PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University football team travels to Edmond, Oklahoma on Saturday (Oct. 26) to take part in an important NCAA Division II Top 10 and Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association game against the University of Central Oklahoma.

Kickoff is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. (CDT) at Chad Richison Stadium. The contest will be broadcast live in the Kansas City area on KMCI, 38 The Spot as the MIAA Football Game of the Week.

Pitt State, the No. 6 team in this week’s AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, enters Saturday’s game with an overall record of 6-1 (5-1 MIAA). The Gorillas secured sole possession of second place in the MIAA standings after their 18-17 come-from-behind victory against Fort Hays State University last Saturday (October 19) at Carnie Smith Stadium.

Pitt State has won four straight games since losing a 24-21 home decision to Emporia State University on Sept. 14.

Central Oklahoma enters Saturday 7-0 overall, 5-0 in MIAA play and ranked No. 9 in this week’s national poll. The Bronchos, the MIAA’s only undefeated team, posted a wild 64-57 non-conference road win over Northeastern State University last Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. UCO is averaging a whopping 55.4 points per game in its first seven contests.

The trainers

Tom Anthony is in his first year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. Anthony returned to campus after a six-month absence and became the Gorillas’ 16th all-time head coach in December 2023.

Anthony, who served as Pitt State’s defensive coordinator from 2020 to 2022, replaced Brian Wright, who accepted the head football coaching position at NCAA FCS member Northern Arizona University. Wright compiled a record of 33-8 over the past four seasons (2020-23).

Anthony joined Wright on his first staff in December 2019 as defensive coordinator. He was named associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. During his three years with the Gorillas, Anthony helped build one of the best defensive units in NCAA Division II. He resigned from his position in June 2023 to pursue a non-coaching professional opportunity in Ohio.

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 ppg), rushing defense (93.0 ppg ), pass defense (189.6 ppg) and sacks (31). . The Gorillas ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense and 19th nationally in total defense. Pitt State was one of only four defensive units to return four or more interceptions for touchdowns in 2022.

This will be Anthony’s first game against Central Oklahoma.

Adam Dorrel is in his third season at UCO. He took over the Bronchos program after serving as head coach at Abilene Christian for five seasons. Prior to his time at ACU, Dorrel led his alma mater, Northwest Missouri, to three NCAA Division II national championships and compiled a 76-8 record at the helm of the Bearcats from 2011-2016.

He has a coaching record of 118-54-0 (.686). This will be his 10th meeting against Pitt State. Dorrel is 4-5 against the Gorillas.

Gorillas on the street
Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games over the past 31 years.

The Gorillas have compiled a record of 120-37-1 (.763) in their last 158 ​​road games (including postseason games), dating back to the start of the 1994 season. The Gorillas have a record of 56-14 (.800) in their last 70 road games since October 23, 2010.

UCO has compiled a home record of 13-2 (.867) over the last three seasons under Coach Dorrel.

The Pitt State – Central Oklahoma series
This will be the Gorillas and Bronchos’ 21st all-time meeting in a series that dates back to the 1915 season.

Pitt State is 15-4-1 in the series, including seven straight wins and 12 wins in the last 13 meetings. The Gorillas are 8-1-1 against the Bronchos in games in Edmond.

Last year, an opportunistic Pitt State defense forced seven turnovers to help the Gorillas to a 20-10 victory over Central Oklahoma in the regular-season finale on Nov. 11.

Pitt State secured a share of the 2023 MIAA championship with the victory over the Bronchos.

quarterback Ty PenningtonReplacement for an injured starter Chad Dodson Jr.led the Gorillas on four scoring drives in the contest. He passed for 108 yards, including a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Steele Roring.

Run back Cleo Chandler Jr. Carried the ball 15 times for 85 yards and a five-yard touchdown drive that gave the Gorillas a 17-7 lead midway through the second quarter.

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

Pitt State has compiled a record of 261-67-1 (.795) against its MIAA opponents since joining the conference in 1989. The Gorillas have won 14 MIAA titles since joining the conference, including consecutive MIAA titles the last two years (2022-23). .

UCO has compiled a record of 59-64-0 (.480) since joining the MIAA in 2012.

The most successful programs of all time
Pittsburg State is the winningest NCAA Division II football program of all time. The Gorillas, in their 117th season of collegiate competition, have compiled an overall record of 758-363-48 and have won 66.9 percent of their 1,169 all-time games.

Pittsburg State is one of only nine NCAA Division II institutions to record 600 wins all-time, and the Gorillas became just the 33rd program – the first Division II institution – at any level of college football to reach the plateau of Reached 700 victories.

Tuskegee ranks second on the Division II all-time list with 718 wins, followed by Hillsdale (665), Carson-Newman (661) and Central Oklahoma (660).

UCO has a record of 660-450-47 (.591) in 118 intercollegiate seasons.

PSU’s regular season success
Pitt State has won 339 of its last 409 regular season games and has posted a phenomenal record of 339-68-2 (.831) over the last 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 178-29-1 at home, 157-30-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites during that span in the regular season.

Looking for the gorillas
Senior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. is in his third season directing the Pitt State offense. Dodson (5-11, 202) compiled a 29-4 (.878) record as the Gorillas’ starting quarterback and led the Gorillas to two MIAA titles and NCAA II playoff appearances in the last two seasons.

The Jacksonville, Florida native has completed 138 of 235 passes (.587) for 1,790 yards (255.7 ypg) and 11 touchdowns this season.

Over his career, he has completed 605 of 977 passes (.619) for 8,003 yards and 67 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 in PSU history for career passing yards and career touchdown passes; and he ranks third in school history in career total offense (8,206 yards).

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has totaled a team-leading 46 tackles (17 solo) this season. The Webb City, Missouri native also recorded two interceptions and two pass breakups.

A three-time All-MIAA selection, Gaskill has recorded 218 tackles (105 solo), including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also recorded eight interceptions and 23 PBUs. Gaskill currently ranks fifth all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (23) and passes defensed (31).

Redshirt senior Jack Roberts caught 28 passes for 438 yards (15.6 YPC) and scored four scores this season, including the game-winning grab with 1:00 to play in regulation against FHSU last Saturday. He currently ranks 10th in the MIAA in receiving yards, averaging 62.6 yards per game.

Over his career, the Overland Park, Kan. native has made 69 receptions for 938 yards (13.6 YPC) and eight touchdowns. He needs 62 yards to join the 1,000-yard receiving club.

Redshirt junior return specialist Ryan Medeiros is averaging 11.4 yards on punt returns this season. The Prosper, Texas native currently leads the MIAA and ranks 14th in NCAA Division II among players with a qualifying number of returns.

Medeiros has 45 punt returns in his career, averaging 9.8 yards.