Fort Hays State (3-3, 3-3 MIAA) at Emporia State (3-3, 3-3 MIAA) Saturday, October 18, 2014 - 2 pm Emporia, Kan. - Welch Stadium

Fort Hays State football travels to Emporia State on Saturday (Oct. 18) looking to snap its current two-game skid. The Tigers and Hornets each enter the game at 3-3 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA. Game time is set for 2 pm at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kan.

The Tigers jumped out to a 3-1 start this season, which included a win over then No. 8 ranked Pittsburg State on Sept. 27, but have dropped two straight since. After a 27-24 overtime loss at Washburn a couple weeks ago, the Tigers fell to Missouri Western 26-7 in the Homecoming game last week in Hays.

After a 9-2 record last year and NCAA Playoff appearance, Emporia State has struggled to a 3-3 record so far this year. The Hornets are coming off a loss at Pittsburg State this past week by a score of 45-17. The Hornets are struggling to limit opponent points as they are giving up an average of 34 per game so far. In all six games so far, Emporia State allowed 22 or more points. However, ESU has scored 31 or more in four of six games, with 14 as its season low against Central Oklahoma and 53 as its season high against Missouri Southern. The Hornets rank third in the MIAA in scoring at 32.3 points per game.

Fort Hays State's defense has been good this year, keeping opponents under 30 points in all six games so far this year. The Tigers are fourth in the MIAA in scoring defense, allowing 17.5 points per game (almost half of what ESU is allowing). However, the offense has struggled at times, ranking 10th in the conference in total yards per game (297.2) and eighth in scoring (18.8 points per game).

Micheal Jordan had a big defensive game last week for the Tigers with a career-high 19 tackles, the most produced in a game this year by a Tiger. Brock Long leads the defense in tackles with 50, while Justin McPhail is having a great all-around year with 46 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss (leads team), 3.5 sacks (third in MIAA), and two interceptions. Joita Te'i is second in the MIAA in sacks with 4.0.

Ed Williams is coming off the fourth-best single-game receiving performance in school history, racking up 215 yards on 15 catches last week. He was just one reception shy of tying the school record for receptions in a game. Williams now has 543 receiving yards for the season on 34 catches. He is second in the MIAA in receptions per game (5.5) and third in receiving yards per game (90.5). Treveon Albert had his first 300-plus yard passing performance of the year, completing 30-of-49 attempts last week for 343 yards. Edward Smith leads the rushing attack for the year with a total of 308 yards on the season.