Fort Hays State football brings a two-game win streak into the MIAA Television Network Game of the Week against Southwest Baptist on Saturday (Oct. 19) at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Fort Hays State enters at 2-4 overall, 1-4 in the MIAA, while Southwest Baptist is 1-5 overall, 1-4 in the MIAA. Game time is set for 2:30 pm.
The game can be viewed statewide on the affiliates of the MIAA Television Network. The game is also available online through America One for the usual $8 fee. Below is a link with the MIAA Television Network Channels...
MIAA Television Network
This is the first of two consecutive weeks that Fort Hays State will be featured in the Game of the Week. They will also be televised at Lincoln next week.
The all-time series between FHSU and SBU is tied 2-2. Fort Hays State won last year's meeting between the teams in Bolivar by a score of 37-34 in overtime. The Tigers scored a touchdown in the waning seconds to force overtime, then after an SBU field goal, they punched in the winning touchdown winning the game in thrilling fashion. That triggered a three-game win streak for the Tigers last year in October. The Tigers are looking to extend their current win streak to three games on Saturday. The last three games between FHSU and SBU have been decided by six points or less, with two of those three going to the Tigers.
The Fort Hays State offense was firing on all cylinders early in last week's win against Lindenwood. The fast start saw FHSU hold a 24-0 lead at halftime before holding on for a 31-17 victory. The Tigers churned out a season-high 490 yards of total offense in the game.
Andre Smith and
Treveon Albert did the majority of damage on offense. Smith had 138 rushing yards and Albert had 125, giving Fort Hays State its first pair of 100-yard rushers in the same game since 2004. It was just the 16th time since 1980 that it happened for FHSU. Albert also added 187 yards though the air with his arm.
For his efforts against Lindenwood, FHSU senior punter
Cameron Owens was named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week and a national player of the week by three organizations (D2Football.com, USA College Football, and Beyond College Sports Network). Owens
averaged 51.2 yards on his four punts against Lindenwood. Three of the four resulted in drives starting inside the Lindenwood 20-yardline. His longest punt of the day was 65 yards, resulting in the ball being downed at the Lindenwood 19. The average field start for Lindenwood on Owens' punts was the Lindenwood 17. Owens also averaged 56.8 yards on six kickoffs in the game. All four of his punts were at least 43 yards. Lindenwood scored on only one drive that started after a punt by Owens.
Jeremy Jones and
Micheal Jordan had nice games on defense last week. Jones had a pair of sacks and Jordan recorded his second interception of the season, helping set up a scoring drive for the Tigers.
Justin McPhail continues to lead the defense in tackles with 52, averaging 8.7 per game.
Southwest Baptist has a very deceiving 1-5 record. Two of their losses were by eight points or less and the other three losses were to nationally ranked opponents. The Bearcats' only win this year was over a Missouri Southern squad that is currently 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA.
