BY TRISTAN SASSE
The Fort Hays State football team improved to 3-0 on the season after one of the most exciting games of the year. A week after appearing in the top-25 for the first time in over two decades, the Tigers faced MIAA rival Central Oklahoma. FHSU went on to win 31-24, but the final score doesn’t do the contest justice.
In the first quarter, the Tigers found themselves in unfamiliar territory. FHSU trailed 14-0 after two rushing touchdowns by UCO quarterback Chas Stallard. The Tigers were able to cut the deficit in half midway through the second quarter, following Harley Hazlett’s 8-yard rushing touchdown. Fort Hays went into the locker room trailing 14-7.
On the first play of the second half, the Tigers were able to even the score. Jacob Mezera connected with Kenneth Iheme for a 75-yard touchdown. At the end of the quarter, Iheme found the end zone again. Iheme’s touchdown helped the Tigers capture their first lead of the game, and Fort Hays entered the fourth quarter leading 21-14.
Central Oklahoma entered the final period with 10 unanswered points of their own and recaptured the lead at 24-21. FHSU kicker Brandon Brown connected on a 24-yard field goal with just under four minutes to play to tie the game. Shortly after, the Tigers forced UCO to punt and reclaimed the ball with just over a minute to play. The game looked destined for overtime, but Fort Hays had a different idea. Mezera found Monterio Burchfield, who stiff-armed a defender, and ran 64 yards for a Tiger touchdown. With 42 seconds to play, Fort Hays took the lead, 31-24, and would hold on for good this time.
Burchfield had a huge night for the Tigers, with eight catches, 217 yards, and the game-sealing touchdown. The Fort Hays passing game was firing on all cylinders. Mezera threw for 411 yards and completed 27 of 37 attempts on the night.
After three weeks, FHSU has outscored opponents 114 to 37. Next week, the Tigers will look to continue to climb the national rankings at home against 0-3 Northeastern State.