TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Fort Hays State took to the road for the second time in 2016 as they took on Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The two played to a first quarter stalemate with neither team getting inside of the other’s 45 yard line.
The Tigers looked to have their fist score early in the second quarter, but a holding penalty brought back a passing touchdown. The Tigers would have that drive end on a missed 51 yard field goal. Fort Hays defensively continued to pressure the Riverhawks and eventually forced quarterback Dimonick McKinzy into mistakes. The sophomore quarterback hadn’t thrown an interception in the first three games of the season. That all changed when Rashad Dunigan picked off a pass. The Tigers turned that into a five play drive capped off by a one yard run by Malik Thomas to put Fort Hays up 7-0. On the very next drive McKinzy threw his second interception when DeAndre James intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 lead.
Highlights
The Tiger special teams then came up with a big play at the end of the first half when Layne Bieberle blocked a punt to give the Tigers the football in Riverhawk territory with twenty-five seconds left before half time. Fort Hays converted on third down on a pass to Isaiah Maxi and stopped the clock with a spike at the 15 yard line allowing Brandon Brown to come onto the field for a 32 yard field goal and 17-0 half time lead.
Northeastern State opened the second half on a 105 yard kickoff return for a touchdown but was called back on a hold. The Riverhawks though would score on the drive on a 38 yard pass from McKinzy to Reshawn Eubanks cutting the Tiger lead down to 17-7. Fort Hays responded on the next drive with a 27 yard scoring run from Shaq Cooper to regain a three possession lead at 24-7. The Tigers put the Riverhawks out of reach early in the fourth quarter when Doyin Jibowu blocked a field goal attempt and Raheeme Dumas returned it 65 yards for a touchdown. Fort Hays added a 17 yard field from Brandon Brown following a Tanner Hoekman interception for the final margin of 34-7.
Coach Chris Brown
Fort Hays moves to 3-1 on the season. Northeastern State falls to 1-3. The Tigers are at home on Saturday versus Lindenwood for homecoming.