Fort Hays State (4-2. 4-2 MIAA) at
#19/21 Pittsburg State (5-1, 5-1 MIAA)
Saturday, October 19 – 1 pm
Carnie Smith Stadium – Pittsburg, Kan.
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM) LISTEN LIVE
Fort Hays State Football heads to Pittsburg State on Saturday for another pivotal MIAA matchup. The 4-2 Tigers face the 5-1 Gorillas at 1 pm inside Carnie Smith Stadium. The Gorillas enter the game as the No. 19/21 ranked team in Division II, while the Tigers are on a four-game win streak.
Fort Hays State is coming off a 19-3 Homecoming win over Emporia State in Hays last week. The Tiger defense has been solid of late, holding their last three opponents to seven points or less (3 vs. Missouri Southern, 7 at Central Oklahoma, 3 vs. Emporia State). FHSU is the only squad in the MIAA to hold opponents inside 10 points in more than one game this year. As a result, FHSU now leads the MIAA in scoring defense allowing 18.8 points per game.
Pittsburg State is coming off a 38-17 loss in a battle of nationally ranked teams with Northwest Missouri State at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City last week. It was the first loss of the season for the Gorillas as now only two unbeaten teams remain in the MIAA (Northwest Missouri and Central Missouri). Pittsburg State dropped six spots in the AFCA Top 25 Poll after the loss from No. 13 to No. 19.
Fort Hays State won the last three meetings with Pittsburg State. Last year in Hays, FHSU won 50-21. The teams have not met in Pittsburg since 2016, when the Tigers claimed a 54-41 win in a shootout. The Tigers have won the last two meetings of the teams in Pittsburg, claiming the 2014 matchup 7-6. The 2016 meeting was Homecoming for Pittsburg State and FHSU serves as the Homecoming opponent again this year.
Aside from owning the best scoring defense in the MIAA, Fort Hays State ranks 14th in NCAA Division II in passing yards per game. The Tigers are averaging 295.5 yards per game through the air. They have balanced the passing game well during their current win streak, rushing for over 160 yards in all four wins. FHSU produced a season-high 183 yards on the ground last week against Emporia State, while producing its season low in passing yards (209). Quarterback Chance Fuller ranks ninth in NCAA Division II for passing yards per game (285.2) and fifth for passing touchdowns (18).
The Tigers have had a 100-yard rusher in three out of the last four games. Charles Tigner went for 125 yards against Washburn and 111 against Emporia State, while D.J. Hickman reeled off 121 at Central Oklahoma. Harley Hazlett leads the receiving corps with 40 catches for 541 yards. Hazlett ranks 13th in NCAA Division II for receptions per game (6.7) and seventh for receiving touchdowns (8).
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Drew Harvey leads the Tigers in tackles with 50. Tanner Hoekman is the team leader in interceptions with three, while ranking second on the team in tackles with 48. Sheldon Schmidt is the team leader in sacks with three.