Box Score

The Fort Hays State football team had a great opportunity to knock off No. 12 ranked Central Missouri on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 9) in Hays, but it was not to be. Central Missouri broke a tie with 29 seconds remaining on a 28-yard field goal, dashing the hopes of the upset minded Tigers by a score of 30-27. Fort Hays State is now 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State had two great chances late to keep their hopes alive. The Tigers were stopped on a 4th-and-4 situation at the Central Missouri 33-yard line with 3:38 remaining in the game. A first down may have allowed the Tigers to get into field goal range, but a pass to James Walker was stopped a couple of yards short of the first down marker.

Then, with just under a minute and a half remaining, a Central Missouri pass was tipped high into the air that went right through the arms of a Tiger defender in the endzone, which was a chance to get the ball back and possibly force overtime or have a chance to win. Instead, the Central Missouri drive stayed alive that produced the game-winning field goal.

Central Missouri led 20-14 at halftime. An interception by Stephen Marcotte at the Central Missouri 45-yardline returned to the 19 set up a Mike Garrison touchdown run with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point failed, which left the game tied. Central Missouri took the lead back at 27-20 with 2:01 remaining in the third, but the Tigers answered with 14:20 remaining on a 34-yard touchdown run by James Walker. Both teams would come up empty on their next two drives before Central Missouri had its game winning drive.

Mike Garrison was very efficient throwing the ball for the Tigers, completing 22-of-29 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. His only interception was a "hail mary" heave to the endzone at the end of the first half. He also ran for 57 yards and a touchdown. James Walker led the rushing attack with 118 yards on 17 carries with one touchdown. O.J. Murdock had three catches for 116 yards and one touchdown of 76 yards which was the first score of the game.

Wayne Shepheard led the Tigers in tackles with 16. He also had an interception. Also collecting interceptions were Korey Allison and Stephen Marcotte. Seth Blackwell had 13 tackles and Alex Whitehill added 12.

Eric Czerniewski led the Central Missouri offense, completing 39-of-56 passing attempts for 385 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice by the Tigers. Anthony Stewart ran for 113 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns.

The Tigers return to action next Saturday (Oct. 16) at Nebraska-Omaha. Game time is set for 1 pm in Omaha.