#12/13 Central Missouri (3-1, 1-1 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (3-2, 1-2 MIAA)
Saturday, October 5 – 7 PM
Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Stadium
 
Promotions:

• Homecoming sponsored by Big Creek Crossing
• Postgame Fireworks sponsored by J.Day Fireworks, Hays CVB, Horizon Appliance and Electronics, and Astra Bank.
• Ticket Promotion: Show your football ticket at 1 p.m. soccer match or 2 p.m. volleyball match on Saturday to get in FREE. Also can show your football ticket on Sunday to get into 2 p.m. soccer match for FREE.

 
Fort Hays State is back at home this week for Homecoming, ready to face No. 12/13 ranked Central Missouri. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 5) at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. The Tigers enter at 3-2 overall, 1-2 in the MIAA, while the Mules are 3-1 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA.
 
This will be the third AFCA Top 25 ranked team the Tigers face this season. FHSU notched a 21-7 win over No. 24 ranked Angelo State in the season opener in Hays, but fell last week to a No. 23 ranked Central Oklahoma team in Edmond 49-24.
 
Fort Hays State has had success against ranked Central Missouri teams in Hays. The Tigers are 3-1 against AFCA-ranked UCM teams in Hays since joining the MIAA in 2006, which includes wins in the last three games in Hays when UCM was ranked. FHSU defeated a No. 20 ranked UCM team 28-14 in 2015, a No. 13 ranked UCM team 35-6 in 2017, and a No. 18 ranked UCM team 20-16 in 2018. The only time UCM won in Hays while ranked in the AFCA Top 25 was in 2010 when it held a No. 12 ranking and won 30-27.
 
The last time the Tigers face a ranked team on Homecoming was in 2021 when a No. 12 ranked Nebraska-Kearney squad came to Hays. FHSU won that meeting 42-35 with a massive second-half comeback after trailing 21-0 at halftime.
 
Central Missouri holds an 11-8 advantage in the all-time series. The teams have split 10 previous meetings in Hays with five wins going to each side.
 
The Mules won last year's meeting with the Tigers by a score of 47-28 in Warrensburg. The Mules were ranked No. 11 in the AFCA Top 25 for that contest. FHSU held a 28-24 lead at halftime, but went scoreless in the second half and saw UCM race by with 23 unanswered points after halftime.
 
The Tigers faced the nation's top offense last week at Central Oklahoma, which averages 584.8 yards per game. This week, they face the No. 3 ranked offense in Central Missouri, which averages 565.0 per game. UCM quarterback Zach Zebrowski, the 2023 D2CCA National Offensive Player of the Year, leads NCAA Division II in passing yards (1,815), passing yards per game (452.5), and passing touchdowns (18).
 
Offensively for the Tigers, Shane Watts is averaging 134.4 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks third in the MIAA and 25^th in NCAA Division II. He also ranks in the same positions for the MIAA and nationally in rushing at 90.6 yards per game. Jabari Lewis leads the team in receiving yards with 278 following a career-high 79 receiving yards at Central Oklahoma last week. Jack Dawson has 865 passing yards for the season with five touchdowns.
 
The Tiger kicking game remains solid as Parker Janky ranks third nationally in punting average at 45.9 yards per attempt. Carson Arndt ranks fifth nationally in field goals made per game (1.8), converting nine of 11 attempts so far this season.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Makel Williams leads the MIAA in total tackles with 39. Mason Perez is also among the conference top 10 in tackles with 34. Myles Menges leads the Tigers in sacks with 3.0, while Sam Brandt leads in interceptions with two. In home games so far this season, the Tiger defense is allowing just 280.7 yards per game.