Tarean Austin has been named Athlete of the Week after leading the Tiger football team to their first win of the season, 37-23, at Truman on Saturday. FHSU is now 1-4 overall and 1-4 in the MIAA.
Austin, the FHSU quarterback, produced 276 yards of offense for the Tigers in their first win of the season. He nearly matched his passing yards total of 140 with his legs, also rushing for 136 yards on 13 attempts, despite losing 26 yards in the game due to three sacks by Truman. With the Tigers up by just 8 with 56 seconds remaining in the game, Austin ran for a 67-yard touchdown on 3rd-and-5 to seal the win for Fort Hays State. Austin had a hand in four touchdowns for the Tigers. He put the Tigers on the board first with a 5-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then just before halftime found tight end Grant Brown for a 5-yard touchdown pass to push Fort Hays State’s lead to 21-10 at the break. Early in the fourth quarter, Austin hit Treyvias Alexander on a 2-yard touchdown pass to push the FHSU lead to 28-10, then with the Tigers up 31-23, sealed the game with his long 67-yard touchdown run. He helped the Tigers to 541 yards of total offense in the game, as a 559-yard effort in the 2010 season finale was the last time FHSU had more yards of total offense.
Austin, who has started four of the five games at quarterback, is 61-of-133 for 571 yards and four touchdowns. On the ground, Austin has 218 yards on 43 carries and four touchdowns.
This weekend the Tigers host Lindenwood in FHSU's homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
