Story by MAYAN PAZ Photo by GILLIAN LYNCH
Tiger Media Network
Fort Hays State’s football team hoped for a better start to the season, but suffered a 28-7 loss to Angelo State last Thursday. During the game, the Tigers struggled to create plays on offense, and according to FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown, they were “just not physical enough” during the game. Despite the offensive struggles, there were some positives in the game. Transfer receiver Ethan Hilliman scored the Tigers’ lone touchdown and showed some sparks ahead of the rest of the season.
Hilliman, originally from Plainfield, New Jersey, played for Division I Sacred Heart University for two years before transferring to Fort Hays. In his first game, he made his mark with a touchdown reception and also led the Tigers with five receptions and 49 total receiving yards.
The connection between Hilliman and the team’s quarterback, Caleb Heavner, was already established over the summer. Hilliman arrived in Hays in June and has been practicing with Heavner since, establishing a good relationship and connection on the field.
Hilliman told Tiger Media Network that they know each other well already.
“We’ve been throwing since I got here in June. So we’ve been throwing three to four times a week, so the connection has been there,” he said. “I know when he’s about to throw it to me, we lock eyes, and I just know when the ball is in the air, it’s mine. He says that every day, when the ball is in the air, it’s your ball or nobody’s.”
Although Hilliman played at a Division I school, he prefers the competition in the MIAA conference over the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). The Tigers’ coaching staff found Hilliman in the transfer portal, all the way from Connecticut and made the effort to have him commit to Fort Hays.
Brown said it was a combination of transfer portal researching, connections, and some effort to impress Hilliman on his visit that got him to join the Tigers.
“We know the coach from his previous school, and after reaching out to him, we were able to host him on a visit and show him why this would be a good place for him,” Brown said. “We are very lucky to have someone like him on the team. This is the level we are looking for in our players.”
Brown also said the team still needs to figure out ways to utilize Hilliman better, taking advantage of his 6’4”, 215-pound frame. Brown also said Hilliman still needs to improve in his tactical knowledge going into future games.
“He’s a tremendous football player. We’ve got to find ways to get him the ball more, and then, he’s still trying to learn our offense and exactly where he needs to be,” Brown said. “But he’s a tremendous athlete. Catches the ball very well. He’s strong, he’s got good speed, and he just has to learn the offense a little bit better and trust his skills. We just have to find ways to get him.”
Over 6,000 spectators supported the Tigers in their home opener. For Hilliman, this is a significant change compared to his previous school, which only had around 3,500 seats in its football stadium.
He said it felt great playing in front of the home crowd for the first time.
“It was a great environment. It was a packed house, and I could just feel the energy from the beginning, from warm-ups. I just knew it was going to be something special,” he said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get out with the dub. But I appreciate all the fans coming out and supporting us and staying by us. Even though we were down and we lost. They were still there by our side.”
Playing against CSU-Pueblo tonight, Hilliman hopes to keep up his good form and, this time, help the team get a win.