PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium for the first time in 2025 as the Gorillas play host to Grand Valley State University Saturday (Sept. 13) in a marquee NCAA Division II match-up.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (CDT).

The Gorillas will face their third consecutive nationally-ranked opponent. The unbeaten Lakers (2-0) enter Saturday's contest ranked No. 3 in the most recent NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll released by the American Football Coaches Association. GVSU has posted home wins over Lincoln (Pa.) University (45-9) and Black Hills State University (48-36).

Pitt State (0-2) enters the contest seeking its first win after dropping a 34-17 road decision to No. 1 ranked Ferris State University in week zero action  on Aug. 28 and a 27-24 road decision to No. 19 University of Central Oklahoma last Saturday (Sept. 6). The Gorillas are currently ranked in a tie for 24th nationally in Division II.

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 an 8-5 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 Central Oklahoma. He is 1-0 vs. the Bronchos.

Scott Wooster is in his third season as head coach at Grand Valley, after serving as offensive line coach/run game coordinator for the Lakers for the previous three seasons. He has a 24-4 career record, including a 1-0 mark against the Gorillas.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 375-140-12 (.723) record in 527 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 173 of their last 207 regular season home games, posting a 173-33-1 (.838) record over the last 40 seasons.

GVSU has posted an 18-2 (.900) road record since the start of the 2021 season.

The Pitt State - Grand Valley Series
This will be the second all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Lakers. The two teams met for the first time in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Division II playoffs, with GVSU rallying for a 24-21 win at Allendale, Mich.

GVSU quarterback Avery Moore scored the go-ahead touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Lakers to the come-from-behind win.

Pitt State has faced a GLIAC foe five times previously dating back to the 2011 season.

Three of those encounters have come in the NCAA-II playoffs:  the Gorillas met Wayne (Mich.) State University in the 2011 NCAA Division II National Championship Game at Florence, Ala., Ferris State University in the second round of the 2022 NCAA-II playoffs at Big Rapids, Mich., and GVSU in the second round of the 2023 NCAA-II playoffs at Allendale, Mich.

The Gorillas defeated the Wildcats, 35-21, to claim the 2011 national crown. The Bulldogs beat Pitt State, 17-14, last year en route to their second straight national title.

Pitt State and Ferris State has met in week zero action in 2024 and this season. The Gorillas defeated the Bulldogs, 19-3, last year before FSU won its final 14 games to claim the national title. The Bulldogs downed Pitt State, 34-17, two weeks ago.

In addition to Saturday's game, Pitt State and GVSU officials announced the two schools will face one another again in week zero of the 2028 season.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 341 of its last 414 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 341-71-2 (.826) mark during the past 41 seasons (1985-2025). PSU is 178-30-1 at home, 159-32-1 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 263-69-1 (.791) 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.

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 760-367-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,175 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 (671), Carson-Newman (665) and Central Oklahoma (665).

GVSU is the winningest all-time team among FBS, FCS and Division II programs, by percentage, with a 456-153-3 (.748) record in 53 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
Redshirt senior quarterback Jackson Berry has completed 41 of 79 passes (.519) for 528 yards (264.0 ypg) and two touchdowns in his first two starts for the Gorillas.

Berry (6-0, 201), who transferred to Pitt State in January from NCAA Division I Southern Utah University, passed for 294 yards with one interception and an interception against the Bulldogs. He also rushed the ball seven times for 15 net yards in the game.

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 15 tackles and recorded two interceptions and a forced fumble early in the season.

The Waco, Texas native had registered 92 career tackles (55), 12 interceptions and 20 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 (32).

Redshirt senior running back Cleo Chandler Jr. rushed the ball 16 times for 49 yards (3.1 ypc) and a touchdown in the season opener against Ferris State.

The Cleburne, Texas native has posted 278 career carries for 1,127 yards (4.1 ypc) and 16 touchdowns. Chandler (5-11, 215) rushed the ball 110 times for 467 yards (4.2 ypc) and four touchdowns  in 2024, earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors.

He missed last week's action against UCO but figures to return to the lineup for the Gorillas this week.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Kuron Parchmon recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game against Central Oklahoma last week catching five passes for 103 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown grab.

The Ferguson, Mo., native has six receptions for 163 yards (27.2 ypc) and two touchdowns on the young season. He has 51 career catches for 815 yards and six scores. Parchmon logged 30 receptions for 502 yards and thee touchdowns in 2024.