PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium for a second straight week as the Gorillas play host to the University of Central Oklahoma Saturday (Oct. 24). Kickoff is set for 2:05 p.m. (CDT) with the contest airing on live television – in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area on KMCI, 38 The Spot – as the MIAA Football Game of the Week.

Pitt State is 2-5 (2-3 MIAA) on the season. The Gorillas posted a 45-42 Homecoming win over Missouri Western State University last Saturday (Oct. 17).

Pitt State snapped an uncharacteristic four-game losing streak to open the season with a 34-27 overtime road win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 3.

The Gorillas opened the season by dropping back-to-back home games to No. 1 Ferris State University, 42-14, on Aug. 27 and to Emporia State University, 21-10, on Sept. 5. Pitt State then dropped a hard-fought 24-23 decision to the University of West Alabama on Sept. 12 at Livingston, Ala., and a 42-17 decision to Fort Hays State University on Sept. 19 at Hays, Kan.

Central Oklahoma is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in MIAA play. The Bronchos fell in a 23-16 road battle against No. 9 Emporia State last week. UCO had won two of its previous three games, including a 19-14 upset win over No. 7 Northwest Missouri on Sept. 26.

The Coaches
Tom Anthony is in his third year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. He has a 20-11 (.645) career record leading the Pitt State program.

Anthony guided the Gorillas to a 10-3 record as well as the program's third MIAA title in four seasons and Pitt State's fourth consecutive NCAA Division II playoffs berth in 2025, He posted an 8-3 record and led the Gorillas to an NCAA-II playoff berth in his debut season as head coach in 2024.

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 third meeting vs. UCO. He's 1-1 against the Bronchos.

Cody Swanson is in third week as UCO's interim head coach. Swanson joined the UCO staff as defensive coordinator in 2024. He previously served for two seasons at defensive line coach (2022) and co-Defensive Coordinator (2023) at Gannon University. This will be Swanson's first meeting vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State - Central Okla. Series
This will be the 23rd 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 16-5-1 advantage in the series, including 13 victories in the last 15 meetings. The Gorillas are 7-3 against the Bronchos in games played in Pittsburg.

Last year, Pitt State dropped a 27-24 road decision against UCO on Sept. 6 in an NCAA Division II top 25 battle at Chad Richison Stadium.

The Gorillas overcame an early 14-0 deficit to battle back into the contest. Pitt State eventually knotted the game at 24-24 with 2:24 to play in the third quarter on Jackson Berry's 16-yard touchdown scamper and subsequent 2-point conversion pass to wide receiver Kuron Parchmon.

UCO countered with a quick eight-play, 30-yard drive with Joseph Kim booting a 37-yard field goal for a 27-24 advantage with 14:50 to play in the game.

The No. 13 ranked Gorillas put together a 14-play, 48-yard drive on their final possession of the game. Pitt State drove to the UCO 9 yard line, but the Bronchos defense stiffened and forced the Gorillas to attempt a potential game-tying 30-yard field goal three plays later. Austin Schmitt's kick ultimately sailed wide left with 23 ticks remaining in the game to allow the No. 19 ranked Bronchos to escape with the win.

Berry completed 23 of 38 passes for 234 yards in the contest. He tossed a 38-yard touchdown pass to Parchmon with 50 seconds left in the second quarter. Berry also rushed 10 times for 40 net yards. Parchmon made six receptions for a game-high 103 yards in the contest.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 381-142-12 (.725) record in 534 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 178 of their last 214 regular season home games, posting a 179-35-1 (.835) record over the last 42 seasons.

Central Oklahoma is 12-21 (.364) in its last 33 road games dating back to the start of the 2021 season. 

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

Pitt State has posted a 274-72-1 (.791) record against its MIAA opponents since joining the conference in 1989. The Gorillas have won 15 MIAA titles since joining the conference, including MIAA crowns in three of the last four seasons (2022, 2023, 2025).

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 352 of its last 430 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 352-76-2 (.821) mark during the past 42 seasons (1985-2026). PSU is 184-32-1 at home, 1623-35-1 on the road and 5-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are playing in their 119th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 772-373-48 overall record, winning 66.7 percent of their 1,193 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 726 victories, followed by Hillsdale (681), Carson-Newman (678) and Central Oklahoma (673).

 UCO has a 673-461-47 (.590) record in 120 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
Redshirt freshman quarterback Bobby Bacon was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week Monday (Oct. 19) after passing for 384 yards and accounting for three touchdowns in the Gorillas home win vs. Missouri Western last Saturday.

Bacon (Iowa City, Iowa) has started the last five games under center. He has completed 94 of 161 passes (.584) for 1184 yards (236.8 ypg) and six touchdowns in five games played. Bacon passed for the seventh-highest yardage total in school last week, completing 21 of 39 passes against the Griffons. He also was 25 of 35 passing for a 232 yards and two scores in the Gorillas' comeback win vs. UNK on Oct. 3.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Greyson Holbert became the 10th player in school history to eclipse 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards last week. Holbert (Overland Park, Kan.), who made seven catches for 89 yards against the Griffons, now has 106 career catches for 1,069 yards and three touchdowns in 46 games played for the Gorillas. He also has rushed the football 24 times for 229 yards (9.5 ypc) and two scores.

Redshirt sophomore wide receiver T.J. Starks has 27 receptions for 436 yards (16.2 ypc) and two touchdowns in his debut season for the Gorillas. Starks (Jonesboro, Ark.) had four grabs for 102 yards vs. ESU (Sept. 5) and he added five catches for 51 yards and a score vs. UNK (Oct. 3). Starks transferred to Pitt State in January from NCAA Division I Arkansas State.

Sophomore safety Quintin Kirby and redshirt sophomore linebacker Blake Carr lead the Gorillas defense with 52 and 49 tackles, respectively.

Kirby (St. Louis, Mo.) posted a career best 10 tackles against Ferris State on Aug. 27. He added eight stops, including 2.0 TFLs, and an interception vs. UWA. Kirby saw action in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2025. He made 27 stops (14 solo), one fumble recovery and one forced fumble last season.

Carr (Clyde, Texas) has registered 129 career tackles (48 solo) in 21 career games played for the Gorillas. He has added 18.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He matched his career high with 10 tackles, including 4.0 behind the line of scrimmage, against UNK (Oct. 3).

Redshirt sophomore Tyler Antle has punted 34 times for a 45.2-yard averag, with 12 kicks traveling 50+ yards to date including a career best 74 yarder vs WU (Oct. 10).  He leads the MIAA and ranks third in Division II in punting this season. The Frontenac native has 82 career punts for a 42.5-yard average, placing 30 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.

Senior Austin Schmitt has converted 11 of 13 field goal tries on the season. Schmitt, who set the Pitt State career record for field goals against UNK on Oct. 3, ranks seventh in Division II this season in field goals per game (1.57 pg). The Grain Valley, Mo., native has converted 51 of 69 (.739) career kicks.