Fort Hays State football kicks off the 2013 season on Thursday night (Sept. 5) at home against long-time rival Emporia State. The teams are set to collide at 7 pm. This is the 87th meeting between the schools in football and the home team has won each of the last seven contests dating back to 2006. Fort Hays State is looking to improve upon a 5-6 overall and 4-6 MIAA record from last year.
Emporia State won last year's meeting in Emporia by a score of 41-18. ESU would eventually jump into the national rankings and started the 2012 season 8-0 before finishing at 10-2 overall and 9-2 in the MIAA. The Hornets won the Kanza Bowl by seven points over Lone Star Conference affiliate Texas A&M-Kingsville, 45-38, to cap their strong 2012 season. The Hornets begin this season receiving votes in the national poll.
With four wins in conference play last year, the Tigers tied their highest win total in the MIAA since joining the conference in 2006, matching the 2009 team. After an 0-4 start to the 2012 season, the Tigers closed out the last seven games at 5-2.
The Tigers have just one All-MIAA selection from 2012 returning in
Micheal Jordan, a junior defensive back that recorded 87 tackles last season. However,
Andre Smith and
Edward Smith return at running back in 2013 after both suffered early season-ending injuries in 2012. Both received medical hardships to get their years of eligibility back. The pair combined for 1,711 rushing yards in 2011 and
Andre Smith was an All-MIAA Honorable Mention pick that year.
Fort Hays State has won the last three meetings with ESU in Hays, all by at least 10 points. The teams last met in Hays in 2011 with FHSU pulling out a 27-17 win.
Fans will see a new look to Lewis Field Stadium on Thursday night with the new artificial playing surface and Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility overlooking the stadium from the southeast. The new field features the Tiger logo at midfield and black endzones with gold lettering.
