By CAYDEN SANDERS
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State University football team earned a key win on the road last week against Northeastern State to open the 2023 season. The 56-0 shellacking helped the Tigers start this year on a good note heading into a Week 2 matchup against No. 3 ranked Pittsburg State at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lewis Field Stadium.
In the opener, quarterback Jack Dawson earned a tie for the school record with five touchdown passes in a game, earning him mentions in the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week category.
“It’s pretty cool to have a record at Fort Hays, especially with a friend in Chance Fuller. It’s cool having a record with him. I am just trying to do my job and do what the coaches ask me to put our team in a good position,” said Dawson, who completed 20 of 23 passes with no interceptions for 317 yards.
The Tigers landed Trey Hines as MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week after he had a blocked punt that Mason Perez scooped up and returned for a score, pushing the lead to 28-0.
After the Tigers picked up the road victory in Tahlequah, Okla., they began receiving votes in the national poll this week. For the Tigers, the rankings don’t mean much as they get set for another prominent opponent in Pitt State.
Last season, the Gorillas went on a tear through the MIAA regular season, winning every conference game. The Gorillas showed their might against the University of Indianapolis, winning 35-0 in the first round of the NCAA tournament. But the Gorillas’ season ended at the hands of the future national champions, Ferris State, in the waning seconds by a missed field goal on the road in Big Rapids, Mich.
In the preseason, the Gorillas were placed fourth best in the country. After their win at home over Washburn (34-7) and Grand Valley State’s loss in Golden, Colo., to Colorado School of Mines, the Gorillas moved to third in the country.
The Tigers look to make the most of their opportunity against the Gorillas.
“Last week, we were just clicking everywhere. It seemed like the coaches could not call a play that wasn’t working. But this week gives you the ultimate confidence going into a game like this with the best team in the MIAA in 2022,” Dawson said.
Last season, the Tigers lost 35-14 at Carnie Smith Stadium. This season, the Tigers are ready to take on the challenge of competing against the Gorillas.
“It’s exciting to take a good team on like Pitt, and I am glad we have them at home,” Dawson said. “I can’t wait to face them and see what we got against one of the best in the MIAA and where we stack up in the conference.”
For two FHSU coaches, the matchup with Pitt State is a bit personal.
“For Coach Harris and I, we used to play together at Pitt State, and so it is fun to play Pitt State every season and try and get a win over them.” head coach Chris Brown.
Brown has not lost love for his alma mater, but he said this week it’s different.
“Every week, I cheer for them to win. But when it is the week we play them, that’s the week I am not cheering for them,” Brown said. “But it’s so much fun coaching your kids against a team you played with for many years.”
The Tigers are ready for their fans to return to Lewis Field Stadium.
“I love our fans. When they come to the games, they are loud, they are crazy, they give us energy to feed off of. They give us excitement,” Brown said. “Having passionate fans like we do gives us the extra boost week in and week out that we love to have. Fort Hays State is Hays, Kan., and Hays, Kan., is Fort Hays State, and we want to come out and represent our town and our university.”
Dawson said the home fans provide an exciting venue for the Tigers.
“Not many people thought we would win by much against NSU last week, and hopefully we continue the momentum into the next game,” he said. “I come from a big city, and we don’t get the support like we do here. Having a team like Pitt come here and having the fans back will be an amazing experience again.”
The Gorillas did not lose much from the MIAA championship team from a year ago. Pitt State rolled up 365 yards of total offense against Washburn last week, including 220 on the ground – averaging 5.5 yards per carry. The Gorillas held the Ichabods to only 233 total yards of offense and a TD.
Pitt State beat FHSU 35-14 last year and is 22-5-1 in the last 28 meetings against the Tigers.
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