By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

The Fort Hays State Tigers score 24 unanswered points in the second half after trailing 10-0 at halftime and beat Nebraska-Kearney 24-17 Saturday afternoon at Cope Stadium in Kearney. After managing just two first downs and 52 yards of offense, the Tigers explode for eight first downs and 261 yards in the second half.

Coach Chris Brown Postgame Interview

 

Alex Schmidtberger / Kenneth Iheme Postgame Interview

 

The Tigers score their first points on a safety early in the third quarter when a snap went over the head of Lopers punter Davis Brendel who knocked the ball out of the endzone. FHSU then scored on a six yard touchdown run by quarterback Treveon Albert to pull within 10-9 with 11:38 to play in the third quarter.

Game Highlights

 

Ed Williams would give the Tigers the lead for good on their first possession of the fourth with a 61 yard touchdown pass to go up 17-10. Kenneth Iheme used a 44 yard run to set up a four yard TD run to build the lead to 24-10 with 4:08 to play.

The Lopers answered with a 13-play touchdown drive to cut the gap to seven with 1:15 to play, but Garrison Hendricks recovered an on-side kick to end the comeback bid.

After allowing 237 yards in the first half, the Tigers held UNK to just 86 in the second half.

Kenneth Iheme led FHSU with a career-high 149 rushing yards. Quarterback Treveon Albert added 61 with both scoring a touchdown. Albert completed 3 of 8 passes for 72 yards and a touchdown.

Kearney’s Bronson Marsh rushed for 61 yards while completing 13 of 25 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 64 yards and a touchdown

With the win FHSU improves to 4-5, their most conference wins since joining the MIAA in 2006. UNK falls to 2-7.