Pittsburg State (0-3, 0-1 MIAA) at
(RV) Fort Hays State (1-1, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, September 19 – 7 p.m.
Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field Stadium

Fort Hays State opens MIAA play on Saturday night (Sept. 19) in Hays when it takes on Pittsburg State. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium. The Tigers enter at 1-1 overall, while the Gorillas are 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the MIAA.

PROMOTIONS
Game Sponsor: American Family Insurance - Brian Ruder Agency
Postgame Fireworks: Enjoy the fireworks show starting approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of the game (Sponsored by Hays CVB, Victory Fireworks, and Horizon Appliance and Electronics).
Rally Towels: The FHSU Tiger Debs will be selling rally towels for $5.
Family and Friends Day: FHSU Student Engagement hosts Family and Friends Day - Stop by the FHSU Campus Quad to buy $5 General Admission tickets (cash only) for the game.
 
HOW TO WATCH
The remaining 10 games on Fort Hays State's regular season schedule 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
PSU leads 51-22-9
Last Meeting: PSU won 31-16 in Pittsburg (9/20/25)
FHSU Record in Hays: 11-24-6
FHSU Record in Pittsburg: 11-27-3
 
Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State meet for the 83rd time on Saturday. The first meeting occurred all the way back in 1925 in Hays. PSU leads the series 51-22-9. The Gorillas took a healthy advantage in the series with a 19-0-1 record from 1979 to 2011. FHSU snapped the string in 2014 with a win in Pittsburg, which started a run of FHSU winning 5 of 6 contests from 2014 to 2019. Since then, Pittsburg State has won five straight.
 
WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
Head Coach Chris Brown talked about the upcoming game with Pittsburg State. Defensive back Michael Polley and offensive lineman David Sjoberg also fielded questions. Watch video below courtesy of ECTV and Hays Post Sports.
 

 
WEEKLY TIGER TALK
Head Coach Chris Brown and defensive lineman Kayson Dietz join Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock on the September 14, 2026 edition of the show.
 


TIGERS IN THE AFCA POLL
Fort Hays State opened the 2026 season receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 Poll. After a win over Angelo State in the season opener, FHSU moved into the Top 25 at No. 25. However, after a loss to No. 5 ranked CSU Pueblo, the Tigers moved back into the receiving votes section, where they have been for two-straight polls now. The Tigers have been referenced in all four polls released so far this season. Pittsburg State was ranked in the AFCA Poll for three-straight weeks, but the 0-3 start dropped the Gorillas from being referenced in the latest poll.

LOOKING AT THE MIAA
This will be the first MIAA contest of the season for FHSU, but the second for Pittsburg State. The Gorillas fell in their MIAA opener to Emporia State 21-10 back on September 5 in Pittsburg. FHSU, Central Oklahoma, Missouri Southern, and Nebraska-Kearney all play their first conference contests of the season this Saturday. Emporia State, Northwest Missouri State, and Central Missouri are all 1-0 so far in conference play. ESU and NWMSU are the only remaining unbeaten teams overall, the Hornets at 3-0 and Bearcats at 2-0.
 
MIAA OPENERS
Fort Hays State has won its last three MIAA openers. The Tigers defeated Northeastern State in 2023, Missouri Western in 2024, and Nebraska-Kearney in 2025 to start conference play. The Tigers are 8-6 in MIAA openers during head coach Chris Brown's tenure.
 
GORILLAS CO-MIAA CHAMPS IN 2025
Pittsburg State shared the MIAA title with Northwest Missouri State in 2025, both going 8-1 in MIAA play. PSU went 10-3 overall last year, including a 1-1 mark in the NCAA playoffs. They had the most wins of any MIAA school last year.
 
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. Fort Hays State allowed 384.3 yards per game in 2025, which ranked 5th in the MIAA. FHSU had to face four of the top-20 offenses in the nation in 2025. So far this season, FHSU is allowing 383 yards per game, which ranks 6th in the MIAA.
 
BALANCED OFFENSE
Fort Hays State is currently averaging 398.5 yards per game on offense. The Tigers have shown a balanced attack so far with 171.5 rushing yards per game and 227 passing yards per game. Quarterback Major Cantrell leads in both rushing and passing with 151 yards on the ground and 454 yards through the air. Keyshawn Dooley is the top receiver with seven catches for 137 yards.
 
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 114, while also being the active career leader in tackles for loss (29) and sacks (12).
 
TIGERS AT HOME SINCE JOINING MIAA
Since joining the MIAA in 2006, the Tigers are 63-47 at home. The Tigers are 49-31 at home under head coach Chris Brown, including a 40-18 mark since the start of the 2015 season.
 
WHEN THE TIGERS SCORE 30
Fort Hays State is 64-6 under head coach Chris Brown when reaching 30 points in a game. The Tigers went 2-0 last season and 1-0 so far this season when reaching 30 points in a game. They now have a streak of 9-straight wins when scoring 30.

28 ALL-AMERICANS UNDER CHRIS BROWN
Fort Hays State has seen 28 individuals earn All-America honors under head coach Chris Brown, who is in his 15^th season leading the team. John Johnson (LB), Gaven Haselhorst (DE), and Josh Shaw (OL) all received All-America status in 2025. Johnson and Haselhorst were both Honorable Mention selections by both Don Hansen Football Committee and D2Football.com, while Shaw was also an honorable mention pick by D2Football.com.
 
BROWN HOLDS FHSU COACHING 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 96-63. He has 41 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.

Chewing Up Clock
Fort Hays State ranked 3rd in the MIAA in time of possession last season with an average of 30:32. FHSU was in possession of the ball for over 31 minutes in 6 of its 11 contests in 2025. The season low for the Tigers was 23:44 at Northwest Missouri State. FHSU had the ball a season-high 36:24 at Pittsburg State. So far this season, the Tigers have an average of 32:09 on time of possession, which leads the MIAA.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS:

• Pittsburg State finished the 2025 season 10-3 overall and shared the MIAA title with Northwest Missouri State, both going 8-1 in conference play. Pittsburg State won one NCAA playoff game last year before getting knocked out of the postseason bracket by Harding.
• Pittsburg State is led by head coach Tom Anthony, now in his 3rd season leading the Gorillas. He has an overall record of 18-9 at Pittsburg State.
• Pittsburg State is 0-3 to start the year, the first time it has happened since 1977 when it started 0-5, but the opposition has been tough. The Gorillas lost their season opener to the No. 1 team in the nation, Ferris State, then fell to Emporia State and Wes Alabama. Both ESU and UWA are among the top 25 nationally this week. All three of PSU's previous opponents are off to 3-0 starts this season.