The Fort Hays State football team rolled to a 45-20 win in the season opener against Western State at home last Saturday. The Tigers look to finish non-conference play perfect for the second straight year as they host East Central (Okla.) University on Saturday, September 4 at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Game time is set for 7 pm.
Game Central
Game Notes, Listen Live, Watch Live, Live Stats, Tickets
Promotion
-"Take a Kid to the Game"...Free youth ticket is available with the purchase of an adult ticket.
Notes on the Game
The Tigers are coming off their best total offense performance in six years under head coach Kevin Verdugo. The Tigers racked up 543 yards of total offense last week, averaging 7.9 yards per play. This was the first time any FHSU team under Verdugo gained more than 500 yards in a game. It was the most in a game for the Tigers since October 9, 2004, when they gained 639 yards against Fort Lewis College in Hays.
East Central University is led by fourth-year head coach Tim McCarty, a graduate of Fort Hays State University. McCarty is in his second stint as the head coach at East Central. He coached East Central in 2004 and 2005 before moving on to be an assistant coach at Kansas State University for three years. McCarty returned to East Central as head coach prior to last year. He was a member of the 1983 Fort Hays State team that finished 8-3 and then was a student assistant at FHSU the next two years.
East Central was 0-11 last year, but that does not mean anything as McCarty has loaded his roster with high quality talent from the junior college ranks. Several players on the roster are from the top junior college program in California last year. ECU has enjoyed a quick turnaround under McCarty once before and looks primed to do the same this year. This is a team that cannot be overlooked based on last year's results.
Senior quarterback Mike Garrison was the top offensive player for Fort Hays State last week, completing 18-of-30 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a team-high 100 yards on just seven carries, reaching the endzone once on a 65-yard scamper.
The Tigers had a huge game running the ball against Western State. The Tigers accumulated 295 yards on the ground, the most under Verdugo, The performance marked the most rushing yards for FHSU in a game since 2004, when it totaled 440 against Oklahoma-Panhandle State. All three running backs that played for FHSU had more than 50 yards. James Walker had 91 yards on 11 carries, Ricky Jacques had 55 yards on 10 carries, and Ed Smith had 51 yards on nine carries. The Tigers averaged 7.8 yards per carrry as a team.
Garrison also managed to get several receivers involved in the offensive onslaught against Western State. He connected with eight different players, with Beau Gadwood leading in total receiving yards for the game (50). Ricky Jacques caught the most passes (5). Touchdown passes were to James Walker and Cordarol Scales. Scales' only reception of the game was a 48-yard touchdown
The run-stopping defense the Tigers struggled to produce last year showed up against Western State. The Tigers held the Mountaineers to just 33 yards on 28 carries. Linebackers Alex Whitehill and Nick Dreitz led the Tigers in tackles (7) in the opener.
Fort Hays State kicker Tyler Kimbrough jumped into the record books on his first field goal attempt as a Tiger. The sophomore drilled a 52-yarder to tie the third-longest field goal in school history. He later missed a 55-yard attempt, but finished 6-of-6 for the night on extra points.
Following the game with East Central on Saturday, the Tigers will have a bye week before beginning MIAA play on September 18 against Truman in the annual Tailgreat game at Lewis Field Stadium. Remember to reserve your plot of land for the festivities by calling the Hays Chamber of Commerce at (785) 628-8201.
