to 24-3 as the Gorillas starting quarterback, completed 22 of 33 passes for 206 yards. He had one red zone interception late in the second quarter.
 
The Pitt State defense limited Ferris State to one first-half first down. The Bulldogs managed just 38 net rushing yards on 22 carries. The Gorillas held Ferris State without a touchdown for the first time since the Bulldogs dropped a 20-3 decision to Ashland on Sept. 23, 2017, a span of 79 games.
 
Linebacker Thomas Cook posted five tackles, including a quarterback sack. He also forced a fumble and recovered another. Alex Gaskill also made five tackles and snared an interception that set up Pitt State's first quarter field goal.
 
The Gorillas will travel to Joplin, Mo., next Saturday (Sept. 7) to open MIAA play against Missouri Southern. The Lions dropped an 18-11 road decision to Midwestern State Thursday (Aug. 29) at Wichita Falls, Texas.