By Jim Henry

sports@joplinglobe.com

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Pittsburg State football fans haven’t seen a season start like this for 41 years.

In 1967, under first-year head coach Tom Lester, the Gorillas’ first five games were decided by seven points or less — wins over Central Oklahoma 14-13 and Missouri-Rolla 14-7, a loss to Northeast Missouri State 14-13, a win over Southwest Missouri State 7-0 and a loss to Nebraska-Omaha 29-25.

So far this season, the No. 7-ranked Gorillas have won 16-12 over Central Oklahoma, 38-31 over Chadron State, 21-14 against Missouri Southern and 46-40 against Missouri Western.

And, with unbeaten and No. 19 Central Missouri in town for a 2 p.m. game today, a close encounter for the fifth time would come as no surprise.

The Gorillas have averaged 45.7 points in their last 56 games, so this year’s succession of close games is the exception, not the rule.

“It definitely makes it more exciting,” junior defensive end Jordan Karr said. “But I don’t mind going out there and beating a team by 40. That’s for sure.”

“I like to look up there and know that the other team has to score four times in the last eight minutes to beat you,” said head coach Chuck Broyles, a junior lineman on PSU’s 1967 squad. “But then you never know how many you have to be ahead. Like last week, you can ... get a little comfort level and take a deep breath, we’re ahead 21-10. Then it’s not three minutes later and we’re behind 24-21.”

The Mules, after dominating Minnesota State-Mankato 29-9 and Arkansas Tech 49-13 in their first two games, have won their first two conference games by single digits — 31-28 at Truman State and 43-34 last week against Washburn. Coach Willie Fritz’s Mules have scored on their opening drive in every game and never trailed this season.

“Offensively they are about as good as they’ve been for a while,” Broyles said. “Their offensive coordinator (Charlie Stubbs) was offensive coordinator at Louisville last year. They are doing a lot of good things, trying to keep you off balance. They are pretty efficient in their passing game. They throw a lot more screens than they used to, and, of course, it doesn’t hurt if you have a big running back who can tote the rock.”

Glenn Milner, 6-foot, 220-pound senior, is the Mules’ big running back. He’s gained 386 yards on 81 carries and scored four touchdowns, and he’s caught 14 passes for 151 yards and three scores. Last year he had 37 attempts for a career-high 218 yards and four TDs in the Mules’ 38-31 double-overtime loss to PSU.

“Milner is a stud,” Karr said. “Last year he ran hard. He comes downhill, and we really have to be better tacklers this week, come in control when we get to the ball and everybody be there.”

PSU senior tailback Caleb Farabi ran for a career-high 226 yards and three touchdowns against Missouri Western. With 582 yards on 101 carries this season, Farabi leads the MIAA and ranks fifth nationally in rushing at 145.5 yards per game.