Fort Hays State opens the 2012 football season at Emporia State on Thursday evening (Aug. 30). Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kan. The Tigers open with the Hornets for the second straight year and won the meeting last year in Hays by a score of 27-17.
Thursday marks the 86th meeting between the schools, the longest-running series in FHSU history against another school. Emporia State has a sizeable lead in the all-time series, 50-33-2. The home team has been victorious in this match-up over the last six years. The Tigers are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in Emporia, as 2000 was the last year they claimed victory on the Hornets' home turf.
Fort Hays State and Emporia State tied in the MIAA standings last year for sixth, each at 3-6 in conference play. The sixth-place finish tied the highest-ever finish by the Tigers in the MIAA since joining in 2006. Five more teams join the conference in football this year with the addition of Nebraska-Kearney, Central Oklahoma, Northeastern State (Okla.) and Lindenwood (Mo.), and Southwest Baptist rejoins in football after playing as an independent for several years.
The Tigers are looking to tie the school record for most consecutive wins in season openers. The FHSU streak currently stands at five wins in season openers and a win at Emporia State on Thursday would tie the six in a row from 1946-51.
On offense, the Tigers return the majority of their skill position players from last year.
Andre Smith and
Edward Smith return to the backfield after churning out 1,711 yards combined last year.
Andre Smith was an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection with 963 rushing yards, while
Edward Smith had 748 rushing yards.
Quarterback
Anthony Sheppard, who took over the starting job midway through last year, is also back after throwing for 889 yards with a 58.1 completion percentage. He has been challenged for the starting job all through training camp by
Tarean Austin, a Division I transfer with starting experience from the University of New Mexico.
Keaton Callins and
Cornelius Gallon are the top returners at wide receiver after the two combined for 39 receptions and just under 500 receiving yards last year.
Tanner Hageman also returns after seeing starts last year and
Grant Brown is the top returning tight end.
The offensive line has three seniors retuning that were regular starters last year, which includes All-MIAA Second Team selection
Hawk Rouse at left guard,
Josh Reese at left tackle, and
Logan Jones at right tackle. Two redshirt-freshmen are expected to start the first game, which includes center
Jarred Stindt and right guard
Matt Erbert, a local product from Ellis.
On defense,
Kyle Perry leads the defensive line returners after garnering All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors last year with 6.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss at defensive end. He ranked fifth on the team in tackles.
Aaron Burton also returns at defensive tackle after a solid 2011 campaign.
Jesse Trent moves into a starting role after seeing significant time as a true freshman last year and
Luke Keener also steps into a starting role opposite of Perry on the other end.
At linebacker, AJ Woodall and
Michael Terry will most likely get the starting nods at Emporia State and look to fill the shoes of All-American
Alex Whitehill, who led Division II in tackles last year with 164 in his final season with the Tigers. Also looking to help in the middle are
Layton Hickel,
Austin Hubert, and
Zach Nash at the bandit position. Hickel is the top returning tackler with 74 in 2011, which ranked third on the team. Nash had 56 tackles, which ranked sixth.
In the defensive secondary, All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection
Keke Paul returns at cornerback after leading the MIAA in passes defended (14) and pass break-ups (12) in 2011. He was also a key return man for the Tigers on special teams. Projected to start opposite of him is
Andreas Ashwood, a Division I transfer from University of Toledo that sat out as a redshirt last year at FHSU. Sophomore
Micheal Jordan is projected to get the start at free safety after seeing significant time on the field as a true freshman in 2011.
There are five other MIAA match-ups to start the year on Thursday evening. Four schools from the MIAA begin the season in the national rankings and the Tigers will see three of them in consecutive weeks following the game at Emporia State. Pittsburg State, the defending national champion, starts the year No. 1. Northwest Missouri State is No. 3, Missouri Western is No. 18, and Washburn is No. 20. Ahead for the Tigers will be Washburn at home, Northwest Missouri on the road, and Missouri Western at home.
