Box Score
Box Score

Fort Hays State held tight with No. 8 ranked Pittsburg State for two and a half quarters on a rainy, damp night for Homecoming in Hays. However, two key turnovers by the Tigers in the third quarter led to Pittsburg State seizing control of the game, on its way to a 38-17 win over FHSU. The Gorillas remained perfect on the year at 6-0, 5-0 in the MIAA, while Fort Hays State fell to 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the MIAA.

Down a touchdown at the half, Fort Hays State made things interesting by knotting things with a touchdown on the first drive of the second half. Quarterback Anthony Sheppard found the endzone with his legs from seven yards out to tie the game 17-17.

Pittsburg State held its ground and took the lead back on its first drive of the second half, an 8-play, 56-yard drive capped by a two-yard touchdown run from Eric Love to make it 24-17.

The Gorillas came up with the key defensive plays to seal the game on the next two Tiger drives. On the first drive, Anthony Sheppard had literally no time to make a hand off as John White of Pittsburg State blew through the line to force the fumble on the exchange. Paul Robinson of PSU recovered the ball on the FHSU 34-yardline. That set up an 8-play, 34-yard drive by the Gorillas capped by a 4-yard pass from Zac Dickey to Bristan Kelley to put PSU up 31-17.

Robinson would make the key play for PSU on the next FHSU drive as he intercepted an Anthony Sheppard pass at the FHSU 47-yardline and returned it all the way for a touchdown to put Pittsburg State up three touchdowns at 38-17. That would be the final score as neither team scored in the fourth quarter.

Pittsburg State dominated the time of possession in the game, 40:42 to 19:18. The Gorillas ran 82 plays compared to just 44 by the Tigers. Consequently, Pittsburg State racked up 502 total yards (343 rushing) to just 172 for FHSU.

Briceton Wilson was the horse for the Gorillas in the backfield, grinding out 189 yards on 35 carries and two touchdowns. Both of his scores were in the first half from 20 and four yards out. He had 111 yards at halftime. Nate Dreiling led the Gorillas on defense with 11 tackles and one sack.

The Fort Hays State ground attack had a tough time, churning out just 76 yards in the game. Andre Smith led the way with 35 yards on eight carries and one touchdown from six yards out in the first quarter. Anthony Sheppard finished 7-of-17 passing for 96 yards with one interception. Alex Whitehill, the leading tackler in NCAA Division II finished with 17, two above his season average. Korey Allison added 13 tackles and Layton Hickel finished with 11.

Fort Hays State hosts Central Missouri next Saturday at 6 pm in Hays for the MIAA Television Game of the Week. Central Missouri entered this week ranked No. 19 in the nation, but lost at home to No. 7 Northwest Missouri State on Saturday.