No. 4 Gorillas, No. 21 Hornets Set to Clash Saturday

PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium Saturday (Sept. 14) to host Emporia State University in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT).

Pitt State, the No. 4 team in this week's AFCA NCAA Division II Top 25 poll, enters Saturday's action at 2-0 overall (1-0 MIAA). The Gorillas posted a 42-17 road win over Missouri Southern State University in the MIAA opener for both schools last Saturday (Sept. 7) at Joplin, Mo. Pitt State ushered in the 2024 campaign with an emphatic 19-3 home win over previously No. 3 ranked Ferris State University on Aug. 31.

Emporia State is off to a 2-0 start to the season (1-0 MIAA). The Hornets, who debuted at No. 21 in this week's national poll, have posted back-to-back home victories over Washburn University (30-14) on Aug. 29 and Angelo State University (17-12) last Saturday at Welch Stadium. ESU enjoyed a 9-3 overall record in 2023.

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 Emporia State.

ESU's Garrin Higgins is in his 17th year leading the Hornets and his 22nd year as a collegiate coach. Higgins (ESU, '92) has compiled a 108-80 (.574) record leading his alma mater as well as a 159-89 (.641) career mark. He is 3-11 (.214) vs. Pitt State.

Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 373-137-12 (.726) record in 522 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 171 of their last 203 regular season home games, posting a 171-31-1 record (.845) over the last 40 seasons. Pitt State, which has won its last 14 home games, posted an unblemished 7-0 record at home in 2022 and a perfect 6-0 home mark in 2023.

Emporia State is 28-25 (.528) in its last 53 road games dating back to the start of the 2014 season.

The Pitt State - Emporia State Series
This will be the 102nd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and the Hornets in a series that dates all the way back to the 1915 season. The Pitt State-Emporia State series is the ninth-longest rivalry in NCAA Division II football.

Pitt State holds a commanding 65-34-2 advantage in the series. The Gorillas are 32-17-1 vs. the Hornets in Pittsburg.

Pitt State is 36-7 in its last 43 meetings against ESU.

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 advantage late in the third quarter as quarterbacks Chad Dodson Jr. and Ty Pennington tossed a pair of touchdowns apiece in the game.

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

Pitt State has posted 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 past two years (2022-23).

ESU has posted a 162-145-0 (.528) record since joining the MIAA in 1991.

All-Time Winningest Programs
Pittsburg State is the all-time winningest NCAA Division II football program. The Gorillas, who are competing in their 116th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 754-362-48 overall record, winning 66.8 percent of their 1,164 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 714 victories, followed by Hillsdale (663), Carson-Newman (656) and Central Oklahoma (654).
ESU has a 559-555-45 (.502) record in 132 seasons of intercollegiate play.

PSU's Regular Season Success
Pitt State has won 335 of its last 404 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 335-67-2 (.832) mark during the past 40 seasons (1985-2024). PSU is 176-28-1 at home, 155-30-1 on the road and 4-9-0 at neutral sites in the regular season during that span.

Gorillas vs. Ranked Opponents
Pitt State has fashioned a 63-56 (.529) record against nationally ranked NCAA Division II opponents. The Gorillas are 40-18 at home, 18-27 on the road and 5-11 in neutral site match-ups against top 25 squads.

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 25-3 (.893) 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 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 ans 60 touchdowns. He ranks No. 2 in PSU history for career passing yards and No. 3 for career touchdown passes. Dodson needs one touchdown pass to tie Neal Philpot (2001-04) for second place in career touchdown passes.

Redshirt senior linebacker Alex Gaskill has posted a team-leading 16 tackles (eight solo) on the young season. The Webb City, Mo., native also has recorded an interception and a pass breakup.

A three-time All-MIAA performer, Gaskill has made 188 tackles (96 solo) including 23.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 quarterback sacks. He also has recorded seven interceptions and 21 PBUs. Gaskill currently ranks sixth all-time at Pitt State in PBUs (21) and passes defended (28).

Redshirt senior Noah Hernandez accounted for three touchdowns and 93 all-purpose yards in the Gorillas road win over Missouri Southern last week.

The Tulsa, Okla., native carried the ball 12 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 20 yards and a score against the Lions. He is currently averaging a team-leading 56.0 rushing yards per game this season.

For his career, Hernandez has 167 rushes for 809 yards (4.8 ypc) and eight touchdowns. He's also caught 17 passes for 148 yards (8.7 ypc) and a pair of scores.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Ty Pennington: QB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman

#9 Chad Dodson Jr.: QB; 5' 11"; Senior

#6 Alex Gaskill: LB; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior

#10 Noah Hernandez: RB; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

#6 Ty Pennington
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Freshman
: QB

#9 Chad Dodson Jr.
: 5' 11"; Senior
: QB

#6 Alex Gaskill
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior
: LB

#10 Noah Hernandez
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: RB