Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (CDT).
Pitt State, the No. 4 team in this week’s AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, enters Saturday’s games with an overall record of 2-0 (1-0 MIAA). The Gorillas posted a 42-17 road win over Missouri Southern State University in the MIAA opener between the two schools last Saturday (Sept. 7) in Joplin, Missouri. Pitt State kicked off the 2024 season with a convincing 19-3 home win over previously No. 3-ranked Ferris State University on Aug. 31.
Emporia State started the season 2-0 (1-0 MIAA). The Hornets, who debuted this week ranked No. 21 in the national poll, have won two straight home games against Washburn University (30-14) on Aug. 29 and Angelo State University (17-12) last Saturday at Welch Stadium. ESU has an overall record of 9-3 in 2023.
The trainers
Tom Anthony is in his first year as head coach of the Pittsburg State University football team. 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 2020-2022, replaced Brian Wright, who accepted the head coaching position at NCAA FCS member Northern Arizona University. Wright posted a record of 33-8 over the past four seasons (2020-23).
Anthony joined Wright as defensive coordinator on his first team in December 2019. He was promoted to assistant 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 role in Ohio.
In 2022, Anthony’s Pitt State defensive unit led the MIAA in scoring defense (14.1 points per game) and ranked second in the conference in total defense (282.6 points per game), run defense (93.0 points per game), pass defense (189.6 points per game) 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 convert four or more interceptions into touchdowns in 2022.
This will be Anthony’s first meeting with Emporia State.
ESU’s Garrin Higgins has coached the Hornets for 17 years and has coached college for 22. Higgins (ESU, ’92) has a 108-80 (.574) record at his alma mater and a 159-89 (.641) career record. He is 3-11 (.214) against Pitt State.
Gorillas at home
Pitt State holds a record of 373-137-12 (.726) in 522 games played at Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 171 of their last 203 regular-season home games and have a 171-31-1 (.845) record over the last 40 seasons. Pitt State, which has won its last 14 home games, posted a pristine 7-0 home record in 2022 and a perfect 6-0 home record in 2023.
Emporia State has a record of 28-25 (.528) in its last 53 road games since the start of the 2014 season.
The Pitt State – Emporia State series
This will be the 102nd meeting between the Gorillas and the Hornets in a series that dates back to the 1915 season. The Pitt State-Emporia State series is the ninth longest rivalry in NCAA Division II football.
Pitt State has a commanding 65-34-2 lead in the series. The Gorillas are 32-17-1 against the Hornets in Pittsburg.
Pitt State has won its last 43 meetings with ESU 36-7.
Last year, Pitt State scored 30 consecutive points to take control of the game en route to a 33-25 victory over Emporia State at Carnie Smith Stadium on Oct. 7.
The Gorillas built a 30-3 lead late in the third quarter when the quarterbacks Chad Dodson Jr. And Ty Pennington each scored two touchdowns in the game.
Pitt State in the MIAA
Pitt State has been consistently successful in the MIAA over the past three decades.
Pitt State has compiled a 257-66-1 (.797) 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 the last two years (2022-23).
ESU has posted a record of 162-145-0 (.528) since joining the MIAA in 1991.
The most successful programs of all time
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest football team in NCAA Division II. The Gorillas, playing in their 116th season of intercollegiate competition, have an overall record of 754-362-48 and have won 66.8 percent of their 1,164 games.
Pittsburg State is one of only nine NCAA Division II institutions to reach 600 total wins, and the Gorillas were only the 33rd team – the first Division II institution – at any level of college football to reach the 700-win mark.
Tuskegee ranks second on the Division II all-time list with 714 wins, followed by Hillsdale (663), Carson-Newman (656) and Central Oklahoma (654).
ESU has a record of 559-555-45 (.502) in 132 seasons of intercollegiate play.
PSU’s success in the regular season
Pitt State has won 335 of its last 404 regular season games and has a phenomenal 335-67-2 (.832) record over the last 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 176-28-1 at home, 155-30-1 away and 4-9-0 on neutral sites in the regular season during that span.
Gorillas vs. Ranked Opponents
Pitt State has compiled a record of 63-56 (.529) against nationally ranked NCAA Division II opponents. The Gorillas are 40-18 at home, 18-27 on the road and 5-11 on neutral sites against top-25 teams.
In search of the gorillas
Experienced quarterback Chad Dodson Jr. is in his third season as Pitt State’s offensive lineman. Dodson (5-11, 202) has compiled a 25-3 (.893) record as the Gorillas’ starting quarterback and led the Gorillas to two MIAA titles and NCAA II playoff appearances over the past two seasons.
The Jacksonville, Florida native has completed 34 of 55 passes (.618) for 484 yards (242.0 ypg) and four touchdowns this season.
For his career, he has completed 501 of 797 passes (.629) for 6,697 yards and 60 touchdowns. He is No. 2 in PSU history for most passing yards and No. 3 for most touchdown passes. Dodson needs one more touchdown pass to tie Neal Philpot (2001-04), who has the second-most career touchdown passes.
Redshirt Senior Linebacker Alex Gaskill has recorded a team-high 16 tackles (eight of them solo) this young season. The Webb City, Missouri native also has one interception and one pass defense.
A three-time All-MIAA player, Gaskill has made 188 tackles (96 solo), including 23.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks. He has also recorded seven interceptions and 21 PBUs. Gaskill is currently the sixth-leading player all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (21) and passes defensed (28).
Redshirt Senior Noah Hernandez was responsible for three touchdowns and 93 all-purpose yards in the Gorillas’ road win over Missouri Southern last week.
The Tulsa, Oklahoma native carried the ball 12 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 20 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. His 56.0 rushing yards per game average currently ranks highest on a team this season.
In his career, Hernandez has completed 167 carries for 809 yards (4.8 ypc) and eight touchdowns. He has also caught 17 passes for 148 yards (8.7 ypc) and scored two touchdowns.
