#21/16 Emporia State (8-2, 6-2 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (3-7, 2-6 MIAA) at
Saturday, November 14 – 1 p.m.
Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Stadium
 
The Tigers wrap up the 2026 season on Saturday playing host to Emporia State for Senior Day at Lewis Field Stadium. It's also Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The Tigers enter at 3-7 overall and 2-6 in the MIAA, while the Hornets are 8-2 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA.
 
Television – MIAA TV Game of the Week
This contest will broadcast live on The Spot – Kansas City 38 in the Kansas City viewership area. The game will still be available on The MIAA Network with a subscription (single game, month or all-access).
 
Promotions
Senior Day – Tiger senior football players, manager, and trainers will be recognized prior to the game, starting at 28 minutes on the pregame clock.
Military Appreciation Day – FREE Admission for all veterans and active duty members of the military.
Helicopter Delivering Game Ball – A helicopter will land at midfield to deliver the game ball during pregame.
 
How to Watch
The game will be available on The MIAA Network. Subscriptions to the network are as follows…
 
All-Access Pass: $140 (all sports, all events on The MIAA Network in 2026-27)
Monthly Pass: $35 (all events on the network within a calendar month from time of subscription)
Individual Broadcast Pass: $15
 
Series History
ESU leads 57-39-2
Last Meeting: FHSU won 13-7 in Hays (11/15/25)
FHSU Record in Hays: 23-24-1
FHSU Record in Emporia: 16-33-1
 
99th All-Time Meeting
Fort Hays State and Emporia State meet for the 99th time on Saturday. ESU leads the all-time series 57-39-2. FHSU has won the last two meetings.

Weekly Press Conference
Head Coach Chris Brown talked about the upcoming game with Nebraska-Kearney. Defensive lineman Jaden Barker and wide receiver Chase Cottam also fielded questions. Watch video below courtesy of Hays Post Sports.  



Weekly Tiger Talk
Head Coach Chris Brown and defensive lineman Taderian Partee join Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock on the November 9, 2026 edition of the show.



Tigers Win in Emporia 2-Straight Years
Fort Hays State won the last 2 meetings with Emporia State and both were in Emporia. The Tigers defeated the Hornets last year by a score of 13-7 and by a score of 36-7 in 2024. The Hornets were ranked No. 11/13 in the nation for the 2024 meeting. The Tigers, however, are looking for their first win over the Hornets in Hays since 2019. Emporia State has won the last two meetings between the teams in Hays (2021 and 2023).
 
Last Year's Meeting in Emporia
Fort Hays State never trailed in last year's 13-7 win at Emporia State. FHSU jumped out to a 10-0 lead after one quarter and added a field goal in the fourth quarter to build a 13-0 lead before ESU scored a touchdown with just 46 seconds remaining in the game. FHSU held ESU to just 188 yards of total offense last year. In the 2024 meeting, FHSU held ESU to just 138 yards of total offense.
 
Last Meeting in Hays
The last meeting between FHSU and ESU in Hays was a barn burner offensively with ESU taking a 45-42 result. FHSU generated 513 yards of total offense, while ESU had 484 (997 total by both teams). That is a stark contrast to FHSU holding ESU under 200 yards of total offense in each of the last two meetings between the teams.
 
Against the Hornets in MIAA Play
Emporia State holds a 10-9 advantage in MIAA play over FHSU. The series was knotted at 7-7 in MIAA play until ESU's 3-game win streak from 2021-2023, but the Tigers are back within one after taking the last two contests (2024, 2025).
 
Coaching Matchup
Chris Brown owns a record of 7-7 against Emporia State and all of those meetings have been against Garin Higgins. On the flip side, Higgins has been coaching Emporia State since 2007 and holds a 9-9 mark against the Tigers.
 
Is 30 the Magic Number for FHSU?
Fort Hays State scored at least 30 points in all three of its wins this season. However, the Tigers are 0-7 in games they scored less than 30 this season. Their opponent scored at least 30 in 5 of those 7 losses.
 
Brown Inching Closer to 100
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown is only two wins shy of 100 for his career, now in his 15th season leading the Tigers. Brown's 98 wins are 16th most among active NCAA Division II football head coaches.
 
Tigers Better in Total Offense and Total Defense
Fort Hays State's total offense and total defense numbers are better than Emporia State's. FHSU is slightly better in total offense at 386.3 yards per game, while ESU averages 382.7 per game as the teams rank 5th and 6th in the MIAA. FHSU has the third-best total defense in the MIAA at 342.7 yards allowed per game, while ESU ranks 8th at 410.4 yards allowed per game.
 
Strong Defense
Fort Hays State has ranked among the top three of the MIAA in total defense seven of the last nine seasons (2nd four times, 3rd three times). The Tigers have an 11-year streak of allowing less than 400 yards per game on defense. So far this season, FHSU is allowing 342.7 yards per game, which ranks 3rd in the MIAA.
 
Establish the Run
Fort Hays State is averaging 153.9 rushing yards through 10 games this season, which ranks 2nd in the MIAA. AG Floyd leads FHSU and ranks 3rd in the MIAA for rushing average at 74.7 yards per game. LaAngelo Bell adds 48.6 per game, which ranks 13th in the MIAA.
 
All-American on the Defensive Front
Gaven Haselhorst is the lone All-America performer returning for FHSU in 2026. Last year, he was a unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection before garnering D2CCA All-Super Region 4 First Team honors and then All-America Honorable Mention selections by Don Hansen Football Committee and D2Football.com. Haselhorst has the most career tackles of any returner on the Tiger defense with 149, while also being the active career leader in tackles for loss (33.5) and sacks (15).
 
Cantrell Leading the Tiger Offense
Major Cantrell is currently averaging 256.4 total yards of offense per game, which ranks 25th nationally and 4th in the MIAA. He is averaging 232.0 passing yards per game and 24.4 rushing yards per game. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in 6 of 9 games (142 is his season low) and rushed for at least 50 yards in 2 contests this season. His season high for passing was 318 yards at Missouri Western and his season high for rushing was 95 yards against CSU Pueblo.
 
Dooley and Robinson-Wayne Top Receiving Threats
Keyshawn Dooley is the team leader in receptions this season with 48 and leads the team in receiving yards with 549. He had a career-high 175 receiving yards at Missouri Western. Ayden Robinson-Wayne is 2nd on the team with 464 yards and he has two 100+ yard receiving games this season.
 
National Leader in Time of Possession
The Tigers have an average of 34:07 on time of possession this season, which leads NCAA Division II. FHSU has possessed the ball over 35 minutes in 6 contests this season, but 28 or less in 2 of its 7 losses.
 
Tigers Rank 2nd in MIAA for Interceptions
Fort Hays State ranks 3rd in the MIAA for interceptions this season with 12. The Tigers had a season-high 4 interceptions in their win over Pittsburg State. FHSU ranks 26th nationally in interceptions. UT-Permian Basin leads NCAA Division II with 20 and Emporia State leads the MIAA with 15.
 
McBride Tied for National Lead in Interceptions
Cornerback Matthew McBride's 6 interceptions is tied for the national lead in NCAA Division II. He moved into the tie with Zyking Patillo of Fayetteville State and Treyton Schroeder of Ohio Dominican. Teammate Eli Moulton has 3 for the season as they make of 75 percent of FHSU's 12 interceptions this season. McBride's 6 interceptions are tied for the most by a Tiger under head coach Chris Brown, matching Raheeme Dumas' 6 in 2016.
 
Light on Penalties
Fort Hays State currently ranks 3rd in the MIAA and 15th in NCAA Division II for fewest penalties with 48 for the season. Missouri Southern has the fewest penalties per game at 4.7, while Northwest Missouri State has the fewest total penalties with 45. The Tigers average 4.8 per game. The Tigers lead the MIAA and rank 8th nationally in fewest penalty yards per game, averaging just 42 per game.
 
When the Tigers Score 30 Under Brown
Fort Hays State is 66-6 under head coach Chris Brown when reaching 30 points in a game. The Tigers went 2-0 last season and 3-0 so far this season when reaching 30 points in a game. They now have a streak of 11-straight wins when scoring 30.
 
Brown Holds FHSU Coaches Wins and Tenure Record
Chris Brown is in his 15th year guiding the Tigers and owns the FHSU Football coaching wins record with an overall mark of 98-70. He has 43 more wins than previous record holder Bob Cortese. Brown is also the longest tenured head coach in program history as he passed Wayne McConnell for the longest stint in history last year. Brown currently ranks 16^th among active NCAA Division II coaches in career wins.

About the Hornets:

• After an 8-0 start to the season, the Hornets have lost their last two games.
• Last week the Lopers fell by a score of 20-19 to Washburn.
• Quarterback Jamison Sarver has thrown for 1,932 yards this season with 16 touchdowns.
• Camden Crooks leads the Hornets in rushing with 589 yards, while Trenden Collins leads in receiving with 549 yards.
• Landon Boss leads ESU defensively with 81 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions.
• Garin Higgins is in his 19^th year leading the Hornets, holding a record of 126-92. He has an overall record of 177-101 in 24 years as a head coach.