By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State moved to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA with a 38-7 win over Washburn on Saturday evening (Oct. 12) at Lewis Field Stadium. The Ichabods dropped to 1-5 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA. The Tigers are now 5-0 in home games this season.
Fort Hays State scored 38 unanswered points for the win after Washburn scored the first points of the game, a touchdown with 7:47 remaining in the first quarter. The Tigers matched the Ichabods just over four minutes later to level the score on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Heavner to Jayden Horace. The game remained tied all the way until the final seconds of the first half when Carson Arndt knocked through a 52-yard field goal, his longest as a Tiger. It matched the fifth-longest field goal in program history.
The Tigers dominated the second half, holding the Ichabods to just 59 yards of total offense. That allowed them to pull away for the sizable win. At 6:21 in the third quarter, Heavner found Cale Cormaney on an 8-yard shovel pass touchdown. Just over a minute later, the Tigers delivered a big blow when Heavner hit Jayden Horace for a 73-yard touchdown pass on the first play of a drive. FHSU led 24-7 going to the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Shane Watts had a 1-yard touchdown run and Joshua Clark added a 4-yard touchdown run to cap the scoring for the Tigers. FHSU outscored WU 28-0 in the second half.
Overall, Fort Hays State finished with 464 yards of total offense, while holding Washburn to just 208. It was the second time the Tigers held an opponent inside of 250 yards this season, also accomplishing the feat with just 203 allowed to Angelo State in the season opener.
Heavner finished with a season-high 319 passing yards, completing 26-of-32 attempts with the three touchdowns. Horace was his top receiver with 10 catches for 160 yards and the two scores. Watts finished with a team-high 72 rushing yards. Benyon Williams led the Tiger tackling effort with seven, followed by Mason Perez and John Johnson with six each. Jaden Barker had a pair of sacks, while Demitri Scott added 1.5 sacks.
Sam Van Dyne led the Ichabods with 122 passing yards, while Tyler Bowden had 53 rushing yards. Cole Keller led WU in receiving with 36 yards. Jordan Finnesy led the Ichabods in tackles with nine to go with a blocked kick.
Fort Hays State heads on the road to play nationally ranked Pittsburg State next week in Pittsburg. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 19).