Late Game Surge Pushes Mules Past Tigers in Hays

Via Fort Hays State Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State fell to Central Missouri 28-24 on Saturday (Nov. 1) at Lewis Field Stadium. The Tigers held a 10-0 lead at halftime and a 24-7 lead late in the third quarter before seeing the Mules rally for 21-straight points late. The Mules scored their game-winning touchdown with 50 seconds remaining on a 99-yard drive that took just over five minutes. FHSU moved to 5-5 overall and 4-4 in the MIAA, while the Mules went to 4-5 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA.
 
Neither team scored in the first quarter but the Tigers finally broke the deadlock in the second quarter with a 37-yard field goal by David Arriaga. The Tigers utilized a short field after a kick catch interference call on a punt and Caleb Heavner rushed a ball into the endzone from five yards out, making it 10-0. The Tiger defense had one of the nation’s top offenses puzzled in the first half, holding a UCM team averaging almost 465 yards of total offense per game to just 60 yards of total offense.
 
The second half was a different story for the Mules. Their offense jumped to life right out of the gate with a 70-yard scoring drive, cutting the Tiger lead to 10-7. The Tigers shook off the Mules’ touchdown fast when Caleb Heavner broke off a 77-yard run to setup a 1-yard touchdown run by Curtis Douglas. Later in the third quarter, Heavner found Keshawn Dooley wide open downfield for a 55-yard touchdown pass. FHSU led 24-7 with 1:30 to play in the third quarter.
 
The Mules started to apply pressure quickly with a quick score on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Donovyn Omolo to Aazeryuan Voss before the end of the third. FHSU went 3-and-out early in the fourth quarter and the Mules went right back to work with a 74-yard touchdown drive, capped on an 11-yard touchdown pass from Omolo to Hogan Wasson with 10:37 to play.
 
The Tigers reached the UCM 43-yardline, but had to punt. Logan Russell’s 42-yard boot was downed at the one. Unfortunately pinning the Mules deep was not enough to stop their momentum. They marched 99 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard pass from Omolo to Wasson. The Tigers reached the UCM 47 before having to throw a hail mary at the end of the game that was intercepted.
 
Central Missouri produced 324 of its 384 total yards after halftime. FHSU finished the game with 366 yards of total offense. The Tigers had 208 yards on the ground with Heavner rushing for a career-high 144 and Douglas for 64. Heavner threw for 158 yards. Keyshawn Dooley finished with a season-high 81 receiving yards.
 
John Johnson became the first Tiger since 2018 to record 100 tackles in a season, now with 104, after a career-high 17 in the game. Matthew McBride had his first interception as a Tiger, while Gaven Haselhorst, Jakolbi Wilson, Kayson Dietz, Jack Hileman, and Johnson all had sacks. Talon Sanders led the UCM defense with 10 tackles, while Joe Morrison and Trey Patrick each had interceptions.
 
The Tigers will have a week off before playing their final contest of the regular season at Emporia State on November 15. That will be a 1 p.m. kick at Welch Stadium in Emporia.