By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post
KEARNEY, Neb. - No. 23/19 Nebraska-Kearney scored 24-straight points midway through the third and fourth quarters and beat Fort Hays State 38-20 Saturday night Cope Stadium/Foster Field to end a nine-game losing streak to the Tigers. It was the Lopers (4-1) first win over the Tigers since 2010 and their first win in Kearney since 2002.
Quarterback Chance Fuller made his first start since the season-opener at Northwest Missouri State and engineered a 13-play, 65-yard scoring drive on the Tigers (1-4) first possession that ate up 6:13. Adrian Soto capped the drive with a one-yard run.
The Lopers answered with a nine-play, 74-yard drive which ended with an 11-yard touchdown run from Damien Cearns but the Tiger defense held them to only nine yards the remainder of the half.
The Tigers had a chance to take the lead before halftime but Fuller had pass deflected off the pads of Adrian Soto intercepted inside the 10.
The Lopers took the lead for good with under a minute to play in the second quarter when All-American quarterback TJ Davis scored on a three-yard run. The touchdown was set up by a by a Darius Swanson interception which he returned to the six yard line.
After back-to-back three-and-outs but the Tiger defense, the offense struck again. Fuller found Dawson Brown II in the back of the endzone with 6:44 to play in the third to cut the lead to 14-13 but Manny Aguilar missed the extra point.
The Lopers responded on the next possession, marching 82 yards in eight plays. Davis connected with tight end Luke Blatchford on a 48-yard touchdown pass on third and two to push the lead to 21-13.
After forcing the Tigers to punt on their next possession, UNK drove 82-yards in 15 plays and scored on a Davis TD pass to Xavier Delk with 8:53 to play in the fourth. It came after the Tigers appeared to a get a stop on third and 20, but an offside penalty allowed the Lopers another play and on third and 15, the connected on a 17-yard completion to keep the drive alive.
Following a stop on downs, Davis threw his third touchdown pass of the night, hitting Bailey Torres on a 38-yard strike. They added a field goal following a Jack Dawson interception to go up 38-13.
Fort Hays State got their final score on a one-yard TD pass from Dawson to redshirt-freshman tight eight Cole Cormany with one-second to play.
The Tigers outgained the Lopers 370-297 and held the Lopers rushing game, which averaged over 300 yards per game to only 164. It marks only the second time under coach Chris Brown the Tigers have lost a game while holding their opponent under 300 yards of total offense.
Fuller finished the game 21-of-32 for 219 yards and one touchdown and three interceptions. He left in the fourth quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Manny Ramsey hauled in 10 catches for 134 yards, the ninth career 100-yard receiving game in his career. Mason Perez led the defense with seven tackles.
Davis finished the night with 133 passing yards and 78 rushing yards for the Lopers. Jacey Nutter had 12 tackles for UNK.
The Tigers host Washburn for Homecoming next Saturday . Kickoff is at 7 p.m. The Ichabods lost 42-35 at home to Emporia State and will bring a 3-2 record to Hays.