Box Score
Box Score

Turnovers forced by the Tiger defense were key in a comeback win against rival Emporia State on Thursday night (Sept. 1) in the season opener at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Emporia State led 17-7 midway through the third quarter, but the Tigers scored 20 unanswered points to post a win in Chris Brown's coaching debut.

Emporia State punched in its first drive for a touchdown in the second half with 8:13 remaining in the third quarter. The Tigers quickly responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive, using a pair of big-gain passes from Blake McAhren to Keaton Callins. The second was a 26-yard strike with Callins leaping above the defensive back to make the catch in the endzone for a touchdown, pulling the Tigers back within three.

The next ESU drive stalled out on the FHSU 32-yardline with Alex Whitehill dropping a receiver short of a first down, giving the Tigers the ball back with the momentum. It was one of Whitehill's team-leading 15 tackles on the evening. They seized the opportunity with a 20-yard field goal from Tyler Kimbrough with 12:48 remaining in the game to knot the score at 17-17.

Senior safety Korey Allison would be the difference maker for the Tigers in the clutch. He forced a fumble from Adrian Abner at the ESU 47-yardline and recovered it to set up the Tigers' go-ahead scoring drive. Kimbrough booted the seventh-longest field goal in FHSU history from 49 yards to put the Tigers up 20-17.

Emporia State was stopped again near midfield after A.J. Woodall forced a fumble recovered by Whitehill. It allowed FHSU to take more time off the clock and Ethan Kosjer pinned the Hornets deep with a pooch kick.

Allison came up with the biggest play of the night, intercepting Tyler Eckenrode at the FHSU 43-yardline and returned the ball 55 yards all the way to the ESU 2-yardline. That set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Edward Smith to put the game away. Sherod Murdock blocked a short ESU field goal attempt late to leave no doubt.

The rushing duo of Edward Smith and Andre Smith stepped up late to produce 103 second half rushing yards. The duo carried the ball 27 times in the second half. Edward Smith finished with 97 yards to go with his touchdown and Andre Smith had 92 yards, helping the Tigers to 197 total yards on the ground.

Blake McAhren had an efficient game at quarterback, completing 19-of-30 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Along with his touchdown to Callins, he connected with Anthony Smith in the second quarter from 13 yards out.

The Tigers moved to 1-0 overall and 1-0 in the MIAA with the win. They travel to Truman in Kirksville, Mo., next Saturday (Sept. 10) for their first road contest in the conference.