Box Score

An amazing touchdown grab by Cornelius Gallon on fourth and goal near the end of regulation forced overtime at Southwest Baptist on Saturday (Oct. 13). After SBU kicked a field goal to open the overtime period, Tanner Hageman lifted the Tigers to victory with a 7-yard touchdown reception from Tarean Austin.

Gallon had three receiving touchdowns in the game for FHSU, the biggest his game-tying touchdown with three seconds to go. Gallon was diving out of the back of the endzone on a pass from Anthony Sheppard, who had just entered the game two plays earlier for an injured Tarean Austin, and made the reception dragging his foot inbounds to tie the game at 31-31. It capped a 19-play, 86-yard drive for the Tigers which spanned 4:45. The Tigers converted a couple of fourth down plays on the drive to march down the field and eventually knot the game.

After SBU jumped out to a 7-0 lead through one quarter, the Tigers took control of the game by having the ball for nearly the entire second quarter. A 13-yard touchdown run by Austin tied the game at 7-7 at the 12:04 mark of the second, capping a nine-play, 61-yard drive that took 4:46. The Tigers chewed up nearly nine minutes in the quarter with a 16-play, 80-yard drive capped with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Austin to Gallon with 57 seconds remaining in the half to go up a touchdown. John Colliver punched a 47-yard field goal through just before halftime to pull SBU within four at 14-10.

The FHSU lead grew to 11 in the third quarter at the 7:12 mark when Austin found Gallon again for a three-yard touchdown reception. However, SBU cut the lead back to four with a touchdown pass from Dan Connors to Derwin Lauderdale at the 4:44 mark of the third.

The momentum shifted in the direction of the Bearcats early in the fourth quarter. On 3rd-and-5 from their own 7-yardline, Dan Connors completed an 83-yard pass to Lauderdale for SBU, which set up a five-yard touchdown run by Robert McWright. That put SBU on top 24-21.

The Bearcats struck again when Austin threw an interception for FHSU and Evan Ray returned the ball 46 yards to the endzone to make it 31-21 in favor of SBU.

On the ensuing drive, the Tigers marched the ball all the way down to the SBU 5-yardline, but a pair of sacks forced FHSU to a 36-yard field goal from Drew O'Brien.

The FHSU defense forced the 3-and-out from the SBU offense it needed, getting the ball back to begin its march down the field to eventually tie the game on Gallon's heroics.

In overtime, SBU could not record a first down and settled for a 35-yard field goal from John Colliver. The Tigers picked up a pair of first downs before Austin, who re-entered the game at quarterback in overtime, found Hageman for the game-winning touchdown.

Shaun Ohlde led the Tiger rushing attack with a workman-like 91 yards on 29 carries. Austin added 57 yards to the rushing attack as the Tigers had 157 yards on the ground. Austin had his biggest passing game of the year, completing 22-of-39 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Anthony Sheppard was 1-of-1 for 8 yards and a touchdown, which tied the game, giving FHSU four touchdowns through the air. Cornelius Gallon hauled in nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns, the first 100-yard receiving game of the year for the Tigers.

Layton Hickel led the Tiger defense with seven tackles. Basil Bandy had two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the game.

Dan Connors threw for 251 yards on 15-of-29 passing for SBU. Derwin Lauderdale had 101 receiving yards. Shaquille Shedd led the SBU defense with 17 tackles.

Fort Hays State turns its focus to a home contest with Lincoln University next Saturday (Oct. 20) at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Game time is set for 2:30 pm as the Tigers play in the MIAA Television Network Game of the Week for the second straight week.