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FHSU football hosts Central Missouri at Lewis Field Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 15) at 6 pm. The game will be televised live on the MIAA Network as the MIAA Network Game of the Week. Fort Hays State enters the game with a 2-4 overall record and 2-3 mark in the MIAA, while Central Missouri enters at 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA.

This will be the second straight year that the teams meet in Hays as the MIAA Network Game of the Week. Last year, the Tigers nearly upset the Mules in Hays. Central Missouri was ranked No. 12 in the nation at the time and broke a tie on a field goal with just under 30 seconds remaining to claim a 30-27 win. The Mules were ranked No. 19 in the nation last week, but fell out of the AFCA Division II poll after a loss to No. 7 ranked Northwest Missouri State. The Mules are still ranked No. 20 in the D2Football.com poll.

Fort Hays State is looking for its first win over Central Missouri since joining the MIAA. The Tigers are 0-5 against the Mules since joining the conference in 2006. Last year's game was the closest margin to decide a match-up between the teams in MIAA play. Fort Hays State was 2-0 against Central Missouri in the all-time series before UCM began its current five-game streak over the Tigers.

Fort Hays State is coming off a loss to No. 8 ranked Pittsburg State last week in Hays by a score of 38-17. The Tigers were hanging with the Gorillas, tied 17-17 midway through the third quarter, but two key turnovers led to scores for Pittsburg State to put the game away.

The Mules had no problems putting points on the board in their four wins this year. They scored 42 or more all four of the wins, but 20 or less in their two losses.

The Tigers have been involved in four games decided by 10 points or less this year. That includes a 27-17 win over Emporia State and 24-21 win over Lincoln, and a 36-31 loss at Truman and a 30-28 loss to Southwest Baptist. The games decided by more than 10 were losses to the No. 1 and No. 8 ranked teams in the nation at the time. 

Defense has been an area of concern for both teams this year, as the Mules are allowing 439.3 yards per game and the Tigers are allowing 449.3 yards per game.

Central Missouri enters the game as the top passing offense in the MIAA, averaging 343.2 yards per game through the air. The Mules rank fourth nationally in pass offense. Consequently, UCM is last in the MIAA in rushing, averaging just 90.8 yards per game on the ground.

Fort Hays State slipped to fifth in the MIAA in rushing after gaining just 76 yards on the ground against Pittsburg State. The Tigers entered that game averaging just over 211 yards per game on the ground. They are now averaging 189.2 yards per game rushing. Andre Smith led the MIAA in rushing prior to the Pittsburg State game, but slipped to second after rushing for just 35 yards against PSU. He is averaging 98.7 yards per game on the ground.

Alex Whitehill continues to lead NCAA Division II in tackles with 92 this season. He is averaging 15.3 per game. He has 15 more than the next closest player. He led the team last week with 17 against Pittsburg State. Ethan Kosjer is still ranked second nationally and first in the MIAA in punting, averaging 44.2 yards per punt.