The Fort Hays State football team hosts Western State (Colo.) in the Eagle Communications Kickoff Classic on Saturday, August 28 at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Game time is set for 7 pm. The Tigers are looking to continue their rise in the MIAA after a 6-5 campaign last year.
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Promotions
-Postgame Fireworks Show brought to you by Fort Hays State University Athletics and Eagle Communications.
-Back massagers to the first 2,000 fans through the gate and t-shirts to be given away throughout the game, courtesy of Eagle Communications.
-Giveaway of a 2008 Hyundai Sonata, courtesy of Jim Harries Leasing and Sales of WaKeeney, Eagle Communications, Fox Kansas, and Fort Hays State University. A raffle for the car is being held in conjunction with the first annual Tiger Auction & Dinner, which will be held the evening before the game at the Fort Hays Ballroom in the Memorial Union on the campus of Fort Hays State University. Tickets for the auction and dinner are still available by calling (785) 628-5524. For more information, visit the auction website, www.tigerauction.org. Raffle chances for the car are $50 each.
Notes on the Game
Western State serves as Fort Hays State's season opening opponent for the second straight year. The Tigers defeated the Mountaineers last year on the road 45-17 to snap an 18-game losing streak that dated back to 2005. The Tigers exorcised their road demons last year by winning to more road games and finishing 3-3 on the road for the year. The Tigers were 3-2 last year at home. The schedule favors the Tigers this year with seven home games on the 2010 slate.
The Tigers had a record-setting performance against Western State last year, as they broke the NCAA Division II team record for most kickoff yards per return in a game (min. of 3 returns), averaging 52.8 yards per return (4 returns for 211 yards). The old record of 51.8 yards per return, set by West Alabama against Delta State on October 21, 1989, stood for nearly 20 years. FHSU also tied the MIAA record for most kickoff returns for touchdowns in a game (2), previously accomplished by Truman State against Pittsburg State in 2002. The Tigers amassed 376 yards on eight total returns (kickoffs and punts), averaging 47 yards on all returns. Fort Hays State scored three touchdowns on returns, with two on kickoffs and one on a punt. The first touchdown came just before halftime when Kenny Kinard took a kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown. Then C.J. Lovett took the opening kickoff of the second half 95 yards for a touchdown. On Western State's first punt of the second half, Lovett would strike again going 78 yards for a touchdown. Lovett and Kinard accounted for 374 of the 376 return yards in the game.
The last time Western State and FHSU met in Hays was 2007, also a season opener, with the Tigers winning 55-3. It was the largest margin of victory by either team in the series history. Western State leads the all-time series 12-9-1, but the Tigers have won three of the last four games.
Kevin Verdugo is in his sixth season as head coach of the Tigers. The Tigers enjoyed their best season under Verdugo last year with a 6-5 mark.
Fort Hays State quarterback Mike Garrison had a record-setting year in 2009. He broke the single-season record at FHSU for completion percentage, completing 61.0 percent of his passes (217-of-356). His 2,606 passing yards ranked third-best for a single season at FHSU. He also had 375 yards rushing, which amounted to 2,981 yards of total offense, also the third-most in school history. His 217 completions were the second-most for a single season at FHSU and his 18 touchdown passes tied for fourth-most in a single season. Garrison now has 3,501 passing yards in his career at FHSU, which ranks him sixth on the list at this time. If he throws for more than 128 yards in the season opener, he will jump all the way to fourth on the career list. He had a hand in 23 of 48 total touchdowns by the Tigers last year, since he also rushed for five. Garrison was an All-MIAA Second Team selection at quarterback.
The Tigers have two stout running backs listed at the top of the depth chart in senior James Walker and junior transfer Ricky Jacques. Walker was a workhorse for the Tigers last year as the team's leading rusher with 903 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also led the team in receptions with 42, making him a solid all-purpose back. He led the team in all-purpose yards with 1,184, averaging 107.6 per game. He posted the most rushing yards by a Tiger since 2004. Walker was an All-MIAA Second Team and Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Super Region 4 Third Team selection last year. Jacques is a transfer from Butler (Kan.) Community College. He was the leading rusher last year for the Grizzlies, posting 699 yards with three touchdowns. Ed Smith, true freshman from Miami, Fla., could also have a good chance at getting reps in the backfield. He was the second-leading rusher in Miami-Dade County last year as a senior in high school. Smith is a smaller back that adds the element of speed to the Tiger rushing attack.
Garrison has all of his all-conference receivers back this year to throw to, including seniors O.J. Murdock, Cordarol Scales, Anthony Smith and Beau Gadwood. Murdock, the top receiver for the Tigers by yardage last year, finished with 697 yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He was an All-MIAA Second Team selection last year, averaging a conference-best 19.9 yards per reception. He ranked third on the team in receptions with 35 last year. Scales was an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection in 2009. He ranked second on the team in receiving yards (507) and receptions (40). He averaged 12.7 yards per catch. Smith was an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection in 2009, playing a whole year as a wide receiver after having to split time at the quarterback role his previous two years. Smith finished with 297 yards on 25 catches, averaging 11.9 yards per catch. Gadwood, an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection at tight end, ranked fourth on the team in receptions with 26. He finished with 325 yards, averaging 12.5 yards per catch. The Tigers have more solid targets to throw, which includes senior returner Robert Mercer (15 catches for 241 yards, averaged 16.1 yards per catch). Ed Alcin, senior transfer from the University of South Florida, will give the Tigers another quality receiver. He is projected to start as a slot receiver in the season opener.
The Tigers have two returning starters on the defensive line, which includes seniors Jacob Crossman and Garrett Nikkel. Crossman led the team in sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (11.0). He ranked eighth on the team in tackles with 40. Nikkel was right behind Crossman in tackles, ranking ninth with 38. Nikkel is projected to start at left end and Crossman at defensive tackle. Brian Humphrey returns on the defensive line at right end after starting one game in that role last year. He finished with 29 tackles and ranked second on the team in tackles for loss with 6.5. The projected starter in the nose tackle role will be Edwin Herbert, junior transfer from the University of Florida.
The Tigers have all three of their starting linebackers returning in 2010, which includes Nick Dreitz, Brock Einspahr, and Layton Hickel. Dreitz led the team in tackles last year with 89. Hickel was third on the team in tackles with 79. Einspahr and Hickel split starts last year in the two-linebacker system. Hickel enters this year as a back-up, with Alex Whitehill projected as the third starting linebacker along with Dreitz and Einspahr. Whitehill was seventh on the team in tackles last year with 42.
Fort Hays State will have two new starting cornerbacks this year with the departure of C.J. Lovett and Gordon Butler. Wayne Shepheard and Timothy Parker, who each saw significant time in back-up roles in the secondary last year, are the frontrunners heading into the season. A true cornerback, Shepheard had to play out of position last year more in a safety role in the five defensive back scheme. Parker saw a few starts at cornerback down the stretch due to injuries, but was just a true freshman last year. Backing the pair up will be junior college transfers Thomas Walker and Korey Allison. Both are from California junior colleges, with Walker from Compton College and Allison from Laney College.
Two of the hardest hitting defenders on the Tiger defense are projected to start at safety, seniors Seth Blackwell and Michael Walker. Blackwell ranked second on the team in tackles last year with 82. He also had one interception to his credit. Walker played in just eight games last year, missing the last three to injury, but still finished fourth on the team in tackles overall with 65. He led the team in tackles per game (8.1). Joining the bruising tandem to give the Tigers much needed depth is Roderick Jenrette, senior transfer from Michigan State University. Jenrette started in two games for the Spartans last year before suffering a season-ending injury.
Fort Hays State will have a new look at the placekicker position this year with the departure of All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection Nathan Rausa. Taking his place will be Tyler Kimbrough, sophomore transfer from the University of West Alabama. Kimbrough was 4-of-6 on field goal attempts and 16-of-21 on extra-point attempts last year as a freshman at UWA. Ethan Kosjer will resume his role as the team's punter. Kosjer averaged a conference-best 40.3 yards per punt last year and earned All-MIAA Second Team honors. He was also a Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Super Region 4 Third Team selection at punter. Kosjer may also be utilized for kickoffs.
