Story by CAYDEN SANDERS Photos by RORY MOORE
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State University Tigers entered their third home game of the season at 2-1 after a 32-20 loss to a then-winless Northwest Missouri State on the road last week. However, the Tigers stayed perfect at home on Saturday, defeating the Northeastern State RiverHawks 37-0.
“We got the job done, it’s a W,” FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown said. “I am still not happy with our performance to finish people off. That’s something that we have been talking to this team about, learn how to finish teams off. Learn how to play fast, how to play physical, and play physical.”
In the first half, the Tigers capitalized on a 17-0 start to get their first shutout victory since Central Oklahoma last season. However, the game’s momentum nearly shifted in favor of NSU near the end of the second quarter.
FHSU quarterback Jack Dawson was intercepted by NSU defensive tackle Chris Lee at FHSU’s 41-yard line. Lee was finally downed at the FHSU 17-yard line, putting NSU in a position to make it a one-score game.
NSU had a first and goal from FHSU’s six yard line, but a high snap from the RiverHawk center was recovered by senior defensive back Benyon Williams for an 81-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown with just over a minute before halftime, making it 17-0 FHSU.
“It’s a great feeling knowing that our defense got the shutout. But I still think we gave up too many first downs and too many yards,” Brown said. “We had opportunities to get off the field and we didn’t. It should have been three and out, three and out and we didn’t do that, there would be missed tackles or we would give up a play here and there.”
FHSU and NSU each started slow, with both teams trading in three-and-outs. The Tigers faced a third and long situation, until running back Shane Watts had a convoy of blockers on a screen pass to score the Tigers’ first points of the game with 7:18 in the first quarter.
“We are definitely not satisfied with that win as an offense,” Watts said. “Definitely a slow start, but our offensive line was able to move the line more in the second half. At the end of the day we got the win, we just have to move on.”
During the last defensive drive of the first quarter, senior defensive lineman Myles Menges was a disturbance in the backfield, getting a pass deflection and a sack against NSU’s sophomore quarterback Dereun Dortch.
As the game progressed in the first half, the RiverHawk offensive line could not handle the pressure of Fort Hays’ blitz, as NSU could barely stitch a drive together.
In the middle of the second quarter, quarterback Jack Dawson and company drove the ball down the field. Later in the drive, the Tigers converted a 32-yard field goal from senior field-goal kicker Carson Arndt to push the lead 10-0.
At halftime the Tigers offense had 170 yards on 37 plays. Through the air the Tigers were able to collect 132 yards. Fort Hays State was successful on third down converting five times with nine attempts, and two of two in the red zone against the RiverHawks.
Defensively for the Tigers, Fort Hays State held Northeastern State to 79 total yards on 30 first-half plays. Dortch was unable to find his targets as the RiverHawks were only able to net 15 passing yards. NSU was also 0-6 on third downs.
“It was great to get the shutout, we know that we could play better and that’s our goal every week,” junior linebacker Jack Hileman said.
At the 4:40 mark in the third quarter, the Tigers were able to capitalize on a targeting call and a run from Shane Watts got the ball inside the ten yard line, before punching it in for a touchdown. The Tigers led 27-0 after the third quarter.
“In the second half our offensive line was able to get a bigger push and move the line, so it made my job a lot easier,” Watts said.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter Fort Hays State was able to drive the ball down and score with a high flying touchdown catch from Dawson to wide receiver Jayden Horace pushing the Tigers’ lead to 33-0.
Later in the quarter the Tigers were able to put another field goal in and end the game at 37-0.
Offensively Fort Hays State earned 389 yards. Watts finished with 118 rushing yards and Dawson threw for 175 passing yards.
Fort Hays State allowed 257 yards with only 101 yards coming from the ground game and had six tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and one sack.
The Tigers stay undefeated at home at 3-0 this season, and move to 3-1 overall.
“I think that we are not playing at a championship level yet. We are playing decent football right now, but I think this team can play a lot better,” Brown said.
Next on Fort Hays State’s schedule is a road trip to Edmond, Okla. to take on Central Oklahoma who defeated nationally ranked No. 3 Central Missouri last week. UCO has not lost at home since Missouri Western in their second home game of the 2023 season and is 5-0 since then. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
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