FHSU Athletics
Central Oklahoma (2-3, 2-2 MIAA) at
RV/#20 Fort Hays State (4-2, 3-1 MIAA)
Saturday, October 11 ⦁ 7 p.m.
Hays, Kan. ⦁ Lewis Field
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Television: 38 The Spot (Kansas City area), KOKH TV (Oklahoma City area)
Fort Hays State preps for a key battle with defending MIAA champion Central Oklahoma on Saturday night at Lewis Field in Hays. The Tigers enter at 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA, while the Bronchos are 2-3 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA. The game will be available for viewing as normal on The MIAA Network, but will also be available on 38 The Spot in the Kansas City area and KOKH TV in the Oklahoma City area.
Central Oklahoma owns a 10-7 advantage in the all-time series and has won three of the last four meetings. However, Fort Hays State owns a 6-4 advantage in MIAA play between the teams. FHSU won five-straight games against UCO from 2015 to 2019. UCO won last year's meeting in Edmond by a score of 49-24. The Bronchos went on to win their first MIAA title in football last year, going 8-1 in MIAA play and 12-2 overall.
Central Oklahoma's record can be a bit deceptive since the Bronchos started the year ranked No. 5 in the AFCA Top 25 and No. 3 in the D2Football.com Top 25. UCO lost to UT Permian Basin in the season opener, a team that is now ranked in the top 10 nationally. The Bronchos bounced back for a win over nationally ranked Pittsburg State and then Washburn, but have lost two straight since to Northwest Missouri State and Central Missouri. Northwest Missouri State is now in the national rankings of both polls after its win over UCO.
Three of Fort Hays State's four wins this year have been one-score games. The Tigers defeated nationally ranked CSU Pueblo on the road by one point, Missouri Western by eight points, and Missouri Southern by seven points. Central Oklahoma will be the fifth opponent the Tigers face this year which has either been ranked or receiving votes at some point this year.
Fort Hays State is led offensively by quarterback Caleb Heavner, who averages 220 yards of total offense per game. He has thrown for 1,046 yards and rushed for 274. The Tigers have four players with at least 100 rushing yards this season, led by Joshua Clark at 278 yards. Clark produced his first 100-yard rushing game as a Tiger last week at Missouri Southern with 116. Ryan Allen leads FHSU receivers with 202 yards.
Defensively, John Johnson continues to lead the Tigers with 59 tackles for the season. He also leads the team in tackles for loss with 5.5. Gaven Haselhorst leads FHSU in sacks with 3.0, while Michael Chavez and Michael Polley each have two interceptions for the season.
For UCO, William Mason leads the team in rushing with 462 yards, while Jaylen Cottrell has 308. Though Clayton Creason leads the Bronchos in passing yards, Jett Huff returned at quarterback last week and nearly threw for 400 yards. Ashton Schumann leads UCO in receiving by plenty with 444 yards for the season. Connor Johnson leads the UCO defense with 30 tackles.