Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT) at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium.
Pitt State, the No. 7 team in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll [for complete poll, see page 6], enters Saturday's action at 4-1 overall (3-1 MIAA). The Gorillas posted a 31-20 home win over Missouri Western State University the last time out last Saturday (Oct. 5).
Pitt State currently sits in fourth place in the MIAA standings [see page 2], a half-game behind second place Emporia State University (5-1, 4-1 MIAA) and Northwest Missouri State University (4-2, 4-1 MIAA). The University of Central Oklahoma (5-0, 4-0 MIAA) is unbeaten heading into a home match-up against NWMSU Saturday.
Nebraska-Kearney enters Saturday's tilt at 3-2 overall and 1-2 in MIAA play. The Lopers posted a 35-0 non-conference road win over Southwest Minnesota State University last Saturday at Marshall, Minn.
The Coaches
Tom Anthony is in his first year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. Anthony returned to campus after a six-month absence to become the Gorillas 16th all-time head coach in December 2023.
Anthony, who served as Pitt State's defensive coordinator from 2020-22, replaced Brian Wright who accepted the head football coach position at NCAA FCS member Northern Arizona University. Wright fashioned a 33-8 record the previous four seasons (2020-23).
Anthony joined Wright on his initial staff in December 2019 as defensive coordinator. He was elevated to the role of associate head coach/defensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. Anthony helped fashion one of the top defensive units in NCAA Division II during his three years with the Gorillas. He stepped away 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 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.
This will be Anthony's first match-up against Nebraska-Kearney.
Ryan Held is in his second season directing the UNK program. Held spent the 2022 season as interim head coach and offensive coordinator at FCS member North Alabama. Before that, he was an assistant/running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Nebraska (2018-21) and assistant/running backs coach at Central Florida (2016-17).
Additionally, he has held head coaching stints at junior colleges Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Highland Community College; Division II Southwestern Oklahoma and Panhandle State; and NAIA Peru State.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State has compiled an impressive record in road games over the past 31 years.
The Gorillas have posted a 119-37-1 (.761) record in its last 157 road games (including post-season play) dating back to the start of the 1994 season.
The Gorillas are 55-14 (.797) in their last 69 road games dating back to Oct. 23, 2010.
UNK has compiled a 15-10 (.600) home record since the start of the 2019 season.
The Pitt State - Nebraska-Kearney Series
This will be the 27th meeting between the Gorillas and the Lopers in a series that dates back to the 1974 season, but it will be just the 12th meeting between the two squads since 1988.
Pitt State holds a 17-9 edge in the series.
Last year, the Gorillas scored 30 second-half points to pull away for a 33-14 victory over the Lopers on Sept. 23 at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Pitt State trailed UNK, 7-3, at halftime before reeling off 23 straight points in the third and fourth quarters to push in front 26-7 with 9:47 to play in the game.
Quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. passed for 180 yards and a touchdown in the contest and the Gorillas gained a season-high 297 rushing yards on the night.
Pitt State in the MIAA
Pitt State has enjoyed consistent success in the MIAA during the past three decades.
Pitt State has posted a 259-67-1 (.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 past two years (2022-23).
UNK has posted a 43-77-0 (.358) record since joining the MIAA in 2012.
All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are competing in their 117th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 756-363-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,167 all-time games.
Pittsburg State is one of just nine NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 600 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 716 victories, followed by Hillsdale (664), Carson-Newman (659) and Central Oklahoma (657).
UNK has a 568-367-27 (.604) record in 102 seasons of intercollegiate play.
PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 337 of its last 407 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 337-68-2 (.830) mark during the past 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 177-29-1 at home, 156-30-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
Scouting the Gorillas
Senior quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. is in his third season directing the Pitt State offense. Dodson (5-11, 202) has fashioned a 27-4 (.871) record as the Gorillas starting quarterback, leading the Gorillas to a pair of MIAA titles and NCAA-II playoff appearances the past two seasons.
The Jacksonville, Fla., native has completed 94 of 155 passes (.606) for 1,346 yards (269.2 ypg) and eight touchdowns this season.
For his career, he has completed 561 of 897 passes (.625) for 7,559 yards and 64 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 in PSU history for career passing yards and career touchdown passes.
Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 36 tackles (15 solo) on the season. The Webb City, Mo., native also has recorded two interceptions and a pass breakup.
A three-time All-MIAA performer, Gaskill has made 208 tackles (103 solo) including 24.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded eight interceptions and 21 PBUs. Gaskill currently ranks sixth all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (21) and passes defended (29).
Redshirt senior Christian Carter has caught 21 passes for 220 yards (10.5 ypc) and one score on the season.
For his career, the Kansas City, Mo., native has made 115 receptions for 1,523 yards (13.2 ypc) and 11 touchdowns. He has compiled 1,911 career all-purpose yards for the Gorillas. Carter needs 59 receiving yards to break into Pitt State's top 10 list for all-time receiving yards.
Senior defensive lineman Cole Sample matched his career high in tackles with five stops (three solo) vs. Missouri Western Saturday.
The Jarbalo, Kan., native has posted 15 tackles (seven solo) on the season with 1.5 tackles-for-loss. A two-time All-MIAA performer, Sample has made 79 career tackles (26 solo) with 7.0 tackles-for-loss.
