By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Missouri got its revenge from a season before on Thursday night (Sept. 5) to open the 2019 season. A fake punt at the UCM 13-yardline that went 22 yards for a first down sparked a late comeback for the Mules in a 34-30 comeback win over the No. 11/8 ranked Tigers. Central Missouri never led until 1:33 remaining in the game.
Fort Hays State had all the momentum early, building a 13-0 lead by the 13:33 mark of the second quarter with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Chance Fuller to Layne Bieberle and a pair of field goals (20 and 51 yards) from Dante Brown. The 51-yarder by Brown was the best of his career.
The Tiger defense had the Mules stymied until a breakdown at 12:04 in the second quarter changed the whole feel of the game. UCM did not advance the ball further than 20 yards on its first three drives, but missed tackling by the Tigers allowed Koby Wilkerson to spring free for a 66-yard touchdown run to make it 13-7. Dante Brown pushed the Tigers back up by two scores, 16-7, with a 36-yard field goal at the 7:28 mark of the second quarter. It turned out to be the final scoring of the first half.
Central Missouri did its homework at halftime and started to chip away at the Tiger defense in the second half. Brook Bolles had a 10-yard touchdown run to bring UCM back within two at 16-14. The Tigers immediately answered with a 10-play, 70-yard drive capped on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to Harley Hazlett pushing the Tigers back up by nine, 23-14.
The see-saw scoring battle continued as the Mules pulled back within two at 23-21 on a Bolles 11-yard pass to Wilkerson. But the Tigers had an answer again as Te’Corey Tutson capped a 12-play, 76-yard drive to push the Tigers up 30-21 with 14:25 to go in the game.
The Tigers looked as though they had the game put away with nearly six minutes remaining in the game on a co-sack from Jonathan Williams and Sheldon Schmidt at the UCM 13-yardline. However, UCM used trickery and surprised the Tigers with a fake punt as Zach Davidson scampered 22 yards for a first down on 4th-and-13. The stunned Tigers then gave up a 65-yard touchdown pass from Bolles to Shae Wyatt on the next play. All of the sudden it was a two-point game again, 30-28, with 5:35 to go in the game.
The Tigers were in search of a few first downs, but only picked up one before the officials ruled a fumble on what looked like Fuller trying to release the ball downfield on 3rd-and-9. UCM recovered at their own 45-yardline. The momentum train was all on the side of UCM at that point in time. Bolles had a 22-yard pass, then a 36-yard strike to Cameron Saunders two plays later for another touchdown, giving UCM a 34-30 lead with 1:33 to go. A two-point conversion try failed.
Fort Hays State had 1:27 remaining on the clock to potentially march 75 yards, but four straight incomplete passes sealed the game for UCM. The Mules ran out the clock from that point.
Central Missouri outgained Fort Hays State 516 to 470 yards. The Mules did the majority of their damage in the second half with 327 of their 516. Bolles had only 52 passing yards at the half, but rallied to finish with 271 and three touchdowns for the game. Wilkerson finished with 103 rushing yards for the Mules and Wyatt had 145 receiving yards on four catches.
Chance Fuller threw for a career-high 333 yards, completing 27-of-42 attempts with two touchdowns. Layne Bieberle led the Tigers in receiving yards with 99 on four catches and Charles Tigner led in receptions with eight. Tigner also added a team-high 65 rushing yards. Drew Harvey finished with a team-high eight tackles for FHSU.
Fort Hays State looks to regroup from the tough loss next week when it hosts Missouri Western for its home opener on Thursday (Sept. 12) at 7 pm. The Tigers are looking to avenge a 23-13 loss to the Griffons last year.