PITTSBURG -- The Pittsburg State University football team will travel to Joplin, Mo., Saturday (Oct. 31) for a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association match-up against Missouri Southern State University. Kickoff is set for Noon (CDT) at Fred G. Hughes Stadium.

Pitt State is 3-5 on the season, including a 3-3 mark in MIAA play. The Gorillas posted their third win in the last four games with a lopsided 52-14 victory over the University of Central Oklahoma last Saturday (Oct. 24) at Carnie Smith Stadium. The Gorillas also claimed a 45-42 home win over Missouri Western State University on 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.

Missouri Southern is 2-6 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play. The Lions snapped a five-game losing streak with a 38-14 road win over Missouri Western last Saturday at St. Joseph.

The Coaches
Tom Anthony is in his third year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. He has a 21-11 (.656) 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. MSSU. He's 2-0 against the Lions.

MSSU's Atiba Bradley is in his sixth full year leading his alma mater and his sixth year as a collegiate coach. Bradley guided the Lions to a 1-0 record during the Covid-19 altered 2021 spring season. He has a 20-45 (.308) mark leading MSSU. Bradley is 0-5 vs. Pitt State.

The Pitt State - Mo. Southern Series
This will be the 58th all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Lions in a series that dates back to the 1968 season – Southern's first year as a four-year school. Pitt State holds a commanding 47-9-1 advantage in the series.

The Gorillas are 22-6-1 vs. the Lions at Joplin. Pitt State and Southern have played every year since 1968 (except the Covid-19 shortened 2020 season), but the two teams began competing for the Miner's Bowl Trophy in 1986. While the series has produced its share of close contests and memorable moments, the Gorillas have dominated the series, winning 37 of the 39 meetings. All told, Pitt State has averaged a 36-14 victory in the 39 meetings.

Last year, Pitt State scored the game's first 14 and final 16 points to bookend an emphatic 30-10 victory over Missouri Southern on Nov. 1.

Quarterback Jackson Berry passed for 182 yards and a touchdown, while running back Jahkobie Smith and wide receiver Kuron Parchmon each scored rushing touchdowns on Pitt State's first two offensive series to burst out of the gates to a 14-0 first quarter advantage.

Austin Schmitt added field goals of 34, 26 and 30 yards in the contest. The Gorillas took a 17-10 lead to the halftime break. Pitt State blanked MSSU over the final 30 minutes to play after the Lions managed 10 second-quarter points. Jackson, who completed 26 of 39 passes in the contest, hooked up with wide receiver Tyjuan Atkins Jr. for the Gorillas final score with 6:44 to play in the game. Safety Ryan Medeiros returned an interception 47 yards to the MSSU 15 yard line to set up Pitt State's final scoring opportunity.

Defensive linemen Sam Hultz and Jeremy Sharp record 2.0 quarterback sacks apiece as the Gorillas registered a season best seven sacks in the contest. Pitt State limited the Lions offense to 14 net rushing yards on 20 carries on the afternoon. The Gorillas also halted a pair of MSSU drives on downs in plus territory in the game.

Gorillas on the Road
Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games over the past 33 years. The Gorillas have posted a 126-43-1 (.744) record in its last 170 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season. The Gorillas are 62-20 (.756) in their last 82 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010.

MSSU has compiled a 9-22 (.290) home record since 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 275-72-1 (.792) 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 353 of its last 431 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 353-76-2 (.821) mark during the past 42 seasons (1985-2026). PSU is 185-32-1 at home, 163-35-1 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 773-373-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,194 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 727 victories, followed by Hillsdale (681), Carson-Newman (678) and Central Oklahoma (673).

MSSU has a 313-335-7 (.485) record in 59 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Gorillas
Redshirt freshman quarterback Bobby Bacon has passed for 685 yards (342.5 ypg) and four touchdowns in Pitt State's last two outings, a pair of home wins over MWSU and UCO.

Bacon was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 19 after passing for 384 yards and accounting for three touchdowns in the Gorillas 45-42 win vs. the Griffons. He completed 21 of 28 passes for 301 yards and three TDs vs. the Bronchos last week.

Bacon (Iowa City, Iowa) has started the last six games under center. He has completed 115 of 189 passes (.608) for 1485 yards (247.5 ypg) and nine touchdowns in six games played. Bacon passed for the seventh-highest yardage total in school against MWSU and he became the first Pitt State QB since 2016 to post back-to-back 300-yard passing games with 301 yards vs. UCO last week.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Greyson Holbert became the 10th player in school history to eclipse 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards on Oct. 17. Holbert (Overland Park, Kan.), who made seven catches for 90 yards against the Bronchos last week, now has 113 career catches for 1,159 yards and three touchdowns in 47 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 28 receptions for 460 yards (16.4 ypc) and three 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 54 and 53 tackles, respectively.

Kirby (St. Louis, Mo.) posted a career best 10 tackles against Ferris State on Aug. 27. He added two stops and an interception he returned 44 yards for a TD vs. UCO. 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 133 career tackles (49 solo) in 22 career games played for the Gorillas. He has added 18.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, four 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 36 times for a 45.0-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 84 career punts for a 42.4-yard average, placing 31 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.

Senior Austin Schmitt has converted 12 of 15 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 (1.50 pg). The Grain Valley, Mo., native has converted 52 of 71 (.732) career kicks.