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PITTSBURG — The Pittsburg State University football team will return to the friendly confines of Carnie Smith Stadium for the first time since Sept. 5 as the Gorillas entertain Missouri Western State University in their Homecoming Game Saturday (Oct. 17). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. (CDT).
Pitt State is 1-5 (1-3 MIAA) on the season. The Gorillas dropped a 16-9 road decision to Washburn University last Saturday (Oct. 10) at Topeka. 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 last two weeks ago.
Pitt State dropped 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. The Gorillas 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 Western is off to a 3-3 start to the season with a 2-2 MIAA mark. The Griffons are coming off a 31-21 home win over UNK last Saturday.
The Coaches
Tom Anthony is in his third year as head football coach at Pittsburg State University. He has a 19-11 (.633) 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. MWSU. He’s 2-0 against the Griffons.
Tyler Fenwick is in his fourth year leading the Griffons after serving the previous three seasons as head coach at NCAA Division II member Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He also spent six years as head coach at Missouri University of Science & Technology from 2013-18. Fenwick has a 70-69 (.504) record as a collegiate head coach. This will be Fenwick’s fourth meeting against Pitt State. He is 1-2 against the Gorillas.
Pitt State on Homecoming
Saturday’s game is the Gorillas Homecoming contest. The Gorillas are 61-13-2 in Homecoming games since the 1949 season. This will mark the seventh all-time Pitt State Homecoming battle between the Gorillas and the Griffons. Pitt State has compiled a 4-2 record against Griffons throughout the years on Homecoming.
The Pitt State – Missouri Western Series
This will be the 52nd all-time meeting between the Gorillas and Griffons in a series that dates back to the 1970 season.
Pitt State holds a 38-13 (.745) advantage in the series, including a 19-6 mark in games played in Pittsburg.
Last year, running back Zahmari Palode-Gary rushed for three touchdowns to help spark No. 12 Pitt State University to a 44-20 victory over Missouri Western on Oct. 18 at Spratt Memorial Stadium.
The Gorillas and Griffons had to overcome a 52-minute weather delay five minutes into the game.
Western took a 7-3 lead with 9:49 to play in the second quarter when quarterback Kane Donovan tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Bryce Marcus III.
Pitt State countered with a two-yard scoring run by Palode-Gary to take a 10-7 lead and kicker Austin Schmitt booted a 50-yard field goal for a 13-7 advantage with one second remaining in the first half.
Palode-Gary added scoring runs of eight yards and three yards in the third quarter and Schmitt, who converted three field goals in the game, booted a 56-yard kick as the Gorillas tacked on 17 points in the frame.
Quarterback Jackson Berry also tossed a seven-yard TD pass to wide receiver Jaelon Travis with 7:07 remaining in the game; and wide receiver Greyson Holbert capped Pitt State’s scoring with a 14-yard TD jaunt on an end-around play with 4:12 to go.
Gorillas at Home
Pitt State holds a 380-142-12 (.724) record in 533 games inside Carnie Smith Stadium (including postseason). The Gorillas have won 178 of their last 214 regular season home games, posting a 178-35-1 (.834) record over the last 42 seasons.
Missouri Western is 8-10 (.444) in its last 18 road games dating back to the start of the 2023 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 273-72-1 (.790) 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 351 of its last 429 regular season games, posting a phenomenal 351-76-2 (.821) mark during the past 42 seasons (1985-2026). PSU is 183-32-1 at home, 1623-35-1 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 771-373-48 overall record, winning 66.7 percent of their 1,192 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 725 victories, followed by Hillsdale (681), Carson-Newman (677) and Central Oklahoma (671).
MWSU has a 325-278-9 (.538) record in 57 seasons of intercollegiate play.
Scouting the Gorillas
Pitt State has utilized three quarterbacks on the season: redshirt junior Jake Wolff, redshirt freshman Bobby Bacon and freshman Billy Middleton III.
Bacon (Iowa City, Iowa) has started the last four games under center. He has completed 73 of 122 passes (.598) for 800 yards (200.0 ypg) and five touchdowns in four games played. Bacon was 25 of 35 passing for a season best 232 yards and two scores in the Gorillas’ comeback win vs. UNK.
Middleton (Glenn Heights, Texas) also has seen action in a reserve role in each of the last four games. He has completed five of 10 passes for 40 yards and rushed the ball 15 times for 53 net yards.
Wolff (Overland Park, Kan.) started the first two games, completing 39 of 60 passes (.650) for 349 yards (174.5 ypg) and one touchdown. He has not seen any action in the last three games.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Greyson Holbert has 99 career receptions for 980 yards (9.9 ypc) and three touchdowns in 45 games played for the Gorillas. Holbert (Overland Park, Kan.) also has rushed the football 24 times for 229 yards (9.5 ypc) and two scores.
Redshirt sophomore wide receiver T.J. Starks has 21 receptions for 337 yards (16.1 ypc) and two 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 46 and 44 tackles, respectively.
Kirby (St. Louis, Mo.) posted a career best 10 tackles against Ferris State on Aug. 27. He added eight stops, including 2.0 TFLs, and an interception vs. UWA. 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 124 career tackles (47 solo) in 20 career games played for the Gorillas. He has added 18.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, two 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 30 times for a 45.9-yard average in Pitt State’s first six games, with 12 kicks traveling 50+ yards to date including a career best 74 yarder vs WU (Oct. 10). He leads the MIAA and ranks second in Division II in punting this season. The Frontenac native has 78 career punts for a 42.6-yard average, placing 30 kicks inside the opponent 20 yard line.
Senior Austin Schmitt has converted 10 of 11 field goal tries on the season. Schmitt, who set the Pitt State career record for field goals against UNK on Oct. 3, ranks fifth in Division II this season in field goals per game (1.67 pg) and field goal percentage (.909). The Grain Valley, Mo., native has converted 50 of 67 (.746) career kicks.