Jayden Horace emerges as leading wide receiver for Tigers

By MAYAN PAZ

Tiger Media Network

Before Saturday’s game against Washburn, Jayden Horace had been relatively quiet for the Fort Hays State University football team so far this season. After scoring 11 touchdowns in 2023, Horace, a senior from Tampa, Fla., had scored only twice in the first six games of the season – one coming as part of the impressive team win over Central Missouri in week six. That touchdown catch may have sparked something in Horace, who scored twice against Washburn in FHSU’s 38-7 rout of the Ichabods. 

Horace caught the first Tiger touchdown of the game late in the first quarter, but that was just his warmup for the highlight of the evening. With just over five minutes left in the third quarter, as the Tigers led 17-7, FHSU started their possession with the ball on their own 33-yard line. 

Dancing in the backfield, FHSU Quarterback Caleb Heavner found the open man, Jayden Horace. With two defenders running in his direction, Horace was able to avoid a collision with them, outran a couple more that tried to catch him, and score an incredible 73-yard touchdown that all but sealed the win for the Tigers. 

Horace reflected on what was going on through his mind during the play.

“Honestly, just catch the ball and don’t get tackled,” he said. “Last week, I kind of got tackled on some of my routes where I should have scored; just don’t get tackled. That was what was going through my mind at that moment.” 

With the two touchdowns he scored against Washburn, Horace doubled his touchdown tally for the season. Three of the four touchdowns have come from Heavner, who took over as FHSU’s starting quarterback against UCM in week six. Horace also caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Jack Dawson in week four against Northeastern State. 

When asked about his connection with Heavner, Horace said he wanted to on-field results to speak for themself. 

“I’m gonna let y’all answer that because, I mean, I think it’s pretty self-explanatory,” he said.

FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown had more to say about the connection between the two players. 

“They have been working together on film, and Horace understands more how Caleb wants him to run his routes. He also learned to understand the defensive coverages better, and he had an excellent game,” Brown said.

Horace’s play has been one of the most noticeable areas of improvement for the Tigers in recent weeks, and the offense’s ability to facilitate the ball to one of their leading players is making a positive impact on the team’s results. Horace has also collected 34 total receptions in just seven games this season, two shy of the 36 he had in all of 2023. 

“I mean, he’s really, truly improving,” Brown said. “You can see he’s really putting in the time now in the film room, studying to get himself open and make the plays that needed to win ball games.”

This Saturday, the Tigers will face No. 7 Pittsburg State on the road. However, Horace is ready for the challenge. He had only one thing to say ahead of that game. 

“Tell Pitt State we coming,” he said.