Fort Hays State (3-2, 2-2 MIAA) at
Missouri Southern (3-2, 3-2 MIAA)
Saturday, October 7 - 2:00 p.m.
Joplin, Mo. - Fred G. Hughes Stadium
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: The MIAA Network CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State Football returns to MIAA play on Saturday at Missouri Southern in Joplin. The Tigers and Lions both enter the contest at 3-2 overall. FHSU played its lone non-conference game of the season last week, a 71-3 win over Lincoln University on Homecoming. The Tigers enter Saturday at 2-2 in the MIAA, while all five of the Lions' contests have been in MIAA play. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Hughes Stadium.
Fort Hays State owns an 18-14-1 advantage in the all-time series between the teams, including a 10-4 mark in MIAA play that began back in 2006. The Tigers held an eight-game win streak in the series until it was snapped last year in Hays with a Missouri Southern victory by a score of 25-24. FHSU still owns a five-game win streak against MSSU in Joplin, which goes back to 2009. Missouri Southern's only win in MIAA play against FHSU in Joplin occurred during the 2007 season in a low-scoring 6-0 battle.
Fort Hays State is coming off a win over Lincoln University last week in Hays, while Missouri Southern is coming off a three-point loss at Central Oklahoma. Four of Missouri Southern's five games this year have been decided by seven points or less, with its only outlier being a 42-0 win over Northeastern State. FHSU also shutout Northeastern State to open the season by a score of 56-0.
Both teams have shown strong defense this season. FHSU leads the MIAA in scoring defense, allowing just 15.4 points per game. The Lions are also holding opponents to less than 20 per game at 19.4 points per game. FHSU ranks second in the MIAA in total defense, allowing 270.8 yards per game, while the Lions are third at 317.4 per game. MSSU allowed at least 30 points in both of its losses this season. FHSU held opponents under 10 points in each of its wins this season. This game features the top three tacklers in the MIAA so far this season, including Colton Winder (45 tackles) and Halid Djibril (42 tackles) of Missouri Southern and John Johnson (37 tackles) of Fort Hays State.
FHSU quarterback Jack Dawson ranks third in the MIAA in passing yards (1,280), passing touchdowns (13), and passing yards per game (256.0). Tiger receiver Jayden Horace ranks fourth in the conference in receiving yards (334), receiving yards per game (66.8), and fourth in receiving touchdowns (5).