The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Edmond, Okla., to face the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Sept. 6). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Chad Richison Stadium.

The contest will feature a pair of teams ranked in the top 25 of the most recent NCAA Division II national poll released by the American Football Coaches Association. The Gorillas, the preseason No. 9 team, slid to No. 13 after dropping a 34-17 road decision to No. 1 ranked Ferris State University is week zero action last Thursday (Aug. 28). The Bronchos, preseason ranked No. 5, come in at No. 19 this week after dropping a 34-14 road decision to the University of Texas Permian Basin last Saturday (Aug. 30).

Pitt State has qualified for the NCAA Division II national playoffs in each of the past three seasons and the Gorillas claimed back-to-back MIAA Championships in 2022 and 2023. UCO is the defending MIAA champion; and the Bronchos advanced to the second round of the playoffs a year ago en route to an 11-2 campaign.

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 8-4 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.

Adam Dorrel is in his fourth season at UCO. He took over the Bronchos program after serving as head coach for five seasons at Abilene Christian. Prior to ACU, Dorrel led his alma mater, Northwest Missouri, to three NCAA Division II National Championships and fashioned a 76-8 record leading the Bearcats from 2011-16.

He has a 122-57-0 (.682) career coaching record. This will be his 11th meeting vs. Pitt State. Dorrel is 4-6 against the Gorillas.

Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games over the past 32 years.

The Gorillas have posted a 122-38-1 (.761) record in its last 161 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season. The Gorillas are 58-15 (.795) in their last 73 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010. Pitt State posted a 5-0 record on the road in 2024.

UCO has posted a 15-3 (.833) home record the past four seasons under Coach Dorrel.

The Pitt State - Central Okla. Series
This will be the 22nd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Bronchos in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season.

Pitt State holds a 16-4-1 advantage in the series, including eight straight wins and 13 victories in the last 14 meetings. The Gorillas are 9-1-1 against the Bronchos in games played at Edmond.
Last year, Pitt State knocked off previously unbeaten UCO, 35-21, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Edmond.

The No. 6 ranked Gorillas vaulted into first place in the MIAA standings with the win over the No. 9 Bronchos in front of 9,085 fans at Chad Richison Stadium.

The Pitt State defense limited UCO, which entered the game averaging an NCAA Division II best 55.4 points per game, to just 21 points. The Gorillas held the Bronchos scoreless over the game's final 26:53 of game clock.

The Pitt State offense pounded out a season high 322 rushing yards and 545 total yards, including five rushing touchdowns. Running back Cleo Chandler Jr. carried the ball 19 times for a career best 130 yards and scored the game's decisive touchdown on a five-yard run with 1:58 to play to break open a one-score game. He also scored on a 17-yard TD scamper on the game's opening possession, staking the Gorillas to an early 7-0 advantage.

Pitt State scored the game's first 14 points and maintained double-digit leads of 21-7 and 28-14 in the first half.

Running back Noah Hernandez carried the ball 18 times for 65 yards with a pair of first-half scoring jaunts. Tight end Luke Niggemann added a 66-yard touchdown run as the Gorillas quarterback out of the "Wildcat" formation.

Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. completed 12 of 30 passes for 233 yards and an interception. He connected with wide receiver Kuron Parchmon two times for 73 yards and with wide receiver Christian Carter three times for 57 yards.

The Pitt State defense limited UCO quarterback Jett Huff to 29 of 61 passing, his first sub .500 passing game of the season. The Gorillas registered 15 pass breakups in the game, including four by cornerback Kristian Cross, and forced the Bronchos into a season high nine punts on the day.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 341 of its last 413 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 341-70-2 (.828) mark during the past 41 seasons (1985-2025). PSU is 178-30-1 at home, 159-31-1 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 263-68-1 (.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 and 2023.

UCO has posted a 62-65-0 (.488) record since joining the MIAA in 2012. The Bronchos claimed the 2024 MIAA Championship with an 8-1 mark in conference play.

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 760-366-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,174 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 720 victories, followed by Hillsdale (670), Carson-Newman (665) and Central Oklahoma (664).

UCO has a 664-453-47 (.591) record in 119 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
Redshirt senior quarterback Jackson Berry made his debut as Pitt State's starting quarterback in the Gorillas season opener against Ferris State.

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 running back Cleo Chandler Jr. rushed the ball 16 times for 49 yards (3.1 ypc) and a touchdown against Ferris State last week.

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.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Kuron Parchmon hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass in the season opener. The Ferguson, Mo., native has 46 career catches for 712 yards (15.5 ypc) and five scores. He made 30 catches for 502 yards and thee touchdowns in 2024.

Redshirt senior safety Jordan Rogers made a career best nine tackles and recorded an interception in the Gorillas season opening game.

The Waco, Texas native had registered 86 career tackles (55), 11 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 is currently tied for seventh place in Pitt State history in career interceptions (11); and Rogers ranks fifth all-time in passes defended (31).