Seven touchdowns and 520 yards of total offense was too much for the Tigers as Fort Hays (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) dropped their second game of the season 54-13 making five straight losses to Washburn (2-0, 2-0 MIAA).
[raw][quote_right] “Our guys keep battling, but we’re just not there yet with our strength and depth,” Head Coach Chris Brown said.[/quote_right][/raw]
The Tigers made it interesting early in Topeka, holding the Ichabods to a field goal on their first possession after they converted on three third down conversions, Fort Hays would orchestrate a 10 play drive, but come up empty as sophomore kicker Drew O’Brien’s kick was wide of the upright, but Fort Hays stayed relentless even after falling down 10- 0 after quarterback Mitch Buhler hooked up with wide out Matt Kobbeman for one of his four first half touchdown passes as sophomore quarterback Treveon Albert kept the composure and hit senior tight end Zack Gaughan for a eight yard touchdown pass.
“We got off to a good start,” said Gaughan “When it was 10-7 in the first quarter I thought we had them where we wanted.”
It would go downhill from there for the Tigers, as the Ichabods would score 21 unanswered points before the half taking a 31-7 lead into the break. Buhler would hit tight end Tore Hurst and wide outs DeJuan Beard and Jordan Hart as for the second straight year against Fort Hays Buhler had four first half touchdowns.
“The quarterback played his butt off,” Brown said.
The ship continued to sink quickly for Fort Hays in the second half. All ready down 31-7, three out of their next seven possessions resulted in interceptions, with another coming on their first drive in the fourth quarter, all turning into Washburn points.
“He’s young, he’s still trying to learn what’s going on, but it’s just a case of trying to do something big and not take what’s open,” Brown said.
Backup quarterback Edin Kovac would come into the game in the fourth quarter with the game already decided and would lead two Tiger scoring drives; one being a 2 yard pass to senior Keaton Callins, his third on the year and the other resulted in a 36 yard field goal by O’Brien. Kovac would finish 8 of 9 for 63 yards a one score.
Despite the four interceptions, the Tigers did get the passing going throwing for 280 yards most coming over the middle.
“We wanted to go with play action quite a bit because we knew how aggressive their linebackers were,” Brown said.
Gaughan who caught his first touchdown as a Tiger in the first half would have five receptions for 69 yards leading the way for the Tigers.
“We brought three people over to one side and the way their safeties were splitting in the back that opened up the middle for me” said Gaughan.
The woes on the ground continued for Fort Hays, even though they were nearly able to muster up 100 yards, the Tigers have 28 carries and account for 97 yards.
“We just gotta keep trying and trying to get it going and it’ll come,” said Gaughan.
Next up for the Tigers they tango with the third ranked team in the nation the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats (2-0, 1-0 MIAA) who have already beat a top 25 team this year in their opener, a 45-24 win over No.18 Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) and a narrow escape to MIAA opponent Central Missouri 28-24.
“Main thing is we got to have a great week of practice, get in the film room, study and know what they’re going to do,” said Gaughan.
Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. from Lewis Field Stadium on Sept. 21.