MIAA Preview: Pittsburg State

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
The Pittsburg State offensive line digs in last season against Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 16, 2024, at Bearcat Stadium. That group returns guards Drew Daniels and Carter Stanchfield.

EMPORIA, Kan. — After Week 0 last season, many around the country would have had Pittsburg State as not just the MIAA champions, but potentially the national champions.

In coach Tom Anthony’s first game as head coach, the Gorillas didn’t just beat Ferris State, they smashed the Bulldogs, holding Ferris State to just 171 yards of total offense and forcing four turnovers in a 19-3 victory.

So what happened? At the end of the season, Pittsburg State ended up second in the MIAA, lost 48-3 to Harding in the first round of the playoffs and Ferris State won its third national title in four years.

Finishing second in the MIAA and losing to Harding in the playoffs is not a shameful season for anyone, but Pittsburg State rightfully had bigger goals going into Week 1. Now, Anthony is tasked with learning from last season and building on it this year.

There will be a new signal caller for the Gorillas for the first time in three seasons with Chad Dodson Jr. gone. Junior Jake Wolff is back after throwing seven passes last season while the team has a bevy of transfers in the quarterback room. Wolff is originally from Northern Iowa while Carson Trimble was originally at Central Oklahoma, Tre Baker was at Southern Illinois and Jackson Berry is new this season from Southern Utah. Berry threw for 1,558 yards and 12 touchdowns last season at the Division-I level.

“Chad went down in his career as being one of the best quarterbacks to come through Pittsburg State University which is pretty good testament with the history of our program,” Anthony said. “Having to replace a kid like Chad, not just as a player, but as a leader, as a young man — has obviously been a challenge that we knew we would be facing this offseason.

“I thought that we had a great quarterback competition this spring, it has continued throughout the summer and will no doubt continue on through fall camp. In no way, shape or form are we ready to name a starter yet.”

After a couple years in the running back timeshare with Noah Hernandez, Cleo Chandler Jr. returns as the clear leader in that room and one of the team’s top offensive playmakers.

Chandler ran the ball 110 times for 467 yards and four touchdowns — earning honorable mention All-MIAA despite making only two starts.

“A lot of leaders have stepped up,” Chandler said. “Not even just leaders, a lot of young guys stepped up. It was a great summer. I feel like everyone was there — great attendance. I think that we are just ready for the season.”

On the outside, Kuron Parchmon was a breakout player last season. The 5’11 receiver had 30 grabs for 502 yards and three touchdowns.

At tight end, the Gorillas return one of the most interesting players in the MIAA with sophomore Luke Niggemann. The high school quarterback actually threw more passes than he caught last season, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t productive as a freshman.

The 227-pound tight end ran the ball 24 times for 149 yards and seven touchdowns.

The offensive line is led by senior offensive guard Drew Daniels, a 2-time second-team All-MIAA selection. Across from him, right guard Carter Stanchfield also returns.

Defensively, the secondary for the Gorillas is likely the best in the nation entering the season.

The safety duo of Jordan Rogers and Ryan Mederios is back after Rogers was First Team All-MIAA last season.

“We are ready to go this year,” Mederios said. “… We have the same goal every year and that is to win a national championship. We come prepared the same way every year.”

At corner, Jaylen Fuska was Second Team All-MIAA last season. Across from him, Kristian Cross returns as a starter, but Antione Nunn Jr. and Tedrick Tate Jr. are also in the mix.

The Gorillas will have to deal with changes on the second level with Jack Barkley, Alex Gaskill and Thomas Cook all gone. Linebackers Steven Ward II and Zach Coenen are players who will be asked to take on bigger roles after 24 and 30 tackles respectively last season.

The defensive line also has a lot of new faces, but James Smith (26 tackles) and Jeremy Sharp (15 tackles) will be asked to lead it.

The Gorillas open with as tough of a schedule as possible. Reigning champion Ferris State is the first game in Big Rapids, Mich., then they travel to a likely top-3 ranked Central Oklahoma, before home games against Grand Valley State and Fort Hays State.

“We will continue as n university to do that moving forward as long as our conference allows us to do that,” Anthony said of the tough non-conference. “… I think it is great for our university, great our program, great for our community, and as players and coaches, I don’t think that we would want it any other way.”