MARYVILLE, Mo. – Fort Hays State held Northwest Missouri State to 178 yards of offense and got two big stops late in the game to beat the 10th-ranked Bearcats 17-16 at Bearcat Stadium.
It’s the second straight year the Tigers (8-2) have won by one-point in Maryville as they move into a first-place tie in the MIAA with the Bearcats (8-2) with one game remaining.
It’s also the first time the Bearcats have lost back-to-back home games to the same opponent since Pittsburg State beat them in 1994 and 1996.
Chris Brown Postgame Press Conference
Sterling Swopes Postgame Interview
Chance Fuller Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Bearcats threatened late in the game but Jose Delgado tackled Shawn Bane behind the line of scrimmage on fourth and one at the FHSU 41 with a little over eight minutes to play
Following a Tiger three and out, Northwest would get the ball back deep in their own territory but were turned back when Sterling Swopes tackled Josh Caldwell four yards behind the line of scrimmage forcing a punt with a little over two minutes to play.
The Bearcats forced the Tigers to punt on the next possession but were called for roughing the kicker which allowed the Tiger to run out the clock.
Redshirt freshman Chance Fuller made his first career start and led the Tigers to a 14-0 first quarter lead with touchdown passes to Harley Hazlett and Layne Bieberle. Hazlett’s five-yard TD catch capped an eight-play 54 yard drive on the Tigers second possession.
Bieberle hauled in a 25-yard strike on the next possession to cap a four-play, 80-yard drive.
Northwest picked off a Fuller pass at the Tiger 13 yard-line but was held to a 25-yard field goal. Shawn Bane later returned a punt 53 yards for a touchdown to pull Northwest within 14-10 with 1:52 to play in the second quarter.
The Bearcats grabbed the lead on an Alec Tatum 19-yard touchdown catch capped a six-play 78-yard scoring drive on the opening possession of the third quarter, however the blocked the extra point and only trailed 16-14.
FHSU would answer on their first possession with a 42-yard Dante Brown field goal to retake the lead.
Fuller finished 22-of-35 for 240 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Harley Hazlett hauled in a career-high 13 passes for 121 yards.