By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
TOPEKA, Kan. – For a second straight week, the Fort Hays State football raced out to a quick start only to struggle in the second and fourth quarters. Saturday, the Tigers scored touchdowns on their first two possessions but needed a key third down conversion late in the game to hold off Washburn 31-27 at Yager Stadium.
Fort Hays State won their fourth-straight and improved to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in the MIAA while the Ichabods fell to 1-7 overall and 0-7 in the MIAA. The Tigers built a 17-point lead with just over six minutes to play and appeared to push the lead to 20 on a 40-yard Carson Arndt field goal which was waived off after the officials stopped the play just prior to the snap because the play clock was not reset properly. Washburn blocked the second try which fueled a 14-point rally down the stretch.
Fort Hays State took a 14-0 lead after the first quarter only to see Washburn outscore them 14-3 in the second quarter to pull within 17-14 at halftime. The Tigers scored a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to extend their lead to 31-14. Washburn used a couple of big plays following the blocked kick to score two touchdowns in a span of less than four minutes and closed the gap to three with 2:35 to play.
Jack Dawson connected with tight end Cale Cormaney on a nine-yard completion on third-and-four with 1:40 to play to put the game away. Fort Hays State outgained the Ichabods by 207 total yards (487-280) and ran 24 more offensive plays in the game while possessing the ball for nearly 13 more minutes.
For a fourth-straight week the Tigers were good on the ground with 196 rushing yards. Shane Watts led the way with 144 yards and two touchdowns, both in the third quarter. Jack Dawson threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns, finding Hayden Horace and Colt Fuller for touchdowns in the first quarter. Trevor Watts had a team-high 10 receptions for 81 yards, while Bryson Smith led in receiving yards with 87 on four catches.
John Johnson led the Tiger defense with seven tackles. Myles Menges had two sacks and Sam Brandt had a pair of pass breakups. Sam Van Dyne led Washburn on offense with 202 passing yards. Teondre Carter ran for a team-high 56 yards and two touchdowns. D.J. Bell had 82 receiving yards.
Fort Hays State returns home to take on Central Oklahoma in the annual Hall of Fame Game at Lewis Field Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 28). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Hays.