2016 Pittsburg State Gorillas football team

The 2016 Pittsburg State Gorillas football team represented Pittsburg State University in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. The Gorillas played their home games on Brandenburg Field in Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kansas, as they have done since 1923.[1] 2016 was the 109th season in school history.[2] The Gorillas were led by seventh-year head coach, Tim Beck.[3] Pittsburg State has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association since 1989.[4]

2016 Pittsburg State Gorillas football
Conference	Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
2016 record	7–4 (7–4 MIAA)
Head coach	Brian Wright (7th season)
Offensive coordinator	Steve Rampy (6th season)
Defensive coordinator	Dave Wiemers (9th season)
Captains	Spencer Brown (2nd year) Demetrius Bernard (1st year) Bo Farrow (1st year) Kyle Swartz (2nd year)
Home stadium	Carnie Smith Stadium (capacity: 8,343)

2016 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 NW Missouri St. $^		11	–	0					15	–	0
No. 10 Emporia State ^		10	–	1					11	–	2
No. 21 Central Missouri ^		9	–	2					9	–	3
Fort Hays State		7	–	4					8	–	4
Pittsburg State		7	–	4					7	–	4
Washburn		7	–	4					7	–	5
Missouri Western		4	–	7					4	–	7
Central Oklahoma		3	–	8					3	–	8
Lindenwood		3	–	8					3	–	8
Missouri Southern		2	–	9					2	–	9
Northeastern State		2	–	9					2	–	9
Nebraska–Kearney		1	–	10					1	–	10
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

Preseason

The Gorillas entered the 2016 season after finishing with a 6–5 record overall and in conference play, under Beck.[5] On August 2, 2016 at the MIAA Football Media Day, the Gorillas were chosen to finish in 3rd place in both the Coaches Poll and in the Media Poll.[6] In the Coaches Poll, Pittsburg State was tied with Emporia State for third.[7]

On August 22, D2football.com released its Top 25 poll, ranking Pittsburg State 24th.[8]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Along with Beck, there were 12 assistants.

Name	Position	Seasons at PSU	Alma Mater
Tim Beck	Head Coach	7	Pittsburg State (1988)
Dave Wiemers	Assist. Head Coach – Defensive Coordinator	9	Washburn (1990)
Steve Rampy	Assist. Head Coach – Offensive Coordinator	6	Truman (1979)
Lance Cullen	Assist. Head Coach – Defensive Secondary	15	St. Mary (1993)
Ryan Hellwig	Assist. Head Coach – Defensive Line	12	Pittsburg State (2007)
John Pierce	Assist. Head Coach – Running backs	29	Pittsburg State (1980)
Carl Roth	Assist. Head Coach – Linebackers	25	Pittsburg State (1993)
Steve Wells	Assist. Head Coach – Offensive Line	9	Pittsburg State (2002)
Larry Garman	Assist. Head Coach – Off-Campus Recruiting	18	Pittsburg State (1962)
Matt Karleskint	Assist. Head Coach – Wide Receivers	1	Kansas Wesleyan (2002)
Luke Miller	Assist. Head Coach – Tight Ends	6	Pittsburg State (2014)
Trey Derryberry	Graduate Assistant – Cornerbacks	3	Pittsburg State (2014)
Chance Riley	Graduate Assistant – Offensive Line	2	Pittsburg State (2014)
Reference:[9]

Roster

2016 Pittsburg State Gorillas football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 1 Slade Nordic So WR 2 Andre Taylor Sr RB 3 Kiah Kintchen Fr TE 6 Javon Wilson Jr WR 7 Ramsey Hamilton Jr WR 8 Levi Copelin Sr QB 10 Thomas LePage Jr QB 14 Luke Walstad Fr WR 17 Austin Panko Jr WR 18 Brenner Clemons Fr QB 19 John Roderique So RB 23 DeMarcus Edwards So RB 24 Keynan Schewrich Fr RB 29 Steven Sullivan Jr RB 30 Michael Rose Jr RB 33 Dre Holman Sr TE 42 Kohl Slaughter So RB 45 Zane Roark Fr TE 49 Matt Jones Jr OL 62 Dexton Robertson So OL 63 Nick Weisenborn Sr OL 64 Jaden Helms Fr OL 66 Bo Farrow Jr OL 68 Benton Sinclair Fr OL 70 Tyler Stiff So OL 71 Alex Jones So OL 72 Ryan Cipriani Jr OL 73 Ryan Dodd Fr OL 74 Jacob Ralph Jr OL 75 Tyler Brave Fr OL 76 Sage Mahnken Fr OL 77 Kelly Wortham Jr OL 79 Codey Funk Jr TE 80 Bryce Barto Fr TE 81 Jackson Krull Fr WR 82 Dash Cameron Fr WR 83 Sam Randall Fr WR 84 Lorenzo West Fr WR 86 Grayson Handel So TE 88 Kyle Swartz Sr TE 89 Andy Otting Jr	Defense Pos. # Name Class CB 4 Tyree Jefferson Sr S 9 DaShaughn Terry Jr S 11 Darian Taylor So S 12 Tanner Eikenbary So CB 13 Darrius White Sr LB 15 Ethan Fugitt Jr S 16 Brady Bradbury Jr CB 20 Juanté Baldwin Jr CB 21 Keeyon Incle Fr S 22 Devon Washington Sr CB 25 Ciyre Simmons Jr S 26 Aren Martin Jr CB 27 Jonathan Gilkey So S 28 Ryan McNerlin Jr S 31 Jaxon Wright Jr S 32 Quad Ware Sr CB 34 William Bazzle Fr CB 35 Matt Magee So LB 36 Spencer Brown Sr S 37 Derrick Banks So S 38 Josh Hornback Fr S 39 Cassius Hill Fr S 40 Nick Wuthnow So LB 41 Cale McMakin Fr LB 43 Carter Anchors So S 44 Drew Dawson So LB 47 Demetrius Bernard So DE 48 Levi Wyrick Fr LB 50 DeShane Lewis Jr LB 51 Kyle Brown Jr LB 52 Brett McDonald Fr LB 53 Drew Gill Sr LB 54 Dylan Scheer Fr DE 55 Heath Wilson Fr LB 56 LaRon Mitchell Jr LB 57 Jacob Carpenter Fr LB 58 Dylan Smith Fr LB 59 Kaden Brannin Fr DE 61 Connor Cherry Fr DL 65 Ben Saint Jr DL 69 Trenton Mooney Fr DE 85 Dreu White Jr DE 87 Trey Myers Sr DE 90 José Speer Jr DE 91 Ned Bingaman Fr DL 92 Simanu'a Thomas Fr DL 93 Brock Bryford Jr DL 94 Bradley Payne So DL 95 Drake Humphrey So DL 96 Chase Carney Jr DL 97 Danny Williams Fr DL 98 Braxton Early So DL 99 Willie Connor Jr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class P 43 Carter Anchors So PK 46 Chad Levin Sr	Head coach Tim Beck Coordinators/assistant coaches See coaching staff Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: 2016-08-20

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 pm	Central Missouri	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS		L 27–34	9,311
September 8	7:00 pm	at Central Oklahoma	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK		W 45–31	6,218
September 17	7:00 pm	Northeastern State	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS		W 38–37 ^OT	11,495
September 24	6:00 pm	at Lindenwood Lions	Harlen C. Hunter Stadium St. Charles, MO		W 50–19	3,088
October 1	1:00 pm	at Washburn	Yager Stadium Topeka, KS		W 45–27	6,323
October 8	2:00 pm	Fort Hays State	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS		L 41–54	10,238
October 15	2:00 pm	at Missouri Western	Spratt Stadium St. Joseph, MO		W 55–47	5,515
October 22	2:00 pm	No. 12 Emporia State	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS		L 36–41	8,763
October 29	2:30 pm	at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State	Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO (Rivalry)	American Sports Network	L 10–69	10,283
November 5	2:00 pm	Nebraska–Kearney	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS		W 52–21	8,253
November 12	3:30 pm	at Missouri Southern	Fred G. Hughes Stadium Joplin, MO (Miner's Bowl)		W 45–31	5,748
Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Source: [10]

Central Missouri

Central Missouri at Pittsburg State

1 2 3 4 Total • Central Missouri 0 7 20 7 34 Pittsburg State 10 3 0 14 27 Date: September 1 Location: Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg, KS Game start: 7:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:07 Game attendance: 9,311 Game weather: Clear, 72°F Referee: Dwight Neibling

Central Oklahoma

Pittsburg State at Central Oklahoma

1 2 3 4 Total • Pittsburg State 3 21 7 14 45 Central Oklahoma 14 10 7 0 31 Date: September 8 Location: Wantland Stadium, Edmond, OK Game start: 7:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 2:56 Game attendance: 6,218 Game weather: Cloudy, 78°F Referee: Craig Helser

Northeastern State

Northeastern State at Pittsburg State

1 2 3 4 OT Total Northeastern State 7 14 7 3 6 37 • Pittsburg State 7 9 15 0 7 38 Date: September 17 Location: Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg, KS Game start: 7:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:37 Game attendance: 11,495 Game weather: Clear, 75°F Referee: John Steiger

Lindenwood

Pittsburg State at Lindenwood

1 2 3 4 Total • Pittsburg State 13 14 9 14 50 Lindenwood 0 13 6 0 19 Date: September 24 Location: Harlen C. Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, MO Game start: 6:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:12 Game attendance: 3,088 Game weather: Sunny, 86°F Referee: Lonnie Brickman

Washburn

Pittsburg State at Washburn

1 2 3 4 Total • Pittsburg State 7 14 14 10 45 Washburn 10 3 7 7 27 Date: October 1 Location: Yager Stadium, Topeka, KS Game start: 1:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:15 Game attendance: 6,323 Game weather: Calm, 68°F Referee: Danny Harris

Fort Hays State

Fort Hays State at Pittsburg State

1 2 3 4 Total • Fort Hays State 10 14 14 16 54 Pittsburg State 14 6 7 14 41 Date: October 8 Location: Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg, KS Game start: 2:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:08 Game attendance: 10,238 Game weather: Clear, 69°F Referee: Lonnie Brickman

Missouri Western

Pittsburg State at Missouri Western

1 2 3 4 Total • Pittsburg State 14 20 14 7 55 Missouri Western 12 7 7 21 47 Date: October 15 Location: Spratt Stadium, St. Joseph, MO Game start: 2:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:00 Game attendance: 5,515 Game weather: Overcast, 72°F Referee: Dwight Neibling

Emporia State

Emporia State at Pittsburg State

1 2 3 4 Total • #12 Emporia State 14 17 0 10 41 Pittsburg State 17 7 0 12 36 Date: October 22 Location: Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg, KS Game start: 2:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:29 Game attendance: 8,763 Game weather: Clear, 73°F Referee: Craig Helser

Northwest Missouri State

Pittsburg State at Northwest Missouri State

1 2 3 4 Total Pittsburg State 0 3 7 0 10 • #1 Northwest Missouri State 14 27 14 14 69 Date: October 29 Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MO Game start: 2:30 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:12 Game attendance: 10,283 Game weather: Sunny, 70°F Referee: John Adams Television network: American Sports Network

Nebraska–Kearney

Nebraska–Kearney at Pittsburg State

1 2 3 4 Total Nebraska–Kearney 7 14 0 0 21 • Pittsburg State 7 24 14 7 52 Date: November 5 Location: Carnie Smith Stadium, Pittsburg, KS Game start: 2:00 pm CDT Elapsed time: 3:01 Game attendance: 8,253 Game weather: Overcast, 67°F Referee: Brian Moore

Missouri Southern

Pittsburg State at Missouri Southern

1 2 3 4 Total • Pittsburg State 14 3 14 14 45 Missouri Southern 0 7 14 10 31 Date: November 12 Location: Fred G. Hughes Stadium, Joplin, MO Game start: 3:30 pm CST Elapsed time: 3:11 Game attendance: 5,748 Game weather: Clear, 63°F Referee: Lonnie Brickman

References

1. "Pittsburg State Gorillas – Carnie Smith Stadium Biography". July 13, 2012. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
2. "Gorillas to Kickoff Season vs. No. 20 Mules Thursday" (PDF). August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
3. "Tim Beck biography". Retrieved August 20, 2016.
4. "The Fort Scott Tribune - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved August 20, 2016.
5. "Pitt State Football to Host Mules in Thursday Opener in 2016". January 13, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
6. "NWMSU Tops Football Polls". Retrieved August 19, 2016.
7. Johnson, Heidi (August 2, 2016). "Gorillas Picked Third in MIAA Coaches, Media Polls" (Press release). Retrieved August 20, 2016.
8. "Top 25 Poll". D2football.com. August 22, 2015. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
9. "Pittsburg State Gorillas – 2016 Football Roster". Retrieved August 20, 2016.
10. "Pittsburg State Gorillas - 2016 Football Schedule". Retrieved August 20, 2016.