FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (3-7) at
No. 5/4 Pittsburg State (10-0)
Saturday, November 12 - 2 PM
Pittsburg, Kan. - Carnie Smith Stadium
Radio - KJLS (103.3)
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Fort Hays State Football closes out its 2022 season on Saturday at Pittsburg State. The Gorillas enter the contest undefeated at 10-0 on the season and ranked No. 5 in the latest AFCA Division II Poll. The Tigers are 3-7 on the season, coming off a win over Northeastern State in Hays last week.
Pittsburg State is attempting to become the third MIAA school to navigate the 11-game conference schedule undefeated, trying to join Northwest Missouri State (2015, 2016) and Fort Hays State (2017). The MIAA's 11 conference game model that accounts for an entire season began in 2014. The Gorillas have already clinched the MIAA regular season title with both Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State sitting two games back, each at 8-2.
Fort Hays State has had a knack for knocking off ranked Pittsburg State teams lately, going 3-1 in the last four meetings Pittsburg State was ranked. That includes a 7-6 win over a No. 8 ranked Gorilla squad in Pittsburg during the 2014 season, a 50-21 win over a No. 18 ranked Gorilla squad in 2018 in Hays, and a 42-41 win over a No. 19 ranked Gorilla squad in 2019.
Fort Hays State has won the last three meetings with Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, which includes 2019, 2016, and 2014. The win in 2014 snapped a long 20-game winless streak for the Tigers against the Gorillas, which dated from 1979 to 2011. The Gorillas went 19-0-1 against the Tigers in that stretch, with the tie occurring in 1995.
Pittsburg State owns the top scoring defense in the MIAA at just 15.2 points per game. The Gorillas have held all opponents to 28 or less this season, and seven opponents inside 20. The Tigers have scored over 30 points just once this season, that being in the 51-14 win over Lincoln. FHSU scored 27 points in each of its other two wins this season.
Manny Ramsey enters his final game as a Tiger with 2,599 receiving yards. He is just 26 yards shy of moving to second all-time in receiving yards at FHSU. He already ranks second in receptions (175) and 100-yard receiving games. Jack Dawson has thrown for over 200 yards in six of eight contests, with a season high of 247 last week against Northeastern State. Adrian Soto leads the Tiger rushing attack with 714 yards, going for a season-high 144 last week as well.
Makel Williams leads the Tiger defense with 74 tackles this season. Gaven Haselhorst has 9.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Nine separate players have recorded interceptions this season.