FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Fort Hays State hosts Central Oklahoma in a pivotal game on Saturday night in Hays at 7 pm. The Tigers enter at 1-1, while the Bronchos are 0-2. Last year’s match-up was a thriller with FHSU winning 30-29 on field goal as time expired.
The Tiger offense has struggled through the first two games of the season, producing an average of just 288.5 yards of total offense per game. That ranks 11th out of 12 teams in the MIAA. But the defense has stepped up in big moments though as the Tigers enter Saturday at +3 in turnover margin for the season. FHSU is allowing 22 points per game, which is third in the MIAA.
The defense will be tested on Saturday as UCO currently owns the top offensive attack in the conference at 524 yards per game. But the Bronchos have struggled with allowing points to the opposition, an MIAA-worst 47 per game which has led to the 0-2 start. They allowed 49 points to Lindenwood and 45 to Pittsburg State. Turnovers have been a big part of the problem as UCO is -6 in turnover margin and quarterback T.J. Eckert has thrown six interceptions already, despite leading the MIAA in passing yards per game (299).
FHSU and UCO have two of the best running back tandems in the MIAA. Shaquille Cooper (80.5 per game) and Malik Thomas (72.5 per game) rank fourth and sixth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game. For UCO, Clay McKenzie (86.5 per game) and Jake Gandara (62 per game) rank third and ninth respectively. Cooper of FHSU and McKenzie of UCO were both All-MIAA First Team and All-America selections last year. But UCO has a third running threat as Eckert is averaging 76.5 rushing yards per game from the quarterback position.
The Tigers currently have the top kick return average in the MIAA at 23.5 yards per return. Kenneth Iheme leads the MIAA, averaging 37.7 yards per return. On the defensive side, Alex Schmidtberger (30) and Jose Delgado (28) rank second and third in the MIAA in tackles. Defensive end Sie Doe, Jr., leads the MIAA in sacks with three so far this year.