#13 PITTSBURG STATE GORILLAS

AFTER A 9-2 REGULAR SEASON, Pitt State barely missed the playoffs but finished the season with an invitation to the Mineral Water Bowl (MIAA vs. NSIC) and a victory over Bemidji State. The Gorillas are the winningest all-time program in Division II and have made the playoffs in 15 out of their 18 years in the division. PSU is led by veteran coach (18th season) and alumnus, Chuck Broyles (174-26-2), the winningest coach in Gorilla and MIAA history. He is also the winningest active D2 coach, the third winningest by percentage in DI FBS, DI FCS and D2, and holds the record for MIAA titles (9). Pitt will start the season against LSC members Texas A&M – Commerce and East Central before having a chance to avenge one of their 2006 losses as Missouri Western visits “the Jungle” for the MIAA opener. The Gorillas have a tough, four-game road trip in the middle of the season that includes facing the only other team they lost to last season, D2 runner-up Northwest Missouri. The Classic at Arrowhead was extremely one-sided. However, with a wide-open offense that doesn’t have to rely on a ‘star’ and an improved defense, PSU should be back in the D2 bracket come November.