JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State Football opens the 2017 season on Thursday night (Aug. 31) at Missouri Southern. Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Hughes Stadium in Joplin. The Lions serve as the season opening opponent for a second straight year. FHSU won last year’s meeting in Hays 22-10. FHSU is coming off its second consecutive 8-4 season and its first-ever postseason game victory after defeating Eastern New Mexico in the Heart of Texas Bowl at the end of the 2016 season.
The Tigers have won the last four meetings with Missouri Southern, dating back to 2011. Fort Hays State has not lost in Joplin since 2007, but there have only been two meetings between the teams in Joplin since that season. The four-game streak started in Chris Brown‘s first year as head coach at FHSU, making him 4-0 against the Lions. FHSU now holds a slight edge in the all-time series at 14-13-1.
The Tigers have one All-America and seven All-MIAA returners on the squad this year. Nathan Shepherd earned All-America Honorable Mention by the Don Hansen Football Committee last year, while earning all-conference second team honors. Kenneth Iheme and Brandon Brown were each all-conference third team picks. Returning honorable mention selections include Jacob Mezera, Layne Bieberle, Jose Delgado, and Matt Wendelberger.
FHSU had the second-best defense in the MIAA last year, allowing just 21.3 points and 363.6 yards per game. Only two-time defending national champion Northwest Missouri State was better in the conference at only 12.0 points and 240.9 yards allowed per game. The Tigers have three of four starters back on the defensive line, led by Shepherd, and veteran leadership in the middle of the field in linebacker Jose Delgado and bandit backs Doyin Jibowu and Tanner Hoekman.
On the offensive side of the ball, Jacob Mezera threw for 2,541 yards and 19 touchdowns last year. He’ll have plenty of targets to throw to as dynamic running backs Kenneth Iheme and Charles Tigner return, along with two receivers that recorded over 300 yards receiving last year. Iheme was second on the team in rushing in 2016 with 526 rushing yards, while accumulating 176 receiving yards. Tigner impressively averaged better than 10 yards per touch of the ball last year, averaging 11.9 yards per rush and 12.2 yards per reception. He finished with 453 receiving yards and 178 rushing yards. Layne Bieberle led the team in receiving yards with 506 on 31 catches, while Tyler Bacon led the team in receptions with 38 to go with 373 yards. The offensive line returns three starters from last year.
The Tigers have the same exact schedule as last year, only flipped between home and away. The Tigers will be at home six times this season and host several long-time rivals including Pittsburg State, Washburn, Emporia State, and Nebraska-Kearney. Get your season tickets today by contacting the FHSU Athletic office at (785) 628-4050. The first home game of the season is next week (Thur., Sept. 7) as FHSU takes on Central Missouri.
