By FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State looks to get back on the winning track after suffering its first MIAA loss since the 2016 season last week at Missouri Western. The No. 17/16 ranked Tigers host the Ichabods of Washburn University on Saturday (Sept. 15) at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Kickoff is set for 7 pm. Both teams enter the game at 1-1 on the season.
Game Promotions
BLACKOUT LEWIS FIELD – Tiger fans are encouraged to wear their Tiger black for Saturday’s game.
LUCKY FAN HAS CHANCE TO WIN $5,000 – 10 lucky contestants will have a chance to throw a nerf football 35 yards through a car window. If successful on their first attempt, they will win $5,000. If more than one contestant throws the ball through the window, they will split the prize money. The promotion will take place at halftime.
The Tigers and Ichabods meet for the 73rd time in history. The Tigers have won the last two meetings between the teams in Hays, including a 37-20 win last year. Washburn led 20-10 at halftime of that game before FHSU reeled off 27 unanswered points in the second half.
Fort Hays State is coming off its first loss in conference/regular season play since the 2016 season. The Tigers won their final conference/regular season game of the 2016 season, went undefeated in 2017, then won their season opener this year against Central Missouri to run the win streak to 13 games before falling last week at Missouri Western. With the loss, FHSU dropped from No. 5 in the nation to No. 17 in the AFCA Poll and from No. 8 to No. 16 in the D2Football.com Poll.
Washburn is coming off a loss last week to then No. 6 ranked Northwest Missouri State by a score of 38-17 in Topeka. The Ichabods won their season opener at Lindenwood by a score of 27-14. Quarterback Blake Peterson averages 242 passing yards per game, while Austin Tillman leads the MIAA in tackles with 31, averaging 15.5 per game.
The Tigers struggled to establish a run game in the loss at Missouri Western last week and average only 66.5 rushing yards per game through two contests. As a result, the Tigers are averaging 282 passing yards per game to rank second in the MIAA. Jacob Mezera is just 59 yards from reaching 6,000 passing yards in his career at FHSU. He leads the MIAA in individual passing yards with 564. Jose Delgado leads the Tiger defense with 24 tackles, averaging 12 per game.