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Mark Schremmer
Mark Schremmer is a major contributor to KPREPS.com, a website dedicated to covering Kansas high school football. A Pittsburg native and Pittsburg State University graduate, he is assistant news editor at The Topeka Capital-Journal and has covered sports in Kansas since 2000.
Sports
2011-12-27 11:14:58
Pitt State’s resurgence
A: The resurgence of the Pittsburg State football program has been remarkable indeed. However, the reason for the turnaround can’t be attributed to one person or one team strength. No, it’s not that simple. In order for Pitt State to capture its first national title since 1991 with a 35-21 win against Wayne State, numerous coaches, players and pieces had to fall into place. But if you are going to make a list of factors that led to the Gorillas’ resurgence, then that list must start with Pitt State head coach Tim Beck. Before taking the role of head coach in 2010, Beck was an assistant coach for the Gorillas for 23 seasons. He had offers to coach other places during that time, but instead he stayed at his alma mater on the staff of legendary coach Chuck Broyles. Beck had the unique fortune of serving as defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator for the Gorillas before taking the role of head coach. Those experiences could do nothing but help him in his new position. Beck’s leadership and knowledge, combined with the enthusiasm of a second-year head coach, set the Gorillas on the right path. His hire of Steve Rampy as offensive coordinator also was integral. The rest of the coaches are a mix of veterans and former players to make one of the better staffs in all of Division II. However, the resurgence didn’t begin and end with the coaches. As any good coach knows, a championship can’t be won without talented and driven players. The Gorillas had plenty of both. You can’t talk about the Pitt State defense without mentioning linebacker Nate Dreiling. After his sophomore season, the Hutchinson High School product is already a two-time All-American. Dreiling finished the season with 139 tackles, 47 tackles for loss, three sacks and seven interceptions. Only a sophomore, Dreiling exudes the confidence and leadership of a longtime player. The exciting thing for Gorillas fans is that they will get to watch him play for two more seasons. Dreiling, however, will be the first to mention that the success of this championship defense includes many names beyond himself. Luke Stringer, Gus Toca, Paul Robinson, Jason Peete, Spencer Worthington and Aries Herrion make just a short list of the players who took this defense to the next level this season. The offense was fueled by senior quarterback Zac Dickey. What makes the hometown product special is that his leadership abilities may even outweigh his great athletic talent. In his first season as the unquestioned starter, Dickey took the role of quarterback and leader extremely seriously. He worked to gain knowledge of Rampy’s offensive system and finished with a stellar year. Dickey completed 60 percent of his passes on the season for 2,290 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. The quarterback was surrounded by a strong offensive line, quality running backs and a stellar corps of wide receivers. And when you talk about the receivers, you must start with John Brown. The wideout and special teams star, who plays much bigger than his 5-11. 170-pound build, led the team with 61 catches for 1,216 yards and 12 TDs. He also returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns. Brown was as electric as any player in all of Division II this season and often the difference maker for the Gorillas. But the list doesn’t end there. This championship team was built on the blood and sweat of more coaches and players than I can mention in this article. However, I would be wrong if I left out the fans. There’s no doubt that this fan base played a huge role in Pitt State’s championship season. Fans were in full force during home playoff wins against Washburn, Northwest Missouri State and Delta State. And for those watching on ESPN2, there was no doubt that Gorilla fans outnumbered Wayne State’s crowd by a large margin. In all, the key point is that Pitt State is back on top of the Division II football mountain. With the likes of Beck, Dreiling and Brown leading for years to come, there’s no reason to think the Gorillas can’t remain national title contenders for the foreseeable future. Mark Schremmer is a contributor to TeamKong.com and KPREPS.com, websites dedicated to covering Pittsburg State and Kansas high school football, respectively. A Pittsburg native and Pittsburg State University graduate, Schremmer is assistant news editor at The Topeka Capital-Journal and has covered sports in Kansas since 2000. Brought to you by GMG Teamsports
 
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