It was seemingly the little things that cost the Fort Hays State University football team their season opener of 2014 to the University of Central Oklahoma, 26-7.
The Tigers offense was out of sync, recording just nine first downs compared to the 23 by Central Oklahoma, they were 4-of-11 on third downs compared to the 12-of-21 by the Bronchos and the 45 plays ran by the Tigers was almost half of the 81 ran by UCO. The Tiger offense had two turnovers the defense did not put any pressure on Central Oklahoma.
“They put points on the board, got third down conversions and we didn’t do any of that stuff on offense,” said head football coach Chris Brown.
The Tiger’s offense did not even cross into the endzone once as the only points the Tigers were able to muster came on an 89 yard kickoff return for a touchdown late in the third quarter by DeAndre James, defensive back, Tampa, Fla., sophomore.
“The things we did on the field tonight are not who we are,” Brown said. “We’re a much better football team than what we put on the field.”
That Tiger offense that only gained 181 yards was sluggish from their first possession of the game, whether it was the near interception on the first pass by Treveon Albert, quarterback, Atlanta, Ga., junior or the three penalties on the drive that put it in a stand still.
“Our timing was horrible,” Brown said.
The Tiger defense which was on the field for most of the game, over twice as long as the Broncho defense, gave up 489 yards.
“We just got to come back and tighten up the loose ends on defense,” said Daniel Lindsey, defensive back, Inkster, Mich., junior.
The long amount of time spent on the field started from the first quarter, which led to Central Oklahoma scoring on the first play of the second quarter, taking advantage of the tired defense of the Tigers with a reverse pass back to UCO quarterback Chas Stallard out of the wildcat formation for a touchdown pass to Connor Pulley.
“It was a learning experience,” Lindsey said.
Lindsey was a leader for the Tigers in the opener, as he was one of four Tigers to have 11 tackles.
“I felt good, I was just trying to contribute any way that I could,” Lindsey said.
After a rough first quarter by Albert, backup Kevin Spain, quarterback, Scottsdale, Ariz., junior was brought in the game to try to ignite the offense.
On his first drive as a Fort Hays State Tiger, Spain would hit Ed Williams, wide receiver, Tampa, Fla., senior for 38 yards and hit Isaiah Maix, wide receiver, Kansas City, Mo., sophomore over the middle for 18 yards to put the Tigers deep into Central Oklahoma territory, but the very next play James Sullivan, running back, Colorado Springs, Colo., red shirt freshman fumbled the ball inside the 5 yard line and the drive stopped.
“We didn’t react very well to it. When you face adversity are you going to fold your tents and be done, or fight back and battle?” Brown said. “We lost a little momentum.”
Central Oklahoma took a 14-0 lead a little under half way into the second quarter with an 11 yard touchdown run by Stallard on third down.
“We got to find a way to get ourselves off the field,” Brown said.
The second half was much the same for the Tigers, Albert did make the start in the second half after not seeing a snap in the second quarter and would stay in the game until leaving with an apparent hand injury in the fourth quarter.
“We figured we’d try to run the ball a bit, that’s why we wanted to stick with (Albert) him,” Brown said.
The only points for the Tigers came with them already down 20-0 on James’ 89 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
“I seen the hole and took advantage of it,” James said.
The loss puts the Tigers at 0-1 as they gave up 100 yards to two different ball carriers.
“They got to figure out what their identity is and what they’re going to do next,” Brown said.
Albert finished the game 4-of-9 for 24 yards while Spain was 3-of-13 for 65 yards with one interception. Stallard for UCO finished the game 15-of-23 for 204 yards. Stallard as well had 107 yards on the ground with one score.
The Tigers were never able to get a running game together as both Spain and Kenneth Iheme, running back, Wichita, sophomore led the way with 22 yards on the ground.
The Tigers look to regroup next as they prepare to take the trip to Tahlequah, Okla. for the first time since Northeastern State joined the MIAA and take on the Riverhawks for the MIAA Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.