FHSU Sports Information Department
JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State got the job done to keep its postseason hopes alive on Saturday (Nov. 7) with a 42-31 win at Missouri Southern. The Tigers moved to 7-3 overall with the victory and set up a big game with Central Missouri (8-2) next Saturday in Hays. The Lions dropped to 1-9 on the season.
Fort Hays State jumped out to a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter and eventually led 21-10 at halftime. Doyin Jibowu got the scoring started early in the first quarter when he had an eight-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown. Treveon Albert and Shaquille Cooper would add rushing touchdowns later.
The Tigers put their foot on the gas pedal in the third with a pair of touchdowns to extend their lead to 35-10. Albert found Bilal Salat with a 37-yard touchdown pass, then Evan Jennings with a 38-yard touchdown pass. Following a Missouri Southern touchdown late in the third quarter, FHSU pushed the lead back to 25 (42-17) with another touchdown, a 29-yard screen pass to Cooper, early in the fourth. The Lions scored two more touchdowns, but it was too little, too late.
Cooper led the Tiger rushing attack with 99 yards, while Albert ran for 71, both with 21 carries in the game. Add in 68 receiving yards and Cooper finished with 167 all-purpose yards. Albert threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns, completing 13-of-23 attempts. Evan Jennings had 99 receiving yards on four catches.
Jose Delgado led the Tiger defense with 10 tackles. Alex Schmidtberger and Brock Long each had nine while Long also forced a fumble. Doyin Jibowu had eight tackles to go with his fumble returned for a touchdown.
Will Gregory led the Lions with 114 rushing yards, while also recording 56 receiving yards. MSSU quarterback TJ Fleeton threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns on 36-of-55 passing. Carson Day was his favorite target with 10 catches for 88 yards.
The Tigers have matched their win total from last year with one game to play. FHSU looks to get to eight wins in a season for the first time since 1995 next week in Hays against Central Missouri. The 24th-ranked Mules defeated Pittsburg State on Saturday to move to 8-2 while dropping the Gorillas out of a tie with FHSU for fourth place in the MIAA standings.
Potential postseason play will be on the line for the Tigers next week when they host Central Missouri in Hays. With a win against Central Missouri, the Tigers could have a shot at a bowl game or possibly the NCAA Playoffs pending on what happens in the upcoming NCAA Region Rankings and other games next week. A new set of NCAA Super Region Rankings comes out early next week. Central Missouri is currently No. 8 in the rankings while FHSU is just outside the rankings looking in. The top seven teams will make the NCAA Playoffs, but there is a log-jam of teams from No. 7 to No. 10 in the rankings with two losses. The No. 9 ranked team, Arkansas Tech, fell on Saturday for its third loss of the season.