PITTSBURG, Kan. – Following a back-and-forth game, a missed 38-yard field goal by Pittsburg State with a little over a minute to play gave Fort Hays State a 42-41 win over the 19th-ranked Gorillas in front of 8,041 Saturday afternoon at Carnie Smith Stadium.
It’s the Tigers (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) fifth straight win following an 0-2 start and their fourth straight over the Gorillas (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) and third straight in Pittsburg.
FHSU lead 28-24 at halftime and drove to the Pitt State five on their opening possession of the third quarter but fumbled. The Gorillas scored 10 straight to go up 34-28 and had the ball in Tiger territory when Drew Harvey ripped the ball away from Gorilla quarterback Brandon Mlekus.
Following an offside penalty on the Gorillas, Chance Fuller connected with Layne Bieberle on a 67-yard touchdown pass on 3rd and 20 to take a 35-34 lead early in the fourth.
A Harvey interception set up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to Manny Ramsey to put FHSU up 42-34 with 12:09 to play.
The Gorillas Kiah Kintchen would score on a 35-yard option on the Gorillas next possession to pull within 42-40. PSU lined up for a 2-point conversion but settled for the extra point following an illegal procedure penalty.
The Tigers drove into Gorilla territory on their next possession but had to punt.
Starting from their own 11 yard line, PSU drove to the FHSU 21 but Jared Vincent’s 38-yard field goal attempt veered wide left with 1:03 to play.
The Tigers win despite giving up 613 yards of offense to Pitt State. Chance Fuller completed 23 of 32 passes for 306 yards and four touchdowns. Two of them were to Layne Bieberle who had four receptions for 152 yards. Harley Hazlett hauled in eight catches for 51 yards while rushing for 24 yards on three carries.
Charles Tigner had his third 100-yard rushing game going for 127 on 19 carries with a touchdown.
Jordan Starks led the Tigers with 14 tackles. Drew Harvey added 12 with one for a loss to go along with a forced fumble and recovery and interception.
The Tigers host Nebraska-Kearney this Saturday. The Lopers are also 5-2 following a 24-17 home win over No. 7 Northwest Missouri State.