Box Score
The Fort Hays State football team fell to No. 4 ranked Northwest Missouri State by a score of 45-27 in Maryville, Mo., Saturday (Oct. 30). An early 24-3 lead by NWMSU was too much for the Tigers to overcome, but each team cranked out over 500 yards of total offense in the game.
The Tigers managed to cut the Northwest Missouri State (7-1, 7-0 MIAA) lead to 24-15 by halftime with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. Mike Garrison found Cordarol Scales for an eight-yard touchdown pass and later hooked up for a touchdown with O.J. Murdock from 56 yards out. However, both extra point attempts were blocked, leaving the Tigers two scores back of the Bearcats.
The Bearcats shut the door on the Tigers out of the break, scoring the first two touchdowns of the second half. That extended the lead to 38-15. The Tigers scored twice on touchdowns in the fourth quarter, both from James Walker. He had a one-yard touchdown run with 14:29 remaining and then a two-yard touchdown reception with 53 seconds remaining. The extra point was blocked once again following Walker's first touchdown and a two-point conversion attempt failed after the second score.
O.J. Murdock had another big receiving game, racking up 177 yards on six catches. His longest reception of the day was 60 yards in the first quarter, which set up an early field goal.
Mike Garrison finished 28-of-41 passing for 371 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Williams and James Walker each caught a team-high seven passes. James Walker finished with a team-high 73 yards rushing.
With 421 yards of total offense in the game, Mike Garrison broke the FHSU school record for career total offense, now with 7,105 yards. It broke the old mark of 7,085 set by Robert Long in the 1980s.
The Tigers finished with 504 yards of total offense to 555 for Northwest Missouri State. Blake Bolles paced the Bearcats with 22-of-36 passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He also reached the endzone twice by rushing the ball. The Bearcats had 173 yards on the ground, led by Kelvin Austin with 73.
Alex Whitehill paced the Tiger defensive effort with nine tackles, a forced fumble, a pass break-up and a half-sack. Timothy Parker had the lone interception for the Tigers.
Fort Hays State (3-6, 1-6 MIAA) plays its final home game of 2010 next Saturday (Nov. 6) against Missouri Southern. Game time is set for 2 pm at Lewis Field Stadium.
