FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State trailed by four after an Emporia State touchdown with 2:48 remaining, but marching into a stiff breeze Treveon Albert found Evan Jennings for a 20-yard touchdown strike with 52 seconds remaining to lift FHSU to a 27-24 win over 13th-ranked ESU on Saturday (Oct. 17). Fort Hays State moved to 5-2 on the season with the thrilling win and handed Emporia State its first loss, now 6-1.
A strong south wind played a big factor in the game. With the wind, Emporia State built a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, but Fort Hays State countered with two field goals by Drew O’Brien of 36 and 39 yards in the second quarter to make it 10-6 in favor of ESU at the half.
Downwind in the third quarter, the Tigers took the lead 13-10 on a 41-yard touchdown scamper by Albert on 4th-and-1. But Emporia State put together a long drive that began at 4:43 in the third quarter and ended with a 16-yard touchdown pass at the 14:05 mark of the fourth, taking the lead back at 17-13.
Emporia State marched deep into Tiger territory once again on its next possession, but John Wilson intercepted ESU quarterback Brent Wilson at the 11-yardline setting up one of the most thrilling plays of the day.
Facing an 89-yard field into the wind, Shaquille Cooper broke free on the first play of the drive and won a footrace to the endzone into a stiff breeze. The Tigers took the lead back, 20-17, with 7:51 to play. His 89-yard run pushed him to 215 rushing yards for the game and he finished with 216. It was the second 200-yard rushing game of the season for Cooper, who had 263 earlier this year against Northeastern State. The run also pushed Cooper over 1,000 yards rushing for the season, now with 1,009.
Emporia State drove down to the FHSU 22-yardline, but Sie Doe, Jr. and Bobby Stinson each came up big to force ESU into a turnover on downs. Doe, Jr., stopped Denzel Strong for no gain on 3rd-and-1 and Stinson played tight coverage on a pass to the endzone on 4th-and-1, thwarting the potential scoring opportunity for the Hornets.
The Tigers could not gain a first down on their ensuing drive and then Mitchell Foote gave ESU the lead back in an instant, going 66 yards on a punt return for a touchdown. ESU led 24-20 with 2:48 to go in the game.
Fort Hays State faced the wind once again with a 75-yard field and 2:42 remaining. Treveon Albert took over from that point, marching the Tigers down the field. On 3rd-and-3, he found Garrett Holle for a 27-yard completion to the ESU 41-yardline. Three plays later, he found Isaiah Maxi for a 20-yard juggling catch on 3rd-and-9. Then, after an incomplete pass, he found Jennings for the 20-yard game-winning strike with 52 seconds remaining.
With the wind, Emporia State marched the ball all the way down to the FHSU 23-yardline. Facing just eight seconds to go in the game, ESU had to decide between running one more play or kicking a 40-yard field goal with the wind. ESU chose to run one more play and it proved costly as Brock Long came up with a game-sealing interception at the FHSU 11-yardline.
Long had a tremendous game on defense for the Tigers, finishing with 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks to go along with his game-sealing interception. Dalton Gould also reached double figures in tackles with 10, while Raheeme Dumas had one of the three interceptions in the game, his third of the season.
Fort Hays State tied its season high in rushing yards, churning out 375 on the ground to match the Week 2 performance against Northeastern State. FHSU finished with a season-high 493 yards of total offense. Albert had 151 rushing yards and 118 passing yards. On the game-winning drive, he threw for 72 yards and ran for three, having a hand in all yards gained on the drive. The 375 yards of rushing were the most allowed by Emporia State since surrendering 476 to Minnesota-Duluth in the 2013 NCAA Playoffs.
Emporia State’s Brent Wilson threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, completing 27-of-41 passes. He entered the game with the second-best completion in NCAA Division II (70.5) but was held to 65.9 percent. He threw three interceptions in a game for the first time in his career at ESU. Foote was his favorite target with 12 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
The win leaves FHSU in a tie for third place in the MIAA standings, now only with Central Missouri. Missouri Western and Pittsburg State also entered the day tied for third, but both suffered losses. Northwest Missouri State remains the only unbeaten team in the MIAA at 7-0. The Tigers face the No. 3 ranked Bearcats next week in Maryville, Mo.
You must log in to post a comment.