By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
PITTSBURG, Kan. – In a game they led most of the way, a late turnover led to a Pittsburg State touchdown with one minute to play and the 7th-ranked Gorillas rallied for an 18-17 win over Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon in front of 9,265 at Carnie Smith Stadium.
The Tigers (5-3, 3-3 MIAA) were up 17-12 and had the ball with a little under three minutes to play when a tipped pass was intercepted and gave the Gorillas the ball at the FHSU 21. Six plays later Pitt State (6-1, 5-1 NIAA) found the endzone on third and goal from the 5-yard line to take their first lead of the game. FHSU picked up one first down on their final possession before turning the ball over on downs with 18 seconds to play.
Fort Hays State scored the first points of the game when Shane Watts broke free on a 54-yard touchdown run down the PSU sideline at the 3:06 mark of the first quarter. The Gorillas would counter with second quarter field goals from 49 and 27 yards to pull within 7-6 at halftime.
The Tigers extended their lead to 14-6 with an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Heavner to Jayden Horace on 4th and 11. The drive chewed up 6:36 on the clock and the touchdown came at the 3:45 mark of the third quarter. Pittsburg State responded with a 32-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down to pull within 14-12. Makel Williams knocked away a pass on the 2-point conversion to keep FHSU up two heading to the fourth quarter.
Fort Hays State put its final points on the board with 8:39 to play on a 29-yard Carson Arndt field goal.
The Tiger defense played well throughout the afternoon, stopping two potential scoring drives with a fumble recovery at the one early in teh game then an interception in the endzone by Kobe Rome in the third quarter.
The Tigers held the Gorillas to 377 yards of total offense, but only produced 288 against the MIAA's top defense. Heavner threw for 173 yards, while Watts rushed for 98. Watts went over 100 all-purpose yards for the seventh time in eight games this season. Makel Williams led the Tiger defense with 12 tackles.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return to Hays for their final home game of the season next Saturday (Oct. 26). They host Missouri Southern at 1 p.m. It will be Senior Day and the annual Hall of Fame Game.