1961 Pittsburg State Gorillas football team

Semifinal After completing its undefeated regular season, Pittsburg State was one of four teams invited to participate in the NAIA playoffs. In the fourth quarter, Linfield drove deep into Pittsburg territory, but Pittsburg defensive halfback Archie Ringgenberg intercepted a Linfield pass and returned it 89 yards to the Linfield six-years line. Two plays later, Gary Snadon scored the game-winning touchdown on a one-yard run. The extra point kick failed again. Linfield then scored a touchdown with 4:08 remaining in the game and completed two passes in a final drive to the Pittsburg 40-yard line but the drive ended when the Gorillas sacked Linfield's quarterback on fourth down with 1:22 remaining in the game. Pittsburg quarterback Phil Vogrin completed five of 12 passes for 42 yards and was selected as the outstanding back and outstanding player of the game. ==Awards and honors==

• Carnie Smith was named "Coach of the Year" by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Smith compiled a 116-52-6 record in 18 years as Pittsburg State's head coach. • Fullback Gary Snadon received first-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team. Snadon also won the W.G. Parrott Award as the Pittsburg State's most valuable player. • Center/linebacker Jerry Archer (6'4", 245 pounds) and tackles Richard Beal (6', 225 pounds) and Harlan Hess (6'3", 220 pounds) were selected as first-team NAIA All-Americans. • Seven Pittsburg State players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-CIC football team: Phil Vogrin at quarterback; Gary Snadon at fullback; Bruce Roach at end; Jerry Archer at center; Richard Beal and Harlan Hess at tackle; and Eddie Carter at guard. Three others received second-team honors: Bill Presson at halfback; Tom Gosch at end; and Bill Beeson at guard. • Five members of the 1961 team have been inducted into the Pittsburg State Hall of Fame: quarterback Phil Vogrin (1988); fullback Gary Snadon (1989); tackle Harlan Hess (1990); center Jerry Archer (1992); tackle Richard Beal (1993); and halfback Bill Presson (2019). The first five were also named to Pittsburg State's 100th anniversary all-time football team. • Richard Beal, Tom Gosch, and Lewis Holmes were selected at the team captains. ==Statistics==

• The team recorded seven shutouts during the 1961 season. This remains a Pittsburg State single-season record. • Halfback Bill Presson led the team in rushing with 640 yards and also established the school's career punt return record with an average of 17.25 yards per return. Presson also played on Pittsburg State's 1957 NAIA championship team. • Quarterback Phil Vogrin led the team during the nine-game regular season in passing, completing 64 of 108 passes for 902 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. Vogrin also tallied 241 rushing yards in the regular season on 60 carries and led the team in total offense, setting a new school record with 1,143 yards. He also converted 39 of 47 extra point kicks. • Fullback Gary Snadon led the team in scoring with 15 touchdowns for 90 points scored. ==Player gallery==

File:Jerry Archer (1961).png|NAIA All-American center Jerry Archer File:Richard Beal (1961).png|NAIA All-American tackle Richard Beal File:Bill Beeson (1961).png|Second-team All-CIC guard Bill Beeson File:Ed Carter (1961).png|All-CIC guard Ed Carter File:Tom Gosch (1961).png|Co-captain Tom Gosch File:Harlan Hess (1961).png|NAIA All-American tackle Harlan Hess File:Lewis Holmes (1961).png|Co-captain Lewis Holmes File:Bill Presson.png|Halfback and rushing leader Bill Presson File:Archie Ringgenberg.png|Defensive halfback Archie Ringgenberg File:Bruce Roach (1961).png|All-CIC end Bruce Roach File:Gary Snadon (1961).png|All-American fullback and MVP Garry Snadon File:Phil Vogrin (1961).png|Quarterback Phil Vogrin ==References==