FHSU Sports Information Department
MARYVILLE, Mo. – A flurry of early turnovers and miscues led to a 35-7 halftime deficit and eventually a 45-24 loss for Fort Hays State to No. 3 Northwest Missouri State on Saturday (Oct. 24). Fort Hays State moved to 5-3 overall, while NWMSU remained perfect on the year at 8-0.
Consecutive interceptions on Fort Hays State’s first two drives of the game led to a quick 14-0 deficit. The first gave NWMSU a 25-yard field to score, then the second went 42 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. It all happened in a matter of the first 3:22 of the game.
Eventually, Northwest Missouri State stretched its lead to 35-0 by the 1:53 mark of the second quarter before FHSU finally showed signs of life. Daniel Lindsey returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown with 1:39 remaining in the first half to get FHSU on the board.
The Tigers quickly gained momentum in the second half when DeAndre James picked off at the FHSU 37-yardline and returned it 46 yards to the NWMSU 17-yardline. Treveon Albert found the endzone on a 3-yard rush to make it 35-14 with 13:03 remaining in the third quarter. The FHSU defense had a solid effort on the next NWMSU series and the Tigers got the ball back at their own 42-yardline moments later.
After a pair of good runs, the momentum FHSU built all of the sudden vanished as Albert fumbled the ball on a rush at the NWMSU 37-yardline. The Bearcats went on to score a touchdown off the turnover and seized control of the game once again, leading 42-14. Fort Hays State finished with four turnovers in the game. NWMSU capitalized on all four, scoring 24 points off turnovers.
The Tigers did not have enough time for a comeback from that point. Albert found Evan Jennings on a 44-yard touchdown pass at 2:27 in the third quarter to make it 42-21, then Drew O’Brien had a field goal at 6:31 in the fourth quarter for the eventual final of 45-24.
The Bearcats held FHSU to 277 yards of total offense and a season-low 182 rushing yards. Albert led the Tigers in rushing with 74 yards, Derek Kendall-Campbell had 62 yards, and Shaquille Cooper added 47. Albert was just 6-of-18 passing for 86 yards with three interceptions.
Brady Bolles threw for 329 yards and three touchdowns for the Bearcats. Phil Jackson racked up 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Brock Long led the Tiger defense once again with 17 tackles, including six for loss, and two sacks. DeAndre James had 10 tackles to go with his interception.
The loss dropped the Tigers into a fourth-place tie with Pittsburg State in the MIAA standings, both at 5-3. Central Missouri, now 6-2, pulled into third alone with a win over Northeastern State. Emporia State remained in second at 7-1 with a win over Missouri Western.
Fort Hays State hosts Nebraska-Kearney next week in the MIAA Television Network Game of the Week at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Kickoff is set for 2:30 pm in the annual Tiger Sports Hall of Fame Game.