Box Score

Fort Hays State made things interesting early trailing just seven points at halftime, but a rash of miscues in the third quarter led to a 52-21 loss at No. 6 ranked Missouri Western in St. Joseph Saturday night (Sept. 28). FHSU dropped to 0-4 overall and 0-4 in the MIAA with the loss.
 
The Tigers made their presence known early by marching 70 yards down the field for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Edward Smith capped a 12-play drive with a six-yard touchdown reception from Treveon Albert. It marked the first time the Tigers scored in the first quarter this year and also their first lead of the year.
 
However, the lead lasted only 13 seconds as the Griffons' Dominic Thomas returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to knot the score at 7-7. It was the second straight game against the Griffons in St. Joseph that the Tigers allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown on Missouri Western's first possession of the game. It also happened in 2010 when the Griffons took the opening kickoff back 100 yards.
 
Penalties were critical in killing the next two FHSU drives as each reached Griffon territory. The Griffons took the lead just after the start of the second quarter with a five-yard touchdown run to cap an 80-yard drive.
 
The penalty bug really cost the Tigers on what could have been a game-tying drive in the second quarter. Treveon Albert completed a nine-yard pass to Tanner Hageman to get the ball to the MWSU 1-yardline, but it was negated by an illegal block that turned into a 16-yard penalty. Then Albert was sacked for a nine yard loss back to the MWSU 35-yardline and Drew O'Brien came up short on a 52-yard field goal attempt. The Griffons took over and marched down the field to score on a two-yard touchdown run to make it 21-7 in their favor.
 
FHSU and MWSU traded interceptions on the next two drives. Justin McPhail made the interception for FHSU count setting up a 48-yard scoring drive capped on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Albert to Tanner Hageman with eight seconds remaining in the first half. Missouri Western only led FHSU by seven at the break, 21-14.
 
Missouri Western marched 75 yards on the opening drive of the second half to score a touchdown to make it 28-14, then a rash of miscues would prove to be the Tigers' undoing.  Punter Cameron Owens slipped and fell at the FHSU 1-yardline on a punt attempt, giving the Griffons a very short field to score on. It took the Griffons just one play to make it 35-14. Then, on the ensuing kickoff the Tigers fumbled and Missouri Western recovered. MWSU needed just 19 seconds to find the endzone again on a 17-yard touchdown pass. Missouri Western went from leading 28-14 to 42-14 in just a matter of 24 seconds on the game clock.
 
Even though the Tigers marched 65 yards back down the field for a touchdown, capped by a two-yard run by Edward Smith to make it 42-21, the damage was too much to overcome. The Griffons punched in one more touchdown late in the third quarter and tacked on a field goal in the fourth for the eventual 52-21 final.
 
Andre Smith led the Tigers in rushing with 71 yards, while quarterback Treveon Albert threw for 189 yards, completing 23 of 39 attempts. Keaton Callins had a team-best nine receptions for 85 yards. Justin McPhail led the Tiger defense with 10 tackles and one interception.
 
Raphael Spencer led Missouri Western in rushing with 84 yards with two touchdowns. Quarterback Travis Partridge completed 13 of 22 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
 
The Tigers held their opponent under 500 yards of total offense for the first time this year, allowing just 399 to the Griffons. The Tigers had success moving the ball in the game with 24 first downs and 307 yards of total offense, however 10 penalties for 79 yards and the two third quarter miscues proved to be costly in what was a closely contested game until the third quarter.
 
Now, after playing four consecutive teams that are currently in the top 25 of the national rankings, the Tigers remain in search of their first win in 2013 next week against William Jewell in the annual Homecoming game. Kickoff is set for 7 pm at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays on Saturday (Oct. 5).