#12/15 Nebraska-Kearney (4-0, 4-0 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (2-2, 2-2 MIAA)
Saturday, October 2 - 7 PM - Homecoming
Hays, Kan. - Lewis Field Stadium
Radio - KJLS (103.3-FM)
LISTEN LIVE
Game Sponsor: Big Creek Crossing
Halftime: Homecoming Royalty Presentation, Marching Band Performance
Fort Hays State Football will host No. 12/15 ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday in the annual Homecoming game at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm. The Lopers are one of two remaining undefeated teams in the MIAA, but Fort Hays State has won eight straight meetings with UNK going back to the 2012 season.
Fort Hays State looks to remain unbeaten against UNK in MIAA play, holding a perfect 8-0 mark in the series history since UNK joined the conference in 2012. After having a losing record in their first seven years as members of the MIAA, the Lopers made a big step in 2019 with a 7-5 finish and a win in the Mineral Water Bowl over Winona State of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. They have continued their surge to prominence by going 2-0 in a pair of official fall games in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now starting the 2021 season 4-0. Nebraska-Kearney has won seven straight games overall going back to that win in the Mineral Water Bowl to end the 2019 season.
Now at No. 12 in the AFCA Top 25 Poll and No. 15 in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, the Lopers are back in the national rankings for the first time since 2011. That was their last season as members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference when they finished 10-2 overall. The Lopers entered the NCAA Playoffs that season ranked No. 4 nationally, but fell to Wayne State (Mich.) University in the second round after receiving an opening round bye.
The last two meetings between Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney have been tight. The Tigers won a double-overtime thriller in Kearney in 2018 by a score of 29-26, then defeated the Lopers 37-31 in Hays during the 2019 season. Four of the games in Fort Hays State's current 8-game win streak over the Lopers were decided by seven points or less. FHSU has won four straight games against UNK in Hays and 2005 was the last year UNK won in Hays, which was the last time the two played each other as members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. FHSU moved to the MIAA in 2006 and saw a 6-year hiatus in the series history before UNK moved to the MIAA in 2012. The Lopers hold a 34-31-1 advantage in the 66-game history between the schools, but have seen their edge in the series narrow considerably.
The Tigers are back on track after a pair of tough losses to open the season against Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western. The Tigers have outscored their opponents (Lincoln and Missouri Southern) 111-21 over the past two weeks, bringing their record back to 2-2. Northwest Missouri State is the only other undefeated team in the MIAA aside from Nebraska-Kearney, currently at 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in the nation. Missouri Western is now 2-2 like FHSU.
The Tigers will be facing the third-best rushing attack in NCAA Division II in this contest. The Lopers average 272.2 yards per game on the ground, led by quarterback T.J. Davis who averages 136.2 rushing yards per game (top in the MIAA). He has kept defenses honest by also averaging 187.3 passing yards per game.
Fort Hays State has seen their rushing game take flight in the last two games, averaging 292 yards per game in that span. Adrian Soto rushed for 100 or more yards in both of those contests, including a career-high 198 last week at Missouri Southern. The Tigers own the best total offense in the MIAA at 496.8 yards per game, averaging 317 passing yards per game and 179.8 rushing yards per game. The Tigers rank 7th nationally in total offense. Nebraska-Kearney ranks 17th in the category, averaging 472.8 per game.
Quick Hits
-Chance Fuller ranks 13th nationally in passing yards with 1,162 for the season and 19th in passing yards per game (290.5).
-Adrian Soto ranks 5th nationally in touchdowns scored (8), 6th nationally in yards per rush (8.5), and 9th in all-purpose yards per game (166.5).
-FHSU leads the MIAA in red zone offense, scoring 94.7 percent of the time when they reach the area. They have scored 18 of 19 chances in the red zone with 17 touchdowns and one field goal.
-FHSU is tied for the MIAA lead with four other teams, Nebraska-Kearney included, in turnovers gained with six.
-The Tigers have three receivers with over 200 yards this season, which includes Manny Ramsey, Hunter Budke, and Monterio Burchfield.
-The Tigers rank 2nd in the MIAA in total defense, allowing 330 yards per game. Northwest Missouri State leads the conference at just 278.7 yards per game.
FHSU Athletics