HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State football picked up its second win over a Top 25 ranked team this season by knocking off No. 12 ranked Central Missouri 31-21 for Homecoming in Hays. The Tigers improved to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA, while the Mules fell to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the MIAA. The Tigers also remained unbeaten at home this year in front of 7,135 fans, the largest crowd since Homecoming in 2018 when 7,140 attended a shutout win over Central Oklahoma.
 
Fort Hays State is now 4-1 against AFCA Top 25 ranked Central Missouri teams in Hays, running its streak to four-straight wins over the Mules in Hays when they are ranked. It's Fort Hays State's first Homecoming win over a ranked team since 2021 when they knocked off a Nebraska-Kearney team, also ranked No. 12 at the time.
 
The Tigers scored on their first drive of the game, going 53 yards over nine plays that was capped on a 1-yard run by Shane Watts. Big plays on the drive included an 18-yard pass play to Shane Watts and a 14-yard run by Caleb Heavner. The Tigers led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Central Missouri leveled the score at 7-7 early in the second quarter when Zach Zebrowski found C'ing Blanton for a 36-yard touchdown pass. However, the Tigers responded immediately on their next drive, marching 75 yards over five plays for their second touchdown. On the drive, Heavner had a 31-yard run, a 36-yard pass to Jabari Lewis, and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Horace to put the Tigers back up 14-7. Later in the second quarter, Heavner found Ryan Allen on a short pass and he broke free from a tackle for a 40-yard touchdown. The Tigers led 21-7 at halftime.
 
Neither team scored in the third quarter and then the Tigers added on to their lead early in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard field goal by Carson Arndt. It was Arndt's longest field goal as a Tiger, topping his previous best of 44.
 
Central Missouri instantly closed back within 10 points on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Zebrowski to Zach Patterson. However, the Tigers put any doubt to bed by answering with a 7-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. Caleb Heavner scrambled for a 38-yard touchdown run at the end of the drive to push the score to 31-14. The Mules added a final touchdown with just over a minute to go, but the Tigers recovered the ensuing onside kick to put the game on ice.
 
In his first start at quarterback for the Tigers, Heavner completed 24-of-30 passes for 302 yards. He also ran for 97 yards to finish with 399 yards of total offense. Horace finished with 70 receiving yards on seven receptions to lead the Tigers, while Heavner led in rushing. Makel Williams led the Tiger defense with 14 tackles, while Kobe Rome (11) and John Johnson (10) also reached double figures.
 
FHSU generated 445 yards of total offense, while UCM had 533. Zebrowski for UCM, the nation's top passing quarterback, finished with 471 yards through the air. Patterson had 232 receiving yards for the Mules 10 catches.
 
Fort Hays State remains at home next week when it hosts Washburn at Lewis Field Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 12). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium.