It's going to be a tough road for the Lincoln Blue Tigers the rest of the regular season.
The Blue Tigers only have three road games in their remaining eight games, but today's game against the Pittsburg State Gorillas is their first matchup against a Top 25 opponent.
Pittsburg State is ranked No. 15 in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll. Lincoln's remaining two road games are against No. 7 Northwest Missouri and No. 17 Central Missouri.
Pittsburg State (4-0) is coming off a 37-14 road win last Saturday against Nebraska-Kearney. The Gorillas have won both their home games at Carnie Smith Stadium, defeating Emporia State 47-23 and Northeastern State 58-3.
After playing four night games to start the season, the rest of Lincoln's contests are all afternoon starts. Today's kickoff is at 1 p.m.
Lincoln's defense will have to be ready to face three different Pittsburg State quarterbacks.
Sophomore Brandon Mlekus has started all four games behind center for the Gorillas, but he's only the team's second-leading passer with 245 yards. However, Mlekus will be a dual-threat with his 178 yards rushing, which is second on the team.
Redshirt freshman Mak Sexton leads Pittsburg State with 38-of-53 passing for 508 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Sophomore Matt Harman also has 106 yards passing.
All three quarterbacks have played in every game this season, and all three made an appearance during the first quarter of last weekend's win against Nebraska-Kearney.
Senior wide receiver Lorenzo West, a returning All-MIAA third-team honoree, leads the Gorillas with 14 catches for 300 yards and two scores. He was also an All-MIAA kick returner, and ran back the opening kickoff in the season opener 100 yards for a touchdown against Central Oklahoma.
Junior running back Tyler Adkins has 43 carries for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Pittsburg State's offense has better than a 2-to-1 ratio of run-to-pass plays, running the ball 193 times and throwing the ball on 90 plays.
On the offensive line, the Gorillas are led by senior strong tackle Ryan Dodd (6-foot-5, 300 pounds), who is one of Pittsburg State's two returning players from last season's All-MIAA first team.
Senior kicker Jared Vincent made the All-MIAA third team last season. This year, he is 13-of-13 on field goals with a long of 47 yards and has made all 20 extra-point attempts.
Defensively, Pittsburg State will use a four-man front with two linebackers.
Leading the front line is senior defensive tackle Simanu'a Thomas (6-0, 278), the other returning All-MIAA first-team player for the Gorillas. He leads the team with 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
Senior Chase Johnston and junior Kaden Roy start at the two linebacker positions. They each have a team-high 23 tackles.
In the secondary, Pittsburg State will use two cornerbacks and three safeties.
The Gorillas have intercepted eight passes this season. Senior cornerback KiAnte Hardin, a returning All-MIAA third-team selection, leads the team with three interceptions, while junior strong safety Morgan Selemaea - who made the All-MIAA second team last season - has two interceptions.
Selemaea has a pick-six and a punt return for a touchdown, while Hardin also has a pick-six for the Pittsburg State defense.
Pittsburg State is averaging 44.8 points per game while allowing 18.8.
Lincoln (0-4), which is coming off a 50-7 loss to Emporia State, is averaging 12 points per game and allowing 50.
The Blue Tigers have kept the score close in the first 15 minutes of the game, as they have only been outscored 30-14 in the first quarter through four games. However, opponents hold a 73-14 scoring edge in the second quarter.
Lincoln running back Hosea Franklin ranks sixth in Division II with 570 yards rushing, averaging 142.5 yards per game and 7.2 yards per carry. Franklin also leads the MIAA in rushing, as Northwest Missouri's Justin Rankin is second with 432 yards.
Notes: Pittsburg State holds the all-time series lead at 9-0 against Lincoln. In their last meeting in 2013, the Gorillas won 59-38 at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Pittsburg State coach Tim Beck is 80-30 in 10 seasons with the Gorillas, leading his alma mater to a Division II national championship in 2011. Former Jefferson City quarterback Thomas LePage is in his second season a graduate assistant for Pittsburg State, working with assistant coach Carl Roth on the linebackers. LePage played quarterback for the Gorillas from 2014-17, compiling a 10-3 record as a starter. Chavon Gross' interception in the fourth quarter last Saturday was Lincoln's 12th takeaway this season, surpassing the 2018 team's season total. The Blue Tigers are tied for seventh in Division II in takeaways, but their turnover margin is plus-one for the season.
