COPPERAS COVE, Texas – Fort Hays State Football has accepted an invitation to play in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl in Copperas Cove, Texas. FHSU will face Eastern New Mexico University of the Lone Star Conference on Saturday, December 3 at Bulldawg Stadium at 6 pm. Both teams finished the year at 7-4 overall.

Fort Hays State will compete in a bowl game for the second consecutive year after being selected to the Mineral Water Bowl last year. This is the first time in school history that the Tigers will play postseason games in back-to-back seasons. The Tigers will also be looking for their first postseason game win in program history and a chance to match the school record for wins in a season for the second straight year.

The Heart of Texas Bowl features two major bowl games each year in December at Bulldawg Stadium in Copperas Cove, Texas. These prestigious bowls match two top junior colleges from the National Junior College Athletic Association in the first game, then pits schools from NCAA Division II in the second game, one from the Lone Star Conference playing another top national team of the bowl committee’s choice. The committee looked to the MIAA this year and made Fort Hays State its choice to meet Eastern New Mexico of the Lone Star Conference. Eastern New Mexico is making an appearance in the game for a second consecutive year.

“We are very excited to except the invitation from the Heart of Texas Bowl,” said FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown. “It is a great opportunity for our kids and a great step in the growth of this Tiger program. I am very proud of these young men with the dedication, commitment, and effort they have put into getting this program to where it is now. I am very happy to get the opportunity to coach them for one more game this year.”

Fort Hays State tied for fourth place in the MIAA at 7-4 with Washburn and Pittsburg State. Eastern New Mexico tied for third in the Lone Star Conference at 6-3 with Texas A&M-Kingsville, yet finished 7-4 overall by going 1-1 in non-conference games.

This will be the fourth playing of the Heart of Texas Bowl between NCAA Division II schools. Below is the history of the Division II game…

2012      McMurry (Texas) 36, Southern Arkansas 35
2014      Texas A&M-Commerce 72, East Central (Okla.) 21
2015      Arkansas Tech 51, Eastern New Mexico 35

Here is the link to the Heart of Texas Bowl website… http://www.heartoftexasbowl.com/