By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
HAYS - Fort Hays State dominated the stat sheet but five turnovers ultimately did then in in a 31-22 loss to Washburn Saturday afternoon at Lewis Field. Despite outgaining the Ichabods by 155 yards and holding a 30-13 advantage in first downs, the turnovers were too much to overcome as the Tigers lose a third straight game.
Washburn (5-2,-1, 4-2 MIAA) scored 17 points off of the FHSU turnovers, including touchdowns on a fumble scoop and score from 60 yards out and a 37-yard interception return for a touchdown that pushed the Ichabods to the final margin with 1:31 to play. One of the Tigers three fumbles led to a field goal early in the fourth quarter that pushed the Ichabod lead to nine points.
The Tigers (3-5, 2-4 MIAA) held the lead twice in the game. FHSU scored the only points of the first quarter with a 23-yard Zane Colson field goal. The Tigers trailed 14-9 at the half but used a long scoring drive to open the third quarter and moved into a 15-14 lead with a touchdown at the 9:53 mark of the third quarter.
The Tigers moved back within two of the Ichabods with a fourth-quarter touchdown at 10:02, but a fumble in WU territory at 4:25 and the interception for a touchdown with 1:31 to go kept the Tigers from flipping the game back in their favor late.
AG Floyd finished with 115 rushing yards and three touchdowns for FHSU but also fumbled three times. Quarterback Major Cantrell, who missed last week's game against Northwest Missouri State with a foot injury, threw for 286 yards on 23 completions with one interception. Kolton Coleman was the top receiver for FHSU with 77 yards. Defensively, Michael Polley led the Tigers with seven tackles and Matthew McBride had an interception, his fifth of the season.
Logan Madden led Washburn with 192 passing yards, while Cam Robinson had 37 rushing yards. The Ichabods finished with two offensive and two defensive touchdowns in the game to go with a field goal. J.C. Heim led WU in tackles with 19, while Joshua Flash had two forced fumbles and two interceptions. Melvin Laster added a forced fumble and the fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The Tigers go on the road to Central Missouri next Saturday (Oct. 31) for a kickoff at 1 p.m.