Pittsburg State enters Saturday’s game with Missouri Western having lost two straight to the Griffons for only the second time ever.

Prior to 2006-07, the last time the Gorillas lost back-to-back games to Western came in 1983-84 when the Griffons won 61-14 in St. Joseph and 42-34 in Pittsburg the following season. The Gorillas never have lost three in a row to Western, though, and went 18-3 against the Griffons following those two losses.

However, it’s clear Pitt State coach Chuck Broyles isn’t pre-occupied with Western’s recent run.

“We’ve lost two in a row to them?” he told me earlier this week. “When you are 60 years old, I don’t remember who we played last year.”

Griffons fans probably remember last year a little more clearly as the Griffons won in the Jungle for the first time since 1984 thanks to some magic from Cedric Houston and Drew Newhart. As for Western making history and beating the Gorillas for a third straight year, I say no until I see some improvement from the Griffons defense. Northwest beat writer Rick Dunaway is more optimistic, highlighting one of two games we disagree on this week.

Fort Hays at Emporia State — R.J.: Hornets, 14-10; Rick: Hornets, 21-17

Washburn at Central Missouri — R.J.: Mules, 24-21; Rick: Ichabods, 27-20

Pittsburg State at Missouri Western — R.J.: Gorillas, 34-31; Rick: Griffons, 31-20

Nebraska-Omaha at Missouri Southern — R.J.: Mavericks, 28-27; Rick: Mavericks, 41-10

Northwest Missouri at Truman State — R.J.: Bearcats, 42-38; Rick: Bearcats, 38-31

Last week — R.J.: 4-1; Rick: 4-1

Overall — R.J.: 18-5; Rick: 17-6