By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State turned the ball over four times, allowing Emporia State to hang around and rally for a 28-24 win on Saturday (Oct. 6). The Tigers were in control early, until a fumble just short of the endzone midway through the first quarter took all of their momentum away. The second half became a back-and-forth battle, ultimately won by the Hornets.
Three first-half turnovers, including two in the redzone, cost the Tigers big time in allowing the Hornets to hang around by halftime. Up 7-0, the D.J. Hickman fumbled the ball away at the ESU 1-yardline midway through the first quarter, taking away the opportunity for a two-score lead early. The Tiger defense forced a 3-and-out, but they coughed the ball up immediately on the first play of the next drive, at the ESU 36-yardline.
Early in the second quarter, the Tigers reached the ESU 6-yardline before the Hornets intercepted a tipped pass on third down, taking another golden scoring opportunity away. Dante Brown attempted his longest field goal try of the season at the end of the second quarter, a 52-yard chance that had the distance but hooked just to the left. FHSU led only 7-0 at the half, the only score coming on a 41-yard touchdown reception by Harley Hazlett from Jacob Mezera at the 12:50 mark of the first quarter. The Tigers reached Hornet territory on six of eight drives in the first half, but came away with only the one score.
Emporia State changed the feel of the game even more immediately after the half, hitting FHSU in the mouth on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Quarterback Braxton Marstall found Tyler Harris on a deep post route for a 72-yard touchdown, tying the game just 16 seconds into the third quarter.
The Tigers took control of the game once again with an 11-play, 70-yard drive. Mezera found Hunter Budke for a 4-yard touchdown pass at the 10:58 mark of the third quarter making it 14-7 Tigers. They added on with a 46-yard field goal from Dante Brown just over four minutes later. The Tigers took a 17-7 lead into the fourth quarter.
Another big play haunted the Tigers moments later. After the Tigers forced a fumble from Marstall on third down that rolled forward and gave ESU a first down, Marstall left the game momentarily. In walked back-up quarterback Dalton Cowan, who with his only pass attempt of the game found Tyler Harris for a 54-yard touchdown pass. It was Cowan’s first career completion in college. The Tiger lead was back to uncomfortable at 17-14 with 14:32 remaining in the game. Harris finished with four catches for 140 yards.
Fort Hays State’s fourth turnover of the game, the second fumble of the game by Charles Tigner, gave ESU the ball at the FHSU 38-yardline. The Hornets capitalized, eventually reaching the endzone with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Marstall to Jordan Reed from 10 yards out. ESU took its first lead of the game, 21-17, with 8:05 remaining.
Fort Hays State responded by marching down the field with a nine-play, 76-yard touchdown scoring drive capped by a D.J. Hickman 3-yard touchdown run. FHSU took the lead back 24-21, with 5:31 to go.
Emporia State faced two fourth-down situations on its game-winning touchdown drive, converting opportunities at its own 43 and 49-yard lines. The Hornets completed another pass for a first down on 3rd-and-5 from the FHSU 26. Moments later, Marstall found Reed for a 14-yard touchdown pass with Reed stretching the ball over the goal line while getting tackled. Only 51 seconds remained in the game with the Hornets back on top 28-24.
The Tigers tried mightily to get in striking distance, reaching the ESU 33, but could not get off a pass attempt as the Hornets sacked Mezera on the final play of the game.
The Hornets gained confidence being down only seven at the half and wound up putting together 314 yards of total offense in the second half. The Hornets had 254 passing yards in the second half, with 150 of those yards coming on the four touchdown passes.
The teams were nearly identical in total yards, Emporia State with 470 on 88 plays and FHSU with 468 on 86 plays. The huge difference was the 4-0 turnover disparity in favor of Emporia State.
Mezera finished with 343 passing yards and two touchdowns, completing 27-of-44 attempts. The Tigers had two 100-yard receivers, Hazlett with 108 yards and Layne Bieberle with 100. Bieberle also went past the FHSU career record for punt return yards, now with 513 in his career to go past Tyrone Tracy. Charles Tigner posted his third straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 106 yards. Jose Delgado led the Tiger tackling effort with 11, followed by Kolt Trachsel with nine. Sterling Swopes had two sacks.
Marstall had 289 passing yards for the Hornets, completing 32-of-54 attempts. He also led the Hornets in rushing with 68 yards. Jace McDown led the ESU tackling effort with 12, followed by Logan Thompson with 10.
The Tigers let an opportunity to vault into a tie for first in the MIAA slip through their hands as Northwest Missouri State defeated Pittsburg State on Saturday. NWMSU and PSU are now tied for the MIAA lead at 5-1, while FHSU sits in a third-place tie with Missouri Western and Nebraska-Kearney at 4-2.