By Zach Ewing
zewing@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — One glance at Geoff Tisdale will tell you he’s proud of his roots.
Maybe it’s the “P” tattooed on his right calf or the “Pacoima product” written on his shoes and gloves — right next to “Primetime” — or just the way he talks about it. There’s no doubt Tisdale loves the Southern California town of Pacoima.
But Tisdale fell in love with an entirely different place in the past two years: Pittsburg State, where he finished a productive career with seven tackles in the Gorillas’ 62-0 rout against Emporia State on Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium.
“It meant a lot,” said Tisdale, an outgoing guy who always seems to be smiling. “I met a lot of nice people out here. A couple that I really keep close to are (quarterback) Mark Smith and (senior safety) Nick Dellasega (both from Pittsburg). Those have been two good people to me.”
It was a banner senior day for many Pitt State seniors. Pierce Curran had a career-high 131 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Tight end Brian Barta had touchdown catches Nos. 7 and 8 for his career. Seldom-used receiver Jake Manning, a Commerce, Okla., product, even caught three passes for 33 yards.
Seniors Zac Robinson, Drew Brown and Ryan McInerney offered protection from the offensive line.
Orchestrating the rout, which PSU led 41-0 at the half, was Smith, a junior who had career highs in passing yards with 324 and passing touchdowns with five — which is also a school record.
“It all depends on what the defense gives you,” PSU coach Chuck Broyles said. “We gave them a lot of different formations, and they just didn’t line up very well. ... We did play action, and there was two or three times where there wasn’t anybody in the middle of the field.”
Smith also ran for 69 yards and a TD.
All of the seniors said the win helped put a positive spin on the season for the Gorillas, who, barring an unlikely rise of three spots in the NCAA’s Southwest Region rankings, likely finished their season 8-3 and 6-3 in the MIAA. A devastating loss to Washburn last week was the team’s third by seven or fewer points.
“When you fall short, it’s always a downer,” said senior linebacker Jason Northern, who had his ninth tackle for loss Saturday. “But we killed ‘em, got another shutout. Definitely no bitter taste in my mouth.”
Perhaps no senior better exemplified Pitt State’s up-and-down season better than Tisdale, who led the MIAA in passes defended entering the final weekend. Tisdale also blew coverage on the play that allowed Missouri Western to escape Pittsburg with a victory in September and, more important, lost grandmother Ethel Smith the same week.
“I miss my grandma a lot,” Tisdale said Saturday. “Every game after that happened, I talk to my grandma and I tell her whatever I do on the field is for her.”
He ended the year on a good note, leading the team in tackles and helping Pitt State to a 583-189 advantage in total yards. Tisdale found a way to contribute even though Emporia State (3-8, 1-8) seemed to be avoiding him in the passing game.
“They don’t want to throw at me, so I have to do something,” he said.
Tisdale plans to return to California after the school year and train for a shot at an NFL roster. He likely wouldn’t be at that point without his time at PSU.
Smith said the kid from the coast has found a niche in Kansas.
“Geoff is something special,” Smith said. “He came from California, and every time we joke around about Kansas and California, how different it is. He’s a great guy.”
Tisdale sure looked at home, leading the PSU defense off the field as time expired on Emporia State (3-8, 1-8) and on the Gorillas’ third shutout of the season. He hopped toward the sideline, hollering to the crowd and to the teammates who became his friends thousands of miles from Pacoima.
“I like it out here,” he said afterward. “I’m glad I came.”
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