Fort Hays State fell to 0-3 overall and 0-3 in the MIAA with a 48-10 loss at No. 13 Northwest Missouri State on Saturday. The Tigers produced their first points of the first quarter this season, pulling to within four at 7-3 early in the game, but the Bearcats scored 41 unanswered points before the Tigers scored their only touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter.
Chris Brown Postgame Interview
Coaches Interview
Austin Hubert & Tanner Hageman Postgame Interviews
Player Interviews
Game Highlights
Game Highlights
The Tigers showed life early by driving the ball inside the Northwest Missouri 10-yardline following a touchdown drive by the Bearcats. A sack by the Bearcats pushed the Tigers back to the 20, forcing a 37-yard field goal by Drew O’Briento make it 7-3.
Northwest Missouri State methodically drove the ball 83 yards on the next drive, taking 14 plays and 4:33 off the clock. That made it 14-3 with a little under a minute to go in the first quarter. The Tigers went three and out on their next drive and the Bearcats went just 53 yards in 1:51 to push their lead to 21-3 early in the second quarter. The Bearcats would then capitalize on an interception thrown by FHSU quarterback Tarean Austin to set up a short field goal to make it 24-3.
The Tiger offense could not find any rhythm the remainder of the first half with just one first down in the second quarter. Down 31-3, Austin was intercepted again, which set up a field goal just before time expired in the half to push the Bearcat lead to 34-3 at the break.
Northwest Missouri’s only points of the third quarter were on a blocked punt that was picked up and carried into the endzone for another touchdown. The final Bearcat score occurred early in the fourth quarter.
Fort Hays State produced its only touchdown of the game following the last scoring drive by the Bearcats. The Tigers finally picked up a couple of first downs on penalties by the Bearcats, which led to a 28-yard pass from Austin to Keaton Callins and a 21-yard run by Austin. Those long gains set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Addie Brown. Brown led the Tigers in rushing with 72 yards on 23 carries.
The Tiger offense struggled to produce first downs once again, with five of their 10 drives failing to produce a first down. FHSU finished with 223 yards of total offense, its lowest output of the season. Austin finished with just 96 passing yards, completing 9-of-24 attempts. Callins led the team in receiving with three catches for 43 yards.
Michael Jordan led the FHSU defense with 12 tackles, followed by Austin Hubert with 11. Basil Bandy had the only sack and Shane Smith had the only interception for the Tigers.
Quarterback Brady Bolles led Northwest Missouri in rushing with 111 yards. The Bearcats had 288 yards rushing in the game. Tyler Seals threw for 146 yards and Bolles threw for 109.
For the third straight game this year, the Tigers allowed more than 500 yards of total offense to the opponent. The Bearcats had 543 yards on 81 plays in the game. With the offensive struggles of the Tigers, opponents are averaging 17 more plays per game.
The Tigers face another stiff test next Saturday when they host Missouri Western for Tailgreat at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Game time is set for 7 pm on September 22.
– FHSU Sports Information –