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Curtis Meyer reporter
No 5. Ranked Pittsburg State is set to clash with Western Missouri this Saturday at 2:00 p.m, on home turf, in a matchup that carries a lot of importance for Pitt States football team and community. It’s homecoming weekend and family and alumni will be in the stands cheering on the Gorillas as they look to remain undefeated this season.
“I know for me personally I have a lot of family coming. I don’t get to have a lot of family coming to the games, just being so far from home. So, this one will be kind of special for me, just getting to play in front of people that have never really seen me play here yet. I feel like that’s kind of the same thing, just playing in front of all our fans,” said quarterback Chad Dodson.
Dodson and the rest of the Gorilla’s squad are coming off a 49 to 10 win over Lincoln University. Dodson garnered 242 yards and 2 TDs despite only playing for the first half.
“Anytime in this conference we can get a win, it’s always a good feeling. We went into the game pretty prepared, got the run game going early and moved the ball well. Had some new guys on the o-line, some younger guys, so it was good to see a lot of new and younger guys playing and still being able to move the ball well,” said Dodson.
Missouri Western is also coming off a win, beating Northeastern in comeback style 23 to 16. Western is 3-4 on the season, losing all 4 games to teams with winning records, with three of those tied behind Pittsburg at 5-2.
“Missouri Western’s a good football team, defensively they line up and just play a couple defenses, but they do it really well. They’re sound with what their rules are and the things their coach is asking them to do, and they execute them, which is hats off to them, they try to outwork on defense,” said Passing Coordinator Jerry DiMinno.
“Their record doesn’t show it, but they are a very tough team,” said Dodson.
Even with a big win on the road like Pitt State had last week, there is always room to improve. Preparing for the game this weekend, the Gorillas will have a few things to work on and fix before the game Saturday.
“I think just with our passing game to connect on a few of those routes, we were a little bit off. We had a few routes that were there that ball might’ve been a little off and we didn’t get our depth on our routes. I think we just have to continue to work on our details of the things that we do, so the routes that we run, the throws that we have to make, I think that can be one key thing that we can improve on,” said DiMinno
With only 4 games left on the season, it becomes important to stay focused, and avoid an end of year slump. The match this weekend will be an important one for the Gorillas, who are trying to remain undefeated and claim the number one spot in the MIAA.
“Well, I think that we have a lot to play for. Right now, we are leading the conference and there’s a lot of really good teams that are right behind us. I think it’s just a constant reminder that we’re gonna be the type of team that everyone’s going to come into the jungle and play their best game against us,” said DiMinno.
