By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead then had to hold off a furious Nebraska-Kearney comeback to beat the Lopers 27-20 Saturday at Cope Stadium. The Tigers finish the season 8-3, their sixth eight-win season under head coach Chris Brown and the 11th in program history.
FHSU finished with an 8-3 overall and record and 6-3 in the MIAA where they tied for third place. UNK finished 5-6 overall and 3-6 in MIAA play.
Fort Hays State dominated the time of possession in the first half, controlling the ball for nearly 21 minutes. They scored the game's first touchdown on their second possession, going 85 yards over 12 plays capped by a Caleb Heavner 4-yard touchdown run. Heavner found Jayden Horace for a 28-yard touchdown pass to put the Tigers up 14-0 early in the second quarter. Later in the frame, connected with running back Shane Watts for a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-0. FHSU capped the first half scoring on a Carson Arndt 30-yard field goal on the final play of the quarter.
After picking up only four first downs in the first half, UNK gained four on their first possession of the third quarter which ended in a 9-yard Raegan Jones touchdown pass to Stephen Lewis. Following a 3-and-out by the Tigers, the Lopers blocked Parker Janky's punt and returned it 16-yards for a touchdown to pull within 24-14. The Lopers intercepted a Heavner pass on the Tigers next possession after it was dislodged from Cale Cormany near midfield and went into the hands of a diving UNK defensive back. The FHSU defense forced a punt thanks to a Gaven Haselhorst sack on first down.
The Tiger defense made another big stop early in the fourth quarter on 4th-and-2 near midfield. Reagan Jones used a 44-yard pass to set up his 4-yard touchdown with 6:31 remaining. However, UNK missed the extra-point leaving the Tigers with a 24-20 lead.
Shane Watts had eight carries for 57 yards on the Tigers next possession which ended in a 33-yard Arndt field goal with about a minute to play.
The Lopers drove to the FHSU 26 on the last possession of the game but a pass to the back of the endzone was deflected to end the game and give the Tigers their 11th win over UNK in the last 12 meetings.
Heavner finished with 294 passing yards, completing 25-of-36 attempts. The Tigers had a pair of 100-yard receivers, Jayden Horace finished with 113 and Ryan Allen with 108. Watts had 175 rushing yards on 30 carries for his fourth-straight game of 100 or more rushing yards. Watts finished with 218 all-purpose yards in the game, adding 43 through the air.
Linebackers John Johnson and Makel Williams led the defense with seven tackles each. Johnson had a fumble recovery. Haselhorst finished with a team-high 1.5 sacks in the game.
Jones threw for 178 yards for UNK, while Isaiah Harris led the Lopers with 63 rushing yards. Shane Dailey Jr. had 92 receiving yards and Anthony Hebert and Devin Guggia shared top tackling honors for UNK with nine each.