“We still played undisciplined, but it feels great to get that first win,” said Fort Hays State Football head coach, Chris Brown.
The Fort Hays State Tigers (1-4, 0-4 MIAA) picked up their first win on the season in front of the homecoming crowd, with a season high in total offense with 401 yards and a 34-17 win over William Jewell College (1-4, 0-3 GLVC).
“It feels good, we worked hard this week in practice to make sure we executed,” said senior running back Andre Smith.
The Tigers had a season high four touchdowns on the ground accounting for 266 yards. Smith was over 100 yards for the third straight game rushing for 126 yards. Senior Ed Smith and sophomore quarterback Trevon Albert each had two rushing touchdowns.
“Offensive line worked really hard and just made their blocks all night,” Smith said.
Fort Hays struck first, with Albert scoring from two yards out. Earlier in the drive Albert scrambled for a big 37 yard gain setting the Tigers up for the touchdown play.
The Cardinals scored 10 unanswered points after the Tigers took the early lead, with one coming off a special teams turnover by Fort Hays making it 10-7.
A pair of rushing touchdowns, one by Albert and one by Ed Smith would give the Tigers the 21-10 lead at the break.
The Tiger defense who coming into the game was giving up nearly 50 points a game and only forced two turnovers, held William Jewell to just 17 points and forced three turnovers.
“They were big (the turnovers), if we force turnovers just means our offense gets one more chance with it,” linebacker Shane Smith said.
Junior safety Michael Jordan had his first career interception, coming off of Sean Shelton and had a big return of 40 yards.
“I would of liked to go for a touchdown,” Jordan said. I was a little winded out there.
“We’ve been waiting for that one turnover all year, he’s such an athletic kid,” Brown stated after the interception.
Smith would run it in from there and would capitalize on his longest run of the season of 30 yards capping off a 93 yard drive for the Tigers.
“Coach had been preaching all year about capitalizing and staying on the field and we just pushed and Ed finished,” Smith said.
William Jewell scored one more time when back up quarterback DJ Balazs scored on a 26 yard run.
Sophomore Kicker Drew O’Brien had a big game making both of his field goal attempts for the night.
“He need a big night to get his confidence back, he has such a strong leg,” Brown said.
O’Brien made both one from 25 and one for a season high of 38 yards, the last two scores for the Tigers.
Fort Hays will look to get a winning streak together, as they travel to St. Charles, Mo. Next weekend to take on the Linenwood Lions, who are coming off a 59-6 loss to Nebraska-Kearney.