By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State got out to a fast start leading 10-0 after one quarter, but Central Oklahoma rallied to take a 16-10 lead by halftime and held on from there forward. The Bronchos won 35-23, moving to 5-2 on the season, while FHSU moved to 1-6.
The Tigers put together a 60-yard drive to open the game that resulted in a Parker Janky 32-yard field goal. Makel Williams then made a big play on defense with the Bronchos inside the FHSU 10 yardline by intercepting a pass and returning it 53 yards to set up another scoring drive for the Tigers. Jack Dawson found Manny Ramsey for a 30-yard touchdown pass, which gave the Tigers a 10-0 lead about eight minutes into the contest.
The Bronchos started to find their offensive footing by taking their next drive 66 yards over 15 plays to pick up a field goal on the first play of the second quarter. A penalty by the Tigers in UCO territory stalled out a drive and forced a punt, then UCO struck with its first big play of the game, an 80-yard touchdown pass from Stephon Brown to Oscar Hammond. The score was level at 10-10 with 9:46 remaining in the second quarter. UCO marched the ball 72 yards on its next drive and scored a touchdown from three yards out, but the extra point was missed and UCO went on to lead 16-10 at the half.
The Bronchos had to settle for a pair of field goals in the third quarter, pushing their lead to 22-10, but the Tigers jumped right back within striking distance when Dawson found Ramsey again from 24 yards out for another touchdown. UCO led 22-17 heading into the fourth quarter.
Fort Hays State was driving deep in UCO territory once again right at the start of the fourth quarter, but UCO put a halt to the momentum by tipping a Jack Dawson pass straight up in the air that was intercepted and returned all the way to the endzone. A block in the back on the return negated the touchdown, but UCO eventually cashed in on the turnover with a 23-yard touchdown pass after its drive started at the FHSU 48. The Bronchos had the margin back out to a two-score game at 28-17 after another missed extra point, and it proved too much for the Tigers to overcome. UCO scored one more touchdown before a late touchdown by the Tigers on an Adrian Soto two-yard run brought the eventual final margin to 12.
Ramsey finished the game with 64 receiving yards to go with his two touchdowns. He now has 20 receiving touchdowns in his career at FHSU, moving into a tie for fourth in school history. Soto finished with 89 rushing yards for the Tigers. Dawson and Ethan Forrester combined for 178 passing yards in the game, while Leyton Curecompleted one pass as well for 20 yards. Defensively, linebackers Makel Williams and Layke Heimerman led the Tigers in tackles with eight each.
Brown finished the game with 394 passing yards for the Bronchos, completing 26-of-33 attempts. Hammond was his top receiver with 148 yards on five catches. Nasir Kemper led UCO in rushing with 52 yards. Jason Harris and Connor Johnson each had seven tackles on defense for UCO. Noah West had the key interception early in the fourth quarter that led to UCO restoring its two-score lead.
The Tigers will host Central Missouri next Saturday (Oct. 22) in Hays at 1 p.m.