By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Football fell to Central Oklahoma on Saturday night (Oct. 16) at Lewis Field Stadium by a score of 24-14. The Bronchos held the Tigers scoreless in the second half, while scoring 14 points to take the lead and win by 10. UCO moved to 4-3 on the season, while FHSU is now 3-4. The Bronchos snapped a five-game losing skid to the Tigers with their win.
The Bronchos held the Tigers to their second-lowest amount of total yards this season at 347. UCO countered with 422 yards of total offense. Keats Calhoon led the Broncho passing game with 223 yards, completing 15-of-24 passes. Jayce Gardner led the Bronchos in rushing with 94 of his team’s 193 yards on the ground and Markiese King had 134 receiving yards on five catches.
Both teams scored on their first drives of the game. The Tigers marched 73 yards in seven plays, capped by a Voshon Waiters 10-yard touchdown run. Central Oklahoma countered with a quick scoring drive capped by a 59-yard touchdown pass from Calhoon to King.
The Bronchos took their first lead of the game on a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter, but the Tigers answered right before halftime with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Chance Fuller to Hunter Budke. FHSU led 14-10 at the break.
After the Tigers went 3-and-out on their first drive of the second half, UCO jumped into the lead for good with a 4-play, 59-yard scoring drive. Calhoon found Daunte McGee for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 7:01 remaining in the quarter. UCO then extended its lead early in the fourth quarter on a five-yard touchdown run by Stephon Brown.
The Tigers had chances to cut into the lead in the fourth quarter, but they fumbled the ball away at the UCO 24, had a drive stall out at the UCO 33, and missed a 38-yard field goal attempt.
Fuller led the Tigers with 214 passing yards, completing 18-of-35 attempts. Manny Ramsey was his top target with 11 catches for 133 yards. Adrian Soto led the Tigers with 90 rushing yards. John Johnson led the Tigers in tackles with 12, while Dylan Buchheit led UCO with 11.
FHSU heads to Central Missouri next week for a 1:30 pm kickoff on Saturday (Oct. 23).