FHSU Athletics
Central Oklahoma (4-4, 3-4 MIAA) at
Fort Hays State (6-2, 5-2 MIAA)
Saturday, October 28 – 1 p.m.
Hays, Kan. – Lewis Field
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: The MIAA Network CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Hall of Fame Game: Newest Tiger Sports Hall of Fame Inductees to be recognized at halftime.
Promotion: Trunk or Treat – Kids that arrive in Halloween costumes receive FREE admission and can participate in Trunk or Treat at halftime.
Fort Hays State Football returns to the gridiron on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Central Oklahoma at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. The Tigers enter the game at 6-2 overall, 5-2 in the MIAA, while the Bronchos are 4-4 overall and 3-4 in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State is currently on a four-game win streak, which includes wins over Lincoln, Missouri Southern, Nebraska-Kearney, and Washburn. The Tigers have averaged 32.3 points per game in their last three conference contests. The Tigers are coming off a 31-28 win at Washburn last week. The Tigers have won three straight games at home and sit at 3-1 in both home and away contests this season.
Central Oklahoma is coming off a win over Northeastern State last week. The Bronchos have scored at least 17 points in all of their games this season and reached at least 20 in seven of eight contests. However, the Bronchos have yielded at least 20 points to all but one opponent this season with a season-low of 17 allowed to Lincoln.
Fort Hays State enters this contest with the best total defense in the MIAA at 262.5 yards per game. The Tigers also own the top pass defense in the conference, allowing just 153.1 yards per game through the air. FHSU ranks second in the MIAA in scoring defense, allowing 18 points per game.
Central Oklahoma has won the last two meetings with FHSU and holds a 9-6 advantage in the all-time series history. FHSU last defeated UCO in 2019 by a score of 35-7 in Edmond. FHSU holds a 5-3 advantage in eight previous MIAA meetings.
On offense, Jack Dawson has thrown for 1,990 yards and 19 touchdowns, while also rushing for three touchdowns. Trevor Watts has been his most frequent target with a team-high 48 receptions for 486 yards. Jayden Horace has 455 receiving yards and a team-high eight receiving touchdowns. Shane Watts is the team leader in rushing yards with 540, rushing for over 100 yards in each of the last two games. The Watts brothers have generated 1,234 all-purpose yards this season.
On defense, John Johnson continues to lead the Tigers in tackles with 57. Makel Williams ranks second in tackles with 50 and leads the team in interceptions with three. With 4.5 sacks over the last two weeks, Myles Menges has a team-leading 5.0 sacks. Parrish Terry leads the team in tackles for loss with 8.0.