By MAYAN PAZ Photo by GILLIAN LYNCH
Tiger Media Network
After a road win two weeks ago against then No. 5-ranked CSU-Pueblo and last week’s defensive victory over UNK, FHSU football is preparing for yet another challenging matchup, this time on the road against the No. 18 Pittsburg State Gorillas. This will be the third-ranked team the Tigers (2-1, 1-0) have played after opening the season against No.13 Angelo State.
The Gorillas (1-2, 0-1) have also faced a challenging schedule, with all three previous games being played against ranked teams, including on the road at No. 1 Ferris State. Pitt State is also coming off a home 17-14 victory against No. 3 Grand Valley State. FHSU is receiving votes in the most recent poll.
The Tigers are looking for their first win against Pitt State since 2019. Last year, the Gorillas came back against the Tigers with a touchdown in the final moments of the game and won by a marginal one-point difference.
With that in mind, according to FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown, the main focus in practice this past week has been tuning the fine details in their own game, offensively and defensively.
“We just need to make sure that the small details are being fixed and that we are not making large mistakes,” he said. “Offensively, the quarterback needs to be patient, and the wide receivers need to complete their routes better. Defensively, we can’t allow big plays and we have to make the tackles count.”
Offensive lineman Porter Dannevik spoke about the preparation and the Tiger offensive line’s ability to deal with the Gorillas’ defense.
“They are a big and physical team, but we can also be aggressive and physical, and I think we have what it takes to beat them,” he said. “We are watching film and working on what we need to work on to be successful.”
On the defensive side, defensive lineman Kayson Dietz provided some insights about the team’s preparation for the game.
“They are a very well-coached team, especially their offensive line, so it’s going to be harder to identify the key areas against them than some of the other teams. But we are prepared, and I have confidence that our team can do what it takes,” Dietz said.
Brown addressed the overall ability of the Gorillas across various areas of the field, and said this will be one of the most important and toughest games of the season.
“They are just a very good football team; they played some really tough opponents, and they are improving every week,” Brown said. “They have a very athletic defensive line, and they have a flexible style. They are working hard and are coached well, but I feel like we have the guys to confront them and handle them. They have a lot of depth in their offense, and they might be our toughest opponent so far this season. I hope it’s going to be a good battle and that we will win.”
FHSU and Pitt State kick off at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Pittsburg.