By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post Sports
PITTSBURG, Kan. - Pittsburg State used two fourth quarter rushing touchdowns from Luke Niggemann to power past Fort Hays State 31-16 in front of 9,766 Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium. The Tigers held a 16-10 lead after three quarters before the 18th-ranked Gorillas (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) exploded for the 21 fourth quarter points.
The game swung on a 78-yard touchdown pass from Jackson Berry to Greyson Holbert which put Pitt State in front 17-16 with the extra point with 8:48 to play. The Tigers (2-2, 1-1 MIAA) had forced a third-straight 3-and-out before giving up the big play which turned the momentum to the Gorillas.
Caleb Heavner threw is second interception of the game on the next possession which set up the first of Niggemann's two touchdowns which put the game away. The last came after a FHSU fumble near mid field. Niggemann, who's a backup tight end, also scored on a short rushing touchdown in the second quarter which gave the Gorillas a 10-3 lead.
Fort Hays State took a 13-10 lead into halftime following a 37-yard David Arriaga field goal to end the first half. It came following a Michael Polley interception which he returned 46-yards to the Pitt State 24. The Tigers extended their lead with another Arriaga field goal from 29 yards in the third quarter.
The Tigers missed out on several potential touchdown opportunities early in the game. They took their first possession of the game down to the PSU 2-yardline, but had to settle for an Arriaga 25-yard field goal thanks in part to a holding penalty. Their second drive moved into the redzone, but an interception near the goal line kept them off the board.
The FHSU defense was solid throughout the first three quarters. After the Gorillas grabbed the 10-3 lead midway through the second, the Tigers mounted a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive capped by a Joshua Clark 8-yard touchdown catch to even the score 10-10 with 2:59 to play in the first half. The Tigers overcame a holding penalty inside the 10 and were helped out by a Pitt State facemask prior to the touchdown pass.
The Tiger defense held the Gorillas to just 234 total yards through the first three quarters, but saw the Gorillas put together 155 yards in the fourth quarter. The Tigers still outgained the Gorillas overall in the game 396-389, but the pair of short fields for the Gorillas turned a one-point game into a 15-point final in the final five minutes.
Heavner finished 24-of-39 passing with 215 yards and a touchdown, and two interceptions. Jackson Berry was 10-of-22 for the Gorillas for 179 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Donovan Hunt led the Tigers in rushing with 76 yards, followed by Heavner with 51. Cleo Chandler led PSU on the ground with 63 yards. Ryan Allen had a team-high 55 receiving yards for FHSU, while Greyson Holbert had 121 for PSU.
John Johnson led the FHSU defense with 11 tackles. Jalen Williams had the Tigers lone sack.
Arriaga, who booted four field goals in the win over Nebraska-Kearney the week prior, kicked three more against the Gorillas connecting from 25, 27 and 29 yards.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State returns home to face Missouri Western State in their annual Homecoming game on Saturday, September 27 at 7 p.m.