STORY By CAYDEN SANDERS Photo by KERON WATSON
Tiger Media Network
The Fort Hays State University football team was back at home on Saturday to take on Central Oklahoma for the annual “Hall of Fame” game where FHSU defeated the Bronchos 34-0.
“This team is just a family, they work hard. They play together, they keep each other accountable and I just love these kids,” FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown said.
Entering the game, FHSU had a four-game winning streak while UCO had won two in a row. For the Tigers, it was a complete game on all sides of the ball.
“We played four quarters. It shows when we play the way we want to play offensively, defensively, and special teams then good things can happen,” Brown said. “All the shoutout goes to these young men, they worked hard, they were in the film room, and they put it all together.”
Offensively, the Tigers earned 472 yards, with 220 coming from the ground. Running back Shane Watts ran for 121 yards on 18 attempts while Travis Dixon and Ja’Quan Tillis combined for 122 yards.
“We (Dixon, Tillis, Watts) feed off of each other, and the sky is the limit with our group,” Dixon said. “With our offensive line getting better, we will continue to keep the ground game going.”
Jack Dawson threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with seven different receivers. He also threw two interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, the Tigers defense had two sacks with three interceptions. Two of them come from cornerback Kobe Rome. Fort Hays also had five tackles for loss.
Statistically for the Tigers defensive, they are one of the best in the MIAA in scoring defense and have the third-best rushing defense. Fort Hays only allowed 186 total yards while only giving up 46 total yards rushing.
“We just made the game physical, when UCO found out they could not run the ball we started to lock down the sides of the field,” cornerback Kobe Rome said.
Fort Hays special teams also had a good game; punter Kamren Xaysongkham had one 60-yard punt that landed inside the 20-yard line. Kicker Carson Arndt went two of three on-field goals from 30 yards out.
In the opening quarter, Dawson found wide receiver Jayden Horrace in the back of the endzone. In the second drive, Arndt put in his first field goal of the day from 42 yards.
The Tigers then scored one more time before the half, as Dawson connected with wide receiver Trevor Watts for a 46-yard touchdown.
Arndt hit a 30-yard field goal to move the score to 20-0 at the end of the third. At the start of the fourth quarter, Fort Hays secured another touchdown from Dawson to Horrace from 25 yards. To cap off the day Tillis ran in a two-yard touchdown.
After moving to 7-2 and extending their winning streak to five games, Brown says next week will be a test for the Tigers.
“We are still 0-0 and we just look to continue going 1-0 each week,” Brown said. “What we have done before doesn’t really matter. What matters is what these kids do going forward because we still have a lot to play for and it starts with UCM.”
Fort Hays will next play #11 Central Missouri – who is currently second in the MIAA – on the road. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Walton Stadium.