By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Quarterback Jack Dawson tied a school record with five touchdown passes, Fort Hays State forced five turnovers and the Tigers ended a three-game season-opening losing streak with a 56-0 rout of Northeastern State Thursday night at Doc Wadley Stadium.
After going three-and-out on their first possession, the Tigers (1-0, 1-0 MIAA) scored touchdowns on their next four first half possessions and built a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Dawson scored the Tigers first touchdown on a three-yard run with 3:53 to play in the first quarter. It came after defensive end Gaven Haselhorst tipped a pass from Northeastern State quarterback Ben Ward which was intercepted by Myles Menges.
Following and NSU three-and-out, Dawson led an eight-play, 73-yard yard drive then ended with a 10-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Ryan Allen.
Dawson connected on a six-yard strike to tight end Cale Cormaney and a seven-yarder to transfer Hosia Stokes with under a minute to play in the first half.
Transfer Jayden Horace and tight end Sloan Hayden caught touchdown passes from Dawson in the second half.
Mason Perez added a special teams touchdown during FHSU's 28-point second quarter when he scooped up a punt blocked by redshirt freshman Trey Hines near the goal line.
Perez also had an interception at the RiverHawk 12 yard line late in the second quarter which led to a touchdown. Makel Williams and Travon Mitchell also picked off passes in the second quarter which led to Tiger touchdowns.
Dawson completed 20-of-23 passes for 317 yards. His five-touchdown pass performance tied the school record for most in a game, accomplished now nine times. Robert Long and Chance Fuller each did it twice in their careers.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Caleb Heavner played in the fourth quarter and completed both of his passes, one of them in the endzone to Logan Heigele, to help the Tigers finish 22-of-25 through the air for 349 yards and six scores.
The Tigers netted 110 yards on the ground, led by Shane Watts with 41 yards. Stokes was credited with 132 receiving yards.
Ty Cooper and Silas Etter were each credited with a team-leading six tackles.
The FHSU defense held NSU to 199 yards of total offense, allowing 83 yards on the ground and 116 through the air.
The Tigers picked up their first shutout since September 18, 2021 when they delivered a 72-0 blowout against Lincoln.
Next up for FHSU will be their home opener against the defending MIAA champion Pittsburg State next Thursday (Sept. 7) in Hays. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays.