By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Football goes on the road this weekend to Joplin, Missouri, where it will take on Missouri Southern Saturday evening (Sept. 22). Game time is set for 6 pm at Hughes Stadium. The No. 18/14 ranked Tigers enter the game at 2-1 overall, while Missouri Southern is 0-3.
The Tigers are coming off a 30-24 win over Washburn in Hays last Saturday. FHSU dropped just one spot in the most recent AFCA Top 25 Poll, but gained two spots in the D2Football.com Poll. The Tigers are 5-0 against Missouri Southern under Chris Brown‘s guidance as head coach. The Tigers also lead the all-time series 15-13-1. FHSU has won the last three meetings between the schools in Joplin.
The Lions are struggling so far this year offensively, shutout by two of three opponents so far. Nebraska-Kearney defeated MSSU in the first week of the season 45-0 and No. 4 ranked Northwest Missouri State cruised to a 63-0 win against MSSU last week. The Lions scored 13 points in Week 2 against Lindenwood, but surrendered 51. Denver Johnson resigned from his head coach position earlier in the week and Joe Bettasso will serve as the interim.
Jacob Mezera became the third quarterback in school history to go past the 6,000-yard passing mark last week, now with 6,071 in his career. Mike Garrison and Robert Long are the only other two to reach the mark, but both produced over 7,000 in their careers. Mezera still has a good chance to catch Garrison’s record of 7,014 before the end of the season. Mezera needs only 18 more completions to set a new FHSU record for career completions. He has 523 in his career and he’s approaching Garrison’s 540, set from 2008-2010.
Charles Tigner moved over the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his career at FHSU last week. The junior running back now has 1,017 yards in his career.
Jose Delgado leads the Tiger defense in tackles with 29. Defensive tackle Wyatt Parker is the reigning MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after a great all-around performance last week of 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.