By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State football defeated Northeastern State 27-14 on Senior Day Saturday (Nov. 5) at Lewis Field Stadium. After a slow start, the Tigers took the lead in the second quarter and held onto it until the end. FHSU improved to 3-7, while NSU fell to 1-9.
Neither team had much going in the first quarter. The Tigers were forced to punt on their first three drives. Northeastern State started their opening drive inside Fort Hays State territory. The RiverHawks drove 20 yards to set up a 42-yard field goal try, but missed. The Tigers began their first scoring drive late in the first quarter going 70 yards in 17 plays. Emanuel Aguilar capped it with a 34-yard field goal to give the Tigers the lead with just under 11 minutes to play in the second quarter. The squads traded punts on the next four drives before Aguilar nailed another try from 20 yards to increase the FHSU lead to 6-0 as time expired in the half.
The Tigers went to work quickly in the second half scoring on their first two drives. David Arteaga intercepted a pass on the RiverHawks’ opening drive which set up a 35-yard touchdown pass from Jack Dawson to Leyton Cure. Adrian Soto scored the next touchdown, capping a 5-play, 56 yard drive with a 2-yard plunge, increasing the Tiger lead to 20-0 midway through the third quarter.
NSU took advantage of a Tiger turnover with a short field and punched in their first score early in the fourth quarter on a one yard pass from Ben Ward to defensive lineman Jamie Cortez in a goal-line package. Northeastern State narrowed Fort Hays State’s lead even further on its next drive as Grant Elerick threw a 52-yd touchdown pass to Dashawn Williams, bringing the score to 20-14.
The Tigers put the momentum back in their favor answering with a short pass from Dawson to Dawson Brown II turned into a 38-yard race down the sideline to the endzone. That put the Tigers up 27-14 with nine minutes remaining. The FHSU defense held NSU scoreless the rest of the way.
FHSU finished with 430 total yards compared to 213 by NSU. Soto finished with 144 yards on the ground, his third career game at least 100 rushing yards. Dawson completed 22-of-36 passes for 247 yards. Manny Ramseyled the Tigers with 68 receiving yards on four catches. Octavious Bouie led the team in tackles with six, a new season high for the defensive lineman, and Gaven Haselhorst recorded two tackles for loss and a sack.
Isaiah Davis led the RiverHawks in rushing yards with 45 and Ward led the passing attack going 8-of-21 for 95 yards. Malik Antwine led NSU in receiving with four catches for 79 yards. Cam’Ron Holmes led the RiverHawk defense with 10 tackles.
Fort Hays State will wrap up its season next week at nationally ranked Pittsburg State. Kickoff on Saturday (Nov. 12) is scheduled for 2 p.m.