PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team returns to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Oct. 11) to play host to Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rival Washburn University.
The Gorillas will play their fourth home game in five weeks Saturday as Pitt State entertains the Ichabods for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).

Pitt State enters Saturday's game with a  4-2 record (3-1 MIAA) and ranked No. 15 in the most recent American Football Coaches Association NCAA Division II Top 25 poll. The Gorillas have posted four straight victories after starting the season 0-2. Pitt State claimed a 23-6 home win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney last Saturday (Oct. 6).

Washburn is 1-4 (0-3 MIAA) on the season. The Ichabods, who were idle last week, are seeking to snap a four-game losing streak. WU dropped a 31-24 decision to UNK in its most recent action at Topeka on Sept. 27.

The Coaches
Tom Anthony is in his his second year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. He guided the Gorillas to an 8-3 record during his debut season in 2024, including guiding Pitt State to the program's third straight trip to the NCAA Division II national playoffs. He has a 12-5 (.706) career mark.

Anthony returned to campus in December 2023 after a six-month absence to become the Gorillas 16th all-time head coach.

He served as Pitt State's defensive coordinator from 2020-22 under former head coach Brian Wright, helping the Gorillas fashion a 21-7 record and an MIAA title and NCAA-II playoff appearance in 2022.

Anthony was elevated to the role of associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. He helped fashion one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II during his three years with the Gorillas.

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.

In 2021, Anthony's squad led the MIAA in interceptions (14) and the Gorillas ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (19.5 ppg), total defense (341.2 ypg) and rushing defense (120.5 ypg).
This will be Anthony's second match-up against Washburn. He is 1-0 vs. the Ichabods.

Zach Watkins is in his first season directing the WU program after serving the previous 11 seasons as Co-Defensive Coordinator for his alma mater. Watkins also spent three years as an assistant coach at Fort Hays State.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 378-140-12 (.725) record in 530 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 176 of their last 210 regular season home games, posting a 176-33-1 (.840) record over the last 41 seasons.

WU has posted an 11-13 (.458) road record since the 2021 season.

Pitt State on Homecoming
Saturday's game is the Gorillas Homecoming contest. The Gorillas are 60-13-2 in Homecoming games since the 1949 season. This will mark the 18th all-time Pitt State Homecoming battle between the Gorillas and the Ichabods. Pitt State has compiled a 15-2 record against Ichabods throughout the years on Homecoming.

The Pitt State - Washburn Series
This will be the 95th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Ichabods in a series that dates all the way back to the 1921 season. Pitt State holds a commanding 66-27-1 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 33-13-1 vs. the Ichabods in Pittsburg.

Last year, Pitt State overcome a determined Washburn squad and a slew of crazy plays to escape with a 39-31 road win over the Ichabods at Topeka on Sept. 21.

The No. 10 ranked Gorillas scored 23 first-quarter points and led 23-7 five minutes into the contest, but Pitt State still needed a 12-play, 66-yard fourth quarter scoring drive to seal the eight-point win.

Pitt State forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the game and quickly turned the takeaway into a 7-0 lead on quarterback Chad Dodson Jr.'s 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jack Roberts.

The Gorillas tried a surprise onside kickoff following the score, but WU's Tyce Brown caught the ball and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 7-7.

Dodson countered with a 78-yard scoring connection to wide receiver Christian Carter three plays later; and the Gorillas blocked a punt out of the back of the Ichabods end zone on the ensuing drive for a safety and a 16-7 advantage.

Pitt State's Jaylen Fuksa then fielded the free kick from WU's Trenton Brehm and returned it 65 yards for a kickoff return touchdown and a 23-7 margin with 9:54 to play in the opening period.

The Gorillas led 23-14 following the end of the first quarter and Pitt State stretched its lead to 26-14 on Hayden Koscicki's 31-yard field goal with 9:43 to play in the second period.

The Ichabods rattled off 14 unanswered points to push in front, 28-26, early in the third quarter. Pitt State countered with a six-play, 75-yard drive with Cleo Chandler Jr. scoring from two yards out for a 32-28 lead.

After the Ichabods trimmed the margin to 32-31 on a 37-yard field goal from Brehm, the Gorillas offense put together a nearly seven minute scoring drive to provide the final eight-point margin. Luke Niggemann scored his first collegiate touchdown on a one-yard run out of the wildcat formation to the decisive score with 2:38 remaining in the game.

The Ichabods drove to the PSU 31 yard line but the Gorillas' Thomas Cook broke up a Hayden Clark fourth down pass attempt to hold WU on downs with 28 seconds remaining.

Dodson completed 20 of 33 passes in the game for 287 yards and two scores. Carter and Roberts combined for nine receptions totaling 159 yards.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 345 of its last 418 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 345-71-2 (.828) mark during the past 41 seasons (1985-2025). PSU is 181-30-1 at home, 160-32-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

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

Pitt State has posted a 266-69-1 (.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 in 2022 and 2023.

Washburn has posted a 152-184-0 (.452) record in conference action since joining the MIAA in 1989.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are playing in their 118th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 764-367-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,179 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of just two NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 700 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 721 victories, followed by Hillsdale (672), Carson-Newman (667) and Central Oklahoma (666).

 WU has a 583-616-44 (.487) record in 132 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
Redshirt senior quarterback Jackson Berry has completed 111 of 186 passes (.597) for 1,295 yards (215.8 ypg) and six touchdowns in his first six starts for the Gorillas.

Berry (6-0, 201), who transferred to Pitt State in January from NCAA Division I Southern Utah University, also has 38 carries for 109 net yards (2.9 ypc) and a touchdown on the ground on the season. He passed for a season-high 294 yards in the season opener against Ferris State.

The Prosper, Texas native completed 129 of 205 passes (.629) for 1,558 yards (155.8 ypg) and 12 touchdowns with just three interceptions at SUU last year.

Redshirt senior safety Jordan Rogers has made a team-leading 44 tackles and recorded two interceptions, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Rogers posted six tackles and a QB sack against UNK while helping the Gorillas limit the Lopers to 157 total yards (48 rushing yards).

The Bellmead, Texas native has registered 121 career tackles (74 solo), 12 interceptions and 23 pass breakups. A two-time All-MIAA performer, Rogers (5-10, 188) recorded 42 tackles, four interceptions and eight PBUs as a junior in 2024.

He currently ranks in seventh place in Pitt State history in career interceptions (12); and Rogers ranks fifth all-time in passes defended (35).

Redshirt junior running back Zahmari Palode-Gary posted his second straight 100-yard rushing game against the Lopers last Saturday (Oct. 4).

The Kansas City, Mo., native rushed the ball 14 times for a game high 105 yards against UNK. He rushed 11 times for 90 yards in the second half to help the Gorillas seal the win. Palode-Gary, who rushed 17 times for 184 yards and two scores against Emporia State on Sept. 27, has a team-leading 375 rushing yards in five games played. He's currently ranked fourth in the MIAA in rushing (75.0 ypg).