FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State led 35-17 through three quarters, but had to hold off a late charge from Washburn to secure a 35-30 win on Homecoming Saturday night (Oct. 3). The Tigers moved to 4-1 overall for the first time under head coach Chris Brown and first time since 2009, while maintaining their tie for third place in the MIAA standings with Pittsburg State. The win also snapped a six-game losing streak to Washburn.
Treveon Albert had a huge game at quarterback for FHSU, rushing for 207 yards and passing for 154. He finished with 361 yards of total offense and averaged 13.8 yards per rush, while having a hand in four touchdowns (2 rushing and 2 passing). He got the Tigers on the board first with a 19-yard touchdown run at the 11:06 mark of the first quarter.
Washburn knotted the score at 7-7 when Alec Steuber picked off Albert and returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown at the 4:12 mark of the opening quarter. However, the Tigers took a 14-7 lead into the second quarter when Derek Kendall-Campbell found the endzone from three yards out with 37 seconds remaining.
Albert extended the lead to 21-7 at the 7:18 mark of the second quarter, faking out the defense on by tucking the ball and running for a 27-yard touchdown. After a Washburn field goal, the Tiger lead grew to 18 points as Shaquille Cooper hauled in a 7-yard pass for another touchdown at the 3:30 mark. But Washburn set up a nice screen play that went for a 38-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining before the half to cut the lead to 11, 28-17, at the break. Fort Hays State produced 327 yards of total offense in the first half.
The Tigers pushed the lead back to 18 at 7:23 in the third quarter when Albert found Andrew Flory on a short 3-yard slant pass for another touchdown. FHSU led 35-17, but would have to hold off a Washburn team that gained plenty of momentum in the fourth quarter.
After Treveon Albert threw his second interception of the evening, Washburn marched 80 yards on 12 plays as Hayden Groves had a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 35-24 at the 8:05 mark. FHSU went 3-and-out on the next possession, and Washburn promptly marched the ball down the field, taking just 1:48 before Mickeel Stewart provided another 3-yard touchdown run to make it 35-30. Washburn went for two, but a pass failed, leaving the five-point margin.
Another Tiger drive stalled out and Washburn got the ball back with 2:24 remaining. The Ichabods converted a 4th-and-12 to keep the drive alive, but on 4th-and-1 after three more plays, Dalton Gould broke up a pass to seal the Fort Hays State win.
Brock Long had a big game at linebacker, finishing with 16 tackles, which included four tackles for loss and a sack. Doyin Jibowu also picked up a sack to go with 12 tackles. DeAndre James had an interception for FHSU and added nine tackles.
Shaquille Cooper had 155 all-purpose yards in the game with 92 rushing, 60 receiving, and three kick return. Andrew Flory caught six passes for 60 yards.
Fort Hays State finished with 466 yards of total offense, while Washburn was close behind with 455. Washburn turned the ball over four times, three by fumble and one by interception. FHSU turned the ball over twice, both by interception.
Washburn quarterback Derek McGinnis finished with 280 passing yards, completing 26-of-45 attempts. Bryce Chavis had 93 receiving yards, while Hayden Groves added 72. Groves was the top rusher for WU with 87 yards.
The Tigers head on the road next week to St. Joseph, Mo., to take on a 3-2 Missouri Western squad. Game time is set for 1 pm.