By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

COPPERAS COVE, Texas – Shaquille Cooper rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown, caught two passes for another 66 yards and a score and Fort Hays State defeated Eastern New Mexico 45-12 in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl on a cool damp night at Bulldawg Stadium.

It’s the Tiger (8-4) first postseason victory in program history as they tie the school record for wins. It’s the second straight year that the Greyhounds (7-5) lost in this very same bowl game.

Chris Brown Postgame Interview

Wyatt Parker Postgame Interview

Jacob Mezera Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Jacob Mezera, who missed the final game of the regular season at Nebraska-Kearney with a shoulder injury, returned to the starting lineup and completed 14 of 25 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. His 55-yard strike to freshman Layne Bieberle on the Tigers first possession, gave them the lead for good.

Bieberle, who hauled in a 12-yard dart from Mezera in the endzone with 5:28 to play in the second quarter, had four receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooper ripped off a 65-yard touchdown run on the Tigers second possession to push the lead to 14-0. He turned a screen pass into a 40-yard touchdown with 13 seconds to play in the second quarter to put FHSU up 35-9 at halftime.

ENMU scored their lone touchdown early in the second quarter on a one-yard run from Kamal Cass on fourth and one to pull within eight after the extra point was blocked. Fort Hays State answered with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by DeAndre James to seize back the momentum.

The Greyhounds, who averaged 346 rushing yards per game, which was second best in the nation, were held to 319. They were also penalized 21 times for 226 yards.