Pitt State football preps for top 25 matchup with Emporia State

PITTSBURG, KS — It will be another top 25 matchup in Pittsburg on Saturday. Pitt State football will host the Emporia State Hornets in front of what is expected to be a sellout crowd.

The Gorillas and Hornets previously clashed last October. Pitt State appeared to have the game put away by the end of the third quarter with a commanding 30-3 lead. Gorillas quarterbacks Chad Dodson and Ty Pennington each threw two touchdowns against the Hornets defense, but in the fourth quarter, the game took a turn.

Emporia State outscored Pitt 22-3 in the final quarter of the game, but then head coach Brian Wright’s Gorillas hung on to win 33-25.

“Any time you play a tempo offense that wants to go fast and generate a lot of snaps , it challenges you defensively,” said head coach Tom Anthony.

“You don’t have a lot of time to think, so you’re communication and execution has to be elite.”

Redshirt junior safety Ryan Medeiros said his team’s secondary is up for the challenge.

“This is a dream game for a secondary,” said Medeiros.

“They’re going to pass the ball and get it out on the perimeter. It’s going to be in our hands as corners and safeties to make plays. As a player, you can either be scared or take it on as a challenge, and we’re definitely prepared.”

On the offensive side, redshirt sophomore wide receiver Kuron Parchmon said Emporia State’s defense also provides a different look.

“With the defense that Emporia [State] runs, it presents us with new challenges because they run a 3 high safety, and we don’t see that very often,” said Parchmon.

“I feel like they will play fast, physical, and they’re definitely going to try to run to the ball and punch it out.”

The Gorillas will host the Hornets on Saturday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m.

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