KEARNEY, Neb. – Dante Brown tied a school record with five field goals including the game-winner from 26 yards in the second overtime as Fort Hays State escaped with a 29-26 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday at Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
Brown has now kicked a nation’s best 20 field goals this season, breaking the FHSU single-season record of 16 held by his predecessor Brandon Brown.
Chris Brown Postgame Press Conference
D.J. Hickman Postgame Interview
Dante Brown Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Brown’s first field goal came from 22 yards on the final play of the second quarter to pull the Tigers (6-2) within 14-10 at halftime. His 47-yarder into the wind following UNK fumble gave FHSU a 20-17 lead with 11:15 to play in the fourth quarter.
After Loper freshman kicker Brian Covarrubias nailed a 42 yard field goal to tie the game 20-20 with 2:36 to play, the Tigers drove 46 yards in eight plays capped by a Brown 46-yard field goal that went through after hitting the crossbar with 0:42 left.
UNK (4-4) took advantage of a missed tackle on a fourth down play near mid-field to drive 39 yards in seven plays and forced overtime with a 39-yard field goal on the final play of regulation. The kick came after the Tigers dropped a potential game-ending interception in the endzone with 0:02 left.
Both teams exchanged field goals on their first overtime possessions. UNK missed from 36 yards on their second overtime possession. The Tigers handed the ball off six straight time to D.J. Hickman on their second possession, driving to the nine to set up Brown for a 26-yarder game-winner.
The Tigers drove 75 yards in seven plays on their first possession, using a 24-yard D.J. Hickman run and 33-yard pass from Jacob Mezera to Harley Hazlett on a reverse flea-flicker to set up a two-yard Hickman touchdown run.
Darrius Webb returned the ensuing kickoff 98-yards for a touchdown. Webb led the Lopers with 149 rushing yards.
Harley Hazlett’s four-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play, 83-yard drive and tied the game 17-17 with 11:15 to play in the game.
Hickman led the Tigers with 111 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Hazlett hauled in nine passes for 93 yards while Layne Bieberle had six catches for 52 yards.
Jacob Mezera completed 20-of-34 passes for 194 and an interception.
Nebraska native Connor Shedeed led the defense with 12 tackles. Jose Delgado added 10 to break the FHSU career record for total tackles in the Division II era.
FHSU hosts Lindenwood at Lewis Field next Saturday. The Lions lost 38-17 at home to No. 11 Northwest Missouri State.