FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (1-3) at
#23/19 Nebraska-Kearney (3-1)
Saturday, October 1 - 7 p.m.
Kearney, Neb. - Cope Stadium
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
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Fort Hays State Football returns to action on Saturday in Kearney, Neb. The Tigers face the No. 23/19 ranked Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney at 7 p.m. at Cope Stadium. Fort Hays State is looking for a 10th-consecutive win over UNK, winning nine straight in the series between the schools going back to 2012.
The Tigers are 9-0 against the Lopers in MIAA play. UNK joined the conference in 2012 and has yet to defeat FHSU since the transition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The last win for UNK was in 2005, when both FHSU and UNK were members of the RMAC.
Last year in Hays, the Tigers stormed back from a 21-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Lopers 42-35. The Lopers were ranked No. 12 in the nation during that meeting. The Tigers scored touchdowns on their first six possessions of the second half to get past the Lopers.
The last meeting between the teams in Kearney occurred in 2018. The Tigers pulled out a double overtime thriller by a score of 29-26 before eventually winning a share of the MIAA title that year. The last four meetings in Kearney have been decided by 10 points or less.
In his three starts at quarterback, Jack Dawson has thrown for over 200 yards each game and has thrown four touchdowns to just one interception. He also has 62 rushing yards and three touchdowns scored on foot. Adrian Soto leads the Tiger rushing attack with 252 yards on 43 carries, while Manny Ramsey and Hunter Budke are the top receivers for the Tigers. Ramsey has 18 catches for 275 yards and Budke has 14 for 228.
Defensively, Makel Williams continues to lead the Tigers in tackles with 29 followed by Mason Perez with 27. Williams has posted at least seven tackles in all four games this year. Jeremiah Jackson-Trotter leads the team and MIAA in sacks with five.