HAYS, Kan. – Chance Fuller threw for a career-high 435 yards and had a couple of key third down conversions to run out the clock as Fort Hays State ran their win streak to six games with a 37-31 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field. The now 6-2 Tigers have won eight straight over the Lopers who have a three-game win streak snapped and fall to 5-3.
The Tigers never trailed, building a 23-7 lead before the Lopers got a field goal late in the second quarter to trim the lead to 23-10 by halftime. Charles Tigner scored two of his three touchdowns in the first half, scoring on a 17-yard touchdown run and then a 15-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. A Dante Brown field goal and Layne Bieberle touchdown reception covered the Tiger scoring in the second quarter.
The Tigers had to hold off three surges from the Lopers in the second half to secure the game. The Lopers scored a touchdown on their first possession of the half to trim the Tiger lead to 23-17. FHSU had an answer with an 88-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to Manny Ramsey on 3rd and one toward the end of the third quarter to push the lead to 30-17.
The Lopers pulled within six once more on a TJ Davis 4-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers responded with a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Tigner.
The final Loper threat came on the ensuing possession when UNK drove 75 yards on 11 plays and scored on a one-yard Darrius Webb touchdown run. It was Webb’s second rushing touchdown of the day to close the gap to 37-31.
Fuller hit Ramsey on a 10-yard strike on 3rd-and-nine 9 then completed a 10-yard pass to Harley Hazlett on 3rd-and-six to seal the game.
Fuller completed 28-of-38 passes and three touchdowns. Ramsey had a career-best 169 receiving yards on six catches, Layne Bieberle had 127 receiving yards on seven catches, and Hazlett had a team-high nine catches for 81 yards.
It’s the ninth 100-yard receiving game in Bieberle’s career, one shy of the record held by Lance Schwindt. Hazlett now has 167 career receptions, one shy of the FHSU record held by Eric Busenbark.
Tanner Hoekman led the Tiger defensive effort with 11 tackles, while Kolt Trachsel added 10. The Tigers held the nation’s third-best rushing offense to 287 yards on the ground, about 35 yards under their season average.
Fort Hays State travels to Jefferson City, Missouri next week for a meeting with Lincoln University (1-7). Kickoff is set for 1 pm.