FHSU Athletics
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Fort Hays State fell by a score of 46-29 to Missouri Western on Saturday night. The Tigers' troubles in St. Joseph continued, a place they have won only once in their NCAA Division II history. The Tigers, ranked No. 25 in the latest D2Football.com Poll, moved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA, while the Griffons also moved to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the MIAA.
The Tiger defense could not slow Griffon quarterback Isaiah Tate and his receiving corps. Tate threw for 429 yards and an MWSU school record six touchdowns, completing 28-of-40 attempts. Crew Myers finished with eight receptions for 189 yards and two touchdowns, while Malik Moore added nine catches for 147 yards and one touchdown. Rickie Dunn added 124 rushing yards for the Griffons as they produced 605 yards of total offense, the most by a Tiger opponent since Pittsburg State produced 613 in 2019.
Fort Hays State held the lead twice in the first half, going up 8-7 on a touchdown and two-point conversion in the first quarter and 15-13 on a touchdown and PAT in the second. But, the Tigers could not slow the Griffons as they added two touchdowns before halftime and led 27-15 at the break.
The Griffon lead grew to 18 with a touchdown about five minutes into the third quarter. The Tigers scored two touchdowns in the second half and pulled within 10 at the 10:09 mark of the fourth quarter. The Griffons put the game away on Tate's sixth touchdown pass at the 1:53 mark, producing the final spread of 17 points.
The two first-half Tiger touchdowns were big passing strikes as Major Cantrell found Keyshawn Dooley for a 59-yard touchdown pass and then Ayden Robinson-Wayne for a 64-yard touchdown pass. Dooley hauled in a second touchdown reception in the third quarter from 12 yards out. LaAngelo Bell had he final Tiger touchdown on a two-yard run. FHSU finished with 410 yards of total offense.
Cantrell threw for a season-high 318 yards, completing 20-of-36 passes. However, he was picked off three times in the game. Dooley had a career-high 175 receiving yards on 11 catches. Bell was the top Tiger rusher with 53 yards. Michael Polley led the Tigers on defense with 13 tackles, while Legend Robinson added 10. Eli Moulton recorded an interception and Shadryon Blanka had a sack.
Fort Hays State will host Missouri Southern for Homecoming next Saturday (Oct. 3) in Hays. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium.