#10 Ferris State (10-1) at #4 Fort Hays State (11-0) NCAA Division II Playoffs - Second Round Saturday, November 25 - 1 pm Hays, Kan. - Lewis Field Stadium

Fort Hays State prepares for its first NCAA Division II Playoff game since 1995 when it hosts Ferris State (Mich.) on Saturday (Nov. 25) at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. The No. 4 ranked Tigers (11-0) take on the No. 10 ranked Bulldogs (10-1) starting at 1 pm.
 
This is the first time Fort Hays State has hosted an NCAA Division II Playoff game in Hays. The Tigers made appearances in the NCAA Playoffs in 1993 and 1995, but lost each time on the road in their opening game. FHSU fell at California-Davis in 1993 and Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1995. This will be the first time FHSU has ever faced a team from Michigan in football.
 
This game will pit a pair of teams that look very similar in terms of scoring and total yards. Fort Hays State averages 33.4 points per game, while Ferris State averages 33.2. Fort Hays State ranks seventh in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 13.8 points per game, while Ferris State is 11^th allowing 14.6 per game. For total yards, Fort Hays State averages 452.9 yards per game, while Ferris State averages 438.8. Defensively, Ferris State allows 275.9 yards per game, while Fort Hays State allows 292.6.
 
With the No. 1 seed in Super Region 3, Fort Hays State received a bye past the opening round of the playoffs. Ferris State, the No. 4 seed in the Super Region, defeated No. 5 seed Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) last week 24-19 in Big Rapids, Mich.
 
Fort Hays State has been rock solid in the second half of games this year, allowing just 5.2 points on average after halftime. Since two of the 57 second half points surrendered this year were on a safety, the Tiger defense has technically allowed only 55 second-half points, an average of just 5 per second half this season. FHSU posted second half shutouts against four teams this season. FHSU allowed less than 10 second-half points in nine of the 11 games this season.
 
Now with just 16 teams remaining in the playoff field, FHSU is one of five undefeated teams that remain. Minnesota State, Indiana (Pa.), Midwestern State, and Central Washington are still undefeated. Three of those four are still alive in Super Region 4.
 
Fort Hays State had a program record 21 players named to All-MIAA status this season, which includes Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Shepherd and Special Teams Player of the Year Brandon Brown. Chris Brown earned MIAA Coach of the Year for guiding FHSU to its first-ever MIAA Championship in football and 11^th conference title in program history.
 
Kenneth Iheme, a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Player of the Year in NCAA Division II), is averaging 110.7 rushing yards per game with 1,218 for the season. He averages 139.3 all-purpose yards per game. He is a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection at running back and rushed for at least 100 yards in six games this season.
 
Jacob Mezera, an All-MIAA Second Team selection this year, is the signal caller for the Tigers, averaging 241.3 passing yards per game. He has 22 passing touchdowns this season and is completing passes at a 66.2 percent rate. His top receiving target is Monterio Burchfield, an All-MIAA First Team selection at receiver, with 911 yards on 44 catches.
 
On defense, Nathan Shepherd anchors the defensive line at defensive tackle, leading the team in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (12). Jose Delgado, an All-MIAA First Team selection alongside Shepherd, leads the team in tackles with 94. Another pair of first-team all-conference selections patrol the secondary in Doyin Jibowu at bandit back and Kamon Clayton at cornerback. Jibowu leads the team in passes defended with 14, recording a team-best five interceptions with nine pass break-ups. Clayton leads the team in pass break-ups with 12.
 
The winner of Saturday's contest will move on to the Super Region 3 Final (national quarterfinals) on December 2. The winning team will face either Ashland (Ohio) or Harding (Ark.) in that game.