FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 4-1 overall on Saturday (Oct. 1) with a 37-6 win over Lindenwood on Homecoming. The Tigers scored 21 first quarter points and never trailed, coasting to the win and remaining in a second place tie in the MIAA.
The Tiger defense set up the first touchdown of the game when DeAndre James picked off a pass at the Lindenwood 27-yard line. Three plays later, Malik Thomas had a four-yard touchdown run as the Tigers went in front 7-0 at the 10:36 mark of the first quarter. Fort Hays State struck again on its next drive as Jacob Mezera found Charles Tigner for a 67-yard touchdown pass, capping a 6-play, 99-yard drive.
Lindenwood’s lone highlight of the game on offense was an 80-yard touchdown pass from Allen Thigpen to DeSean Warren to bring the score to 14-6. Lindenwood missed the extra point.
The score grew to 21-6 with 10 seconds remaining in the opening quarter when Thomas capped a 9-play, 51-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The drive was set up by a 44-yard kick return from Shaquille Cooper. Brandon Brown tacked on a season-long 45-yard field goal in the second quarter to bring the score to 24-6 at halftime.
The Tigers shutout the Lions in the second half and scored two more touchdowns to leave no doubt. Mezera found Layne Bieberle in the third quarter for a 20-yard touchdown pass, then Tigner added a 10-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. One of two extra points were missed, bringing the final total to 37-6.
Tigner had a big game offensively, producing 160 all-purpose yards. He had a team-best 64 rushing and 96 receiving yards. Thomas also had over 100 all-purpose yards, going for 45 rushing and 59 receiving. Each had two touchdowns. Mezera was very efficient at quarterback, going 27-of-35 passing for 292 yards and two touchdowns. FHSU finished with 477 yards of total offense.
Jose Delgado led the Tiger defense in tackles with 11. FHSU held the opposition under 250 yards of total offense for the second-straight week as Lindenwood finished with 244. The Tigers also held the opponents to just single digits in scoring for the second straight week after allowing just seven points at Northeastern State last week. The Tigers are allowing just 15.4 points per game on the season.
Connor Harris of Lindenwood broke the all-time tackles record for all NCAA levels in the game, finishing with 16. He broke the record with his second tackle of the afternoon and now has 565 in his career.