Fort Hays State (7-2, 6-2 MIAA) at
#11/8 Central Missouri (8-1, 8-1 MIAA)
Saturday, November 4 – 1 PM
Warrensburg, Mo. – Walton Stadium
 
Fort Hays State will face Central Missouri in a key battle that will have MIAA standings and NCAA postseason implications on Saturday (No. 4) in Warrensburg, Mo. The Mules are ranked No. 11 in the latest AFCA Top 25 Poll and No. 8 in the D2Football.com poll, while the Tigers are receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 Poll.
 
Central Missouri is only one game back in the loss column of undefeated Pittsburg State in the MIAA standings. PSU is 8-0 in the MIAA, while UCM is 8-1. Both teams are in the latest edition of the NCAA Super Region rankings with Pittsburg State at No. 1 and Central Missouri at No. 4. Though Fort Hays State is not in the top 10 right now, a win on Saturday could drastically raise the Tigers' stock for NCAA postseason consideration and pull the Tigers even in the loss column with Central Missouri in the MIAA standings. Pittsburg State takes on the No. 9 ranked team in the super region, Missouri Western (7-2, 6-2 MIAA), on Saturday in St. Joseph. That game could also have a big impact on conference standings and region rankings. Currently there are still four undefeated teams in Super Region 3, which includes Pittsburg State, Harding, Indianapolis, and Davenport.
 
This game pits the MIAA's top defense vs. the top offense. Fort Hays State owns the best total defense in the MIAA at only 254 yards allowed per game. The Tigers have held seven of nine opponents this year to less than 300 yards, but their season high allowed was 476 to Pittsburg State in Week 2. Central Missouri averages an NCAA-best 590.2 yards of offense per game. The season low for UCM this year was 442 yards against Pittsburg State in Week 3.
 
Central Missouri leads the all-time series with FHSU 10-8. The Tigers have closed the gap considerably, going 6-2 in the last eight meetings. FHSU won each of the last two meetings, taking the 2021 meeting in Warrensburg 21-17 and the 2022 meeting in Hays 27-14. In the 6-2 run by the Tigers over the last eight meetings, they held the Mules to less than 20 points in each of those wins. UCM scored 34 in each of its wins during that span (2019 and 2016), which were both in Warrensburg. UCM holds a 5-3 advantage in past meetings between the teams in Warrensburg.
 
The Fort Hays State rushing attack has been alive and well over the last five weeks during the team's five-game win streak. The Tigers had at least 196 rushing yards in all five games, and they went over 200 in all three home games during that run. Shane Watts has ran for over 100 yards in each of the last three games, becoming the first Tiger to rush for 100 or more yards in three straight since Charles Tigner did so during the 2018 season.
 
Meanwhile, the Tiger passing attack has been consistent, led by Jack Dawson with 2,209 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. The Tigers have produced at least 240 passing yards in all but two games this year and average 269.4 yards per game through the air. Trevor Watts (562) and Jayden Horace (500) both have at least 500 receiving yards this season, while Bryson Smith (359) and Cale Cormaney (335) are both north of 300. The Tigers have spread the ball around with 11 different players recording receiving touchdowns this season, but Horace leads the group with 10 receiving touchdowns, which is third-best in the MIAA. Watts ranks fourth in the MIAA in receptions (53).
 
The Tiger defensive unit has been solid as a whole. John Johnson leads the group in tackles with 61, followed by Makel Williams with 55. Williams and Kobe Rome share the team lead in interceptions with three each. The Tigers have 14 as a team, which ranks 13^th in NCAA Division II. Myles Menges has been disruptive in the backfield with 5.0 sacks in the last three games and leads the team with 5.5 sacks overall. He is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with Parrish Terry, both with 8.0.
 
The Tiger defense has the task of trying to slow down the nation's top passer this week in Zach Zebrowski, along with his solid core of receiving targets. Zebrowski leads NCAA Division II in passing yards (3,482) and passing touchdowns (41), and ranks second nationally in completions per game (32.8). Arkell Smith is the MIAA's top receiver with 975 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Mules are no slouch in the running game to counter their passing attack as Marcellous Hawkins is the second-leading rusher in the MIAA at 100.9 yards per game.