By RYAN PRICKETT
Fort Hays Sports Info
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State posted a shutout against Central Oklahoma on a chilly Saturday (Oct. 28) in Hays by a score of 34-0. FHSU improved to 7-2 overall and 6-2 in the MIAA with the win, while UCO moved to 4-5 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA. It marked the second shutout for the Tiger defense this season and a complete shutout of Oklahoma conference schools after a 56-0 win at Northeastern State in the season opener.
The Tigers scored 10 points in the first quarter. Their first drive of the game went 62 yards on six plays, started by a 32-yard run from Shane Watts. Later in the drive, Jack Dawson found Jayden Horace for a 6-yard touchdown pass. Carson Arndt added on a field goal from 42 yards with 3:26 to go in the opening frame.
FHSU added on seven points in the second quarter on a 4th-and-1 play where the Tigers ultimately decided to go for a first down instead of punt after each team called timeout. A short pass from Dawson to Trevor Watts went for a 46-yard touchdown up the right sideline, with the majority of the yards covered after the catch. The Tigers led 17-0 at the half.
The Tigers added on 17 more points in the second half. Arndt made a 30-yard field goal with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter. Watts found Horace once again in the fourth quarter from 25 yards out for Horace's second receiving touchdown of the game. He now has a team-best 10 receiving touchdowns for the season, which ties for fourth-most by a Tiger for a season in program history. Ja'Quan Tillis added the score-capping touchdown at 7:06 in the fourth quarter, making the eventual final of 34-0.
The Tigers were strong on the ground for the fifth-straight game with 220 rushing yards as a team. Shane Watts had 106 yards, becoming the first Tiger to rush for 100 or more yards in three straight games since 2018 when Charles Tigner rushed for over 100 from Sept. 22 to Oct. 6. Travis Dixon had a season-high 86 yards.
Dawson threw for 219 yards to go with his three touchdown passes. Caleb Heavner completed his only pass attempt to Ryan Allen for 33 yards, giving the Tigers 252 passing yards overall for the game. Trevor Watts had a team-high 76 receiving yards on five catches. FHSU finished with 472 yards of total offense and held UCO to just 186.
The Tiger defense stood tall, holding an opponent under 200 yards of total offense for the fourth time this season and third-straight game at home. Benyon Williams led the Tigers with seven tackles. The Tigers had three interceptions with Kobe Rome nabbing two and John Johnson with one. Myles Menges and Jason Wallace shared the lone Tiger sack in the game.
Stephon Brown threw for 94 yards for the Bronchos. FHSU held UCO to just 46 yards rushing, led by Trevon Woolfolk with 14 yards. Darius Melton had a team-high 40 receiving yards. Zane Adams led UCO in tackles with eight, while Conner Johnson and Emmonte Davis recorded interceptions.