Fort Hays State is set to take on the University of Minnesota-Duluth in the 50th Mineral Water Bowl on Saturday (Dec. 5) at 12 pm. The game will be held at Tiger Stadium in Excelsior Springs, Mo., home of Excelsior Springs High School. Both FHSU and UMD enter the game at 8-3 overall.
About Fort Hays State (8-3, 8-3 MIAA)
-Fort Hays State finished 3rd in the MIAA standings at 8-3.
-The Tigers are looking for a new single-season school record for wins as they have reached 8 seven times in school history.
-The Tigers tied the school record for wins by defeating No. 20 ranked Central Missouri in the final game of the regular season, 28-14.
-Fort Hays State has been among the list of teams receiving votes in 8 regular season AFCA Polls but never broke into the Top 25 so far this year.
-The Tigers reached 8 wins for the first time since the 1995 season, which was the last time the team played a postseason game (NCAA Division II Playoffs).
-This is the first-ever bowl game in which the Tigers are participating.
-FHSU has seen improvement each year under head coach
Chris Brown, going from 4-7 in 2011, to 5-6 in 2012, to 6-5 in 2013, to 7-4 in 2014, and now 8-3 so far in 2015.
-Fort Hays State will be looking for its first-ever win in a postseason game (0-3 all-time, 0-2 in NCAA Playoffs, 0-1 in NAIA Playoffs).
-Fort Hays State went 2-2 against ranked teams during the regular season (defeated No. 13 Emporia State and No. 20 Central Missouri, lost to No. 15 Pittsburg State and No. 3 Northwest Missouri State. Northwest Missouri State is now No. 1 in the nation and Emporia State is No. 18 in the nation, while the other two are unranked).
-FHSU enters Saturday on a 3-game win streak.
About Minnesota-Duluth (8-3, 6-1 NSIC North)
-Minnesota Duluth finished 8-3 overall and 6-1 in the NSIC North Division (tied for 1st in its division).
-The Bulldogs have reached a postseason game for the 8th consecutive year (2008-2015).
-A trip to the Mineral Water Bowl this year snaps a 7-year run of Minnesota-Duluth making the NCAA Playoffs.
-Minnesota Duluth was the NCAA Division II National Champion in 2008 and 2010. UMD defeated Northwest Missouri State 21-14 in 2008 for its first title, then Delta State 20-17 in 2010 for the second.
-The Bulldogs advanced to the Super Region 3 Final last year in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Minnesota State.
-Minnesota Duluth started the year ranked No. 3 in the nation before eventually falling out of the top 25 after Week 9.
-The Bulldogs enter Saturday on a 2-game win streak.
Key Statistics
|
|
Comparison |
|
| 28.4 ppg (6th MIAA) |
Scoring Offense |
34.6 ppg (5th NSIC) |
| 23.4 ppg (4th MIAA) |
Scoring Defense |
16.9 ppg (2nd NSIC) |
| 264.5 ypg (1st MIAA) |
Rushing Yards/Game |
246.4 ypg (1st NSIC) |
| 153.3 ypg (12th MIAA) |
Passing Yards/Game |
179.9 ypg (12th NSIC) |
| 417.8 ypg (5th MIAA) |
Total Offense |
426.3 ypg (8th NSIC) |
| 396.0 ypg (6th MIAA) |
Total Defense |
299.9 ypg (2nd NSIC) |
| 15 (5th MIAA) |
Interceptions |
7 (14th NSIC) |
| 27 (6th MIAA) |
Sacks |
23 (7th NSIC) |
Fort Hays State Team
-The Tigers lead the MIAA in rushing yards per game (264.5). FHSU rushed for over 300 yards in four games this year (375 is the season high twice – Week 2 vs NSU, Week 7 vs ESU).
-FHSU ranks first in the MIAA in fewest penalty yards per game (44.8 yards per game).
-FHSU ranks 4th in the MIAA in scoring defense (23.4 ppg)
-FHSU has allowed the fewest sacks of any MIAA team this year (15).
-The Tigers are 6-1 this year when holding their opponent under 30 points.
-FHSU scored at least 21 points in every game this year.
Fort Hays State Individual
-Running back Shaquille Cooper averages 127.8 rushing yards and 155.5 all-purpose yards per game (both 2nd in the MIAA).
–Shaquille Cooper has rushed for over 100 yards in 6 games this year and 9 times in his career with the Tigers.
-Quarterback Treveon Albert averages 105.5 rushing yards per game to rank 4th in the MIAA.
-Linebacker Brock Long has been a monster all over on the defensive side of the ball with 159 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 1 interception.
-Defensive back Daniel Lindsey has 80 tackles on defense to go with 4 blocked kicks and 267 kick return yards with a touchdown on special teams.
-Defensive end Sie Doe, Jr., has 6.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss to go with 64 tackles.
-Cornerback Raheeme Dumas leads FHSU in interceptions with 4.
Minnesota Duluth Team
-The Bulldogs lead the NSIC in rushing yards per game (246.4). UMD rushed for over 300 yards in three games this year (378 is the season high against Minnesota Crookston)
-Minnesota Duluth ranks second in the NSIC in total defense, allowing just 299.9 yards per game.
-The Bulldogs have the top pass defense in the NSIC, allowing just 169.7 yards per game through the air.
-The Bulldogs are similar to FHSU in penalty yards per game, averaging 48.1.
-The Bulldogs have held opponents to 20 or fewer points in seven games this year.
-Minnesota Duluth ranks second in the NSIC in scoring defense, allowing just 16.9 points per game.
Minnesota Duluth Individual
-UMD quarterback Drew Bauer was injured in Week 9 and did not play the final two games of the regular season due to a concussion-related injury.
-Though injured, Bauer still led UMD in rushing yards (661) and passing yards (1658) at the end of the season.
-All-American running back Logan Lauters is out for the season. He has sustained injuries twice this year.
-Quarterback Nate Ricci has 349 rushing and 233 passing yards.
-Darren Walker is the top rusher among running backs on the team with 493 rushing yards.
-Beau Bofferding is an all-around threat for UMD with 1,011 all-purpose yards (484 receiving, 262 rushing, 180 kick return, 81 punt return.
-Beau Bates leads UMD in tackles with 67 while adding three sacks.
-Darion Fletcher is tough against the pass with 17 pass break-ups and 2 interceptions this season.
Records Watch for Fort Hays State
Rushing
–Shaquille Cooper needs 214 rushing yards to break the single-season rushing record at FHSU (held by Clint Bedore, 1,619 in 1993). He currently has 1,406 to rank 3rd on the list. He needs 131 to climb to 2nd on the list, held by Tom Doll with 1,536 in 1978.
-This year is just the second time in history Fort Hays State has had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. Shaquille Cooper has 1,406 and Treveon Albert has 1,161. The only other year was 2004 when Reed Gottula (1,184) and Jordan Hickel (1,086) accomplished the feat.
-If Shaquille Cooper rushes for 100 or more yards in the Mineral Water Bowl, he will move into a tie for 2nd on the career 100-yard rushing games list at FHSU with Donald Gregory and Jordan Hickel. Gregory and Hickel each had 10 100-yard games. Cooper is currently tied for 4th with 9 career 100-yard games.
Passing
–Treveon Albert is currently 4th in career passing yards at FHSU with 5,634 yards. He needs 85 to move to third alone and pass Dustin McEwen (1991-94).
–Treveon Albert became the all-time passing touchdowns leader at FHSU in Week 10. He passed Robert Long (1982-85) and Mike Garrison (2008-10), who each had 49, with 3 passing touchdowns against Missouri Southern. He now has 54 in his career.
Total Offense
–Treveon Albert has 7,966 yards of total offense in his career at FHSU. He needs 10 yards of total offense to pass Mike Garrison (2008-10) for the all-time lead at FHSU.
Scoring
-Kicker Drew O’Brien has already claimed the all-time scoring record at FHSU. O’Brien now has 242 career points. The old record was 220, set by Bob Johnson from 1963-66. He is also the career leader in PATs made with 146, passing the old record of 107.
-O’Brien is tied for 2nd on the career field goals made list with 32. He still needs 5 to reach the record of 37 held by Wes Simoneau (1997-01).
Defensive
–Brock Long needs 5 tackles to tie and 6 to break the FHSU single-season record for tackles. He has 159 and the record is 164, set by Alex Whitehill in 2011.
–Brock Long needs 2.5 sacks to tie and 3 to break the FHSU single-season record for sacks. He currently has 9.5 and the record is 12 held by Trevell Smittick (1998).
–Brock Long has already set the single-season record for tackles for loss, currently with 21. He broke the old mark of 19 held by Jason Hill (2007) and Jacob Crossman (2010).
FHSU Sports Information Department