By GARRETT WELLBROCK
Tiger Media Network
JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State leaned on its ground game and timely defense to extend its dominance over Missouri Southern, holding off the Lions 28-21 on Saturday to notch its seventh straight win in Joplin.
The RV/No. 21-ranked Tigers (4-2, 3-1 MIAA) rushed for a season-high 254 yards and never trailed, improving to 11-1 in their last 12 meetings with Missouri Southern. Junior quarterback Caleb Heavner accounted for three touchdowns, rushing for 94 yards and two scores while throwing for another. Joshua Clark paced the Tigers on the ground with his first 100-yard game of the year, finishing with 116 yards.
FHSU’s offense also scored a touchdown on its opening drive, the first time this season the Tigers have managed to do so.
“We had a great script, Coach Ross did a great job of calling plays, and we executed,” Heavner said. “We can do that all the time.”
Heavner punched in a 12-yard run to open the scoring, but the Lions (2-3, 0-3) answered with a 70-yard strike from freshman quarterback Tillman Martin to Isaiah Green. FHSU regained control on a 32-yard field goal from Zane Hall and stretched its lead when Heavner found Cale Cormaney for a 16-yard touchdown.
Still, miscues kept Missouri Southern in the game. For the second straight week, the Tigers allowed a touchdown on the final play of the first half, this time a 34-yard heave from Martin to Isaiah Padello that cut the lead to 17-14 at halftime.
“It’s pretty frustrating,” defensive back Michael Chavez said of the late-half lapses. “Two weeks in a row, that’s on us. We’ve got to get back to the fundamentals — ball drills, playing through the hands — and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Chavez was otherwise instrumental to FHSU finding a win on the road, forcing two turnovers and intercepting Martin in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.
“Just right place, right time, doing my job,” he said. “[I’m] just blessed to be here, blessed for the opportunity.”
The Tigers’ defense set the tone after halftime when senior linebacker John Johnson stripped Martin on the first play of the third quarter, setting up another Hall field goal. Heavner’s 1-yard plunge early in the fourth quarter, keyed by a 58-yard burst from Clark, gave FHSU a 28-14 cushion.
Martin threw for 322 yards, but the Lions mustered only 65 rushing yards against a physical FHSU front.
“We think we established that physicality, especially as the game went on,” Chavez said. “In those moments when the plays come your way, you’ve got to step up.”
FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown said the game showed both his team’s progress and its flaws.
“There’s not anything easy in the MIAA,” Brown said. “We had so many opportunities to put this game away. We gave up two big plays in the first half that killed us. If we finish those drives and take care of the ball, we might be up 28-0. Right now, it’s the consistency that’s killing us.”
The Tigers return home Saturday for a primetime matchup with defending MIAA champion Central Oklahoma. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and will be streamed on The MIAA Network and broadcast on 38 the Spot in Kansas City.