BY TRISTAN SASSE
After improving to 8-0 and the best start in school history a week ago, the No. 7 Fort Hays State University Tigers returned home to take on an in-state rival, the Emporia State Hornets. The Hornets entered Saturday at 4-4 and in a four-way tie for fifth place in the MIAA standings. Emporia State began the season at No. 4 in the national rankings. The Tigers won 34-7 and improved to 9-0.
Entering this weekend, the Tigers were tied atop the standings with No. 1 Northwest Missouri State; however, Pittsburg State defeated NWMSU 20-10. Northwest entered Saturday with the nation’s longest winning streak at 38 games. The Division II NCAA record for consecutive victories is 40 games, set by Grand Valley State from 2005-07. FHSU moved into sole possession atop the MIAA standings at 9-0, followed by Northwest Missouri, who is now 8-1.
For the Tigers, Jacob Mezera completed 26 of 36 pass attempts for 326 yards and two touchdowns. The ground game was also on the attack, as Kenneth Iheme rushed for 146 yards. Iheme now has 1,029 rushing yards on the season. Charles Tigner added 99 rushing yards of his own and has 584 rushing yards on the year.
Defensively, Jose Delgado led all players with 12 tackles. He currently leads the team with 76 tackles. The Tiger defense allowed 223 total yards (123 passing and 100 rushing). The FHSU defense also forced 10 punts, had three sacks, and an interception.
Head Coach Chris Brown was pleased with the defensive performance.
“Our defense played really well today,” said Brown. “They just play hard week in and week out. They’re all on the same page, they understand what’s going on, and they just play hard for one another.”
It didn’t take long for the Tigers to strike first on Saturday afternoon. On their opening drive of the game, Mezera found J.J. Lewis for an 8-yard touchdown reception. On the ensuing drive, Mezera threw an interception to Cody Savage in FHSU territory, but the stingy Tiger defense forced a three-and-out. The Tigers allowed 18 yards on 13 plays and forced four punts in the opening quarter. In October, the Tigers defense was giving up less than 16 points per game.
The second quarter began with an Emporia State fumble on a punt return, recovered by the Tigers. Midway through the quarter, Brandon Brown made a 41-yard field goal to extend the Tigers lead. Delgado went out with an apparent rib injury in the quarter but returned later in the game. In the closing seconds of the half, Brown connected on his second field goal of the afternoon, this time from 32 yards. The Tigers went into the half leading 13-0.
FHSU held the Hornets to two first downs in the first half. The Hornets had 46 yards of total offense on 25 plays and punted seven times. The Tigers outgained ESU 285-46 in the opening half.
The second half began with a 68-yard touchdown from Mezera to Tyler Bacon. Iheme added on to the scoring barrage soon after, with a 25-yard touchdown reception from Mezera. Emporia State was threatening deep in Tiger territory late in the third quarter but turned the ball over on downs after FHSU stuffed a rush attempt on fourth and goal from the 1-yard line. On the next play, Iheme answered with a 54-yard rush. After three quarters, the Tigers led 27-0.
In the final quarter, Tigner punched the ball in from 2 yards out with 11:47 left in the game. Emporia State stopped the shutout with just over five minutes remaining, with a 1-yard touchdown run from Kai Callins. Emporia State fell to 4-5 on the season after the 34-7 defeat.
Next week, Emporia State will return home to face Missouri Western State University. Fort Hays will travel to Maryville, Missouri to battle No. 1 Northwest Missouri State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PM. A victory for the Tigers next weekend would secure the MIAA championship.