{"id":80808,"date":"2024-09-13T08:37:03","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T13:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=80808"},"modified":"2024-09-18T15:53:03","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T20:53:03","slug":"no-21-tigers-hit-the-road-for-the-first-time-this-season-to-face-northwest-missouri-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=80808","title":{"rendered":"No. 21 Tigers hit the road for the first time this season to face Northwest Missouri State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Story by MAYAN PAZ<\/strong> Photo by BENNY ARMSTRONG <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tiger Media Network<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time since 2017, the Fort Hays State University football team opened its season with two wins. The Tiger’s impressive performance, managing to overcome quality opponents, moved FHSU to No. 21 in the latest NCAA D2 polls before going on the road for the first time this season. Waiting for the Tigers are the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, who started the season 0-2 after being ranked in the preseason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although they lost their first two games, the Bearcats have been an MIAA powerhouse in recent years, and they are not an easy opponent, especially when playing with the home advantage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU Head Coach Chris Brown addressed his feelings about playing an 0-2 team and made sure to explain that Northwest is not a team that usually loses games like that, and they are still one of the best teams in the conference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are a very dangerous team,\u201d Brown said. \u201cWe know that they are very hungry to win, and they have a lot of potential. We will have to make sure to play our best game and not make any mistakes to win this ball game. Even when they are 0-2, the Northwest name still means something with their reputation.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the Tigers exhibited a tremendous short passing game in the first week and showed their versatility on the offense with a terrific running game last week, Brown talked about a possible game plan ahead of the upcoming clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to establish a run game first, although it\u2019s something that teams have been struggling with against Northwest in the past few years,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need to do that, and then we can work our way up, using our tight ends and the rest of the offense.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU Tight end Cale Cormaney echoes Brown\u2019s thoughts on respecting Northwest, even with their 0-2 record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know Northwest is a very good program, and we have a lot of respect for them,\u201d Cormaney said. \u201cWith that being said, our team is improving every week, and we still have a lot of work to do. It doesn\u2019t matter who we play and whether it\u2019s a home or away game, we are prepared and know the task at hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU knows they are capable of running the football well, especially after gaining 179 yards on the ground last week against MWSU. However, Shane Watts bears the brunt of that burden. Watts rushed for 161 of FHSU\u2019s 179 yards last week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Defensively, FHSU opened the season with some impressive showcases of a quality defensive unit, conceding only seven points in their game against Angelo State and just 16 against MWSU. However, according to Brown, the team has a lot of room for defensive improvement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were a lot of plays that we started well but couldn\u2019t finish. We need to have better communication between the defensive lines and to make sure we are making the tackles and finishing the job at every play we mak,\u201d Brown said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

FHSU safety Sam Brandt is positive ahead of the game on Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think we played pretty well the last two weeks, but we are not even close to our ceiling,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to keep working hard in practice and be ready to execute in the game. We know that Northwest is a tough team, and we have to be tougher than them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facing an away obstacle for the first time this season, a win against Northwest will increase the already rising hopes of the Tigers to make the NCAA D2 playoffs. Last year when the two teams met, FHSU had the upper hand, winning 17-6 at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Mo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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