Tigers fall to No. 3 Northwest Missouri State

For the second week in a row, the Fort Hays State University football team played in a game where 100 or more points were scored, and for the second week in a row, FHSU walked away on the losing end.

Senior quarterback Mike Garrison escapes from the pocket as Northwest Missouri State University junior defensive end Micah Wilson chases behind.

No. 3 Northwest Missouri State University (8-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, 9-1), the defending national runner-up, handed FHSU (3-5 MIAA, 5-5) a 66-40 loss in Lewis Field Stadium on the Tigers’ senior night.

With the win, NWMSU extended its regular season conference-winning streak to 36 games and clinched the 2009 MIAA title.

“Coming in, I wasn’t nervous, but I was a little shaky,” FHSU senior quarterback Mike Garrison said. “They have a big offense and a big defense. They are the powerhouse of the MIAA.”

After losing 59-41 last Saturday at Pittsburg State University, junior wide receiver Cordarol Scales said it has been frustrating that his offense has had production but couldn’t walk away with the win.

“It is (depressing), but there is nothing you can do. It happens,” Scales said.

In the offensive shootout, the two teams amassed 1,125 offensive yards with FHSU gaining 489 yards and NWMSU gaining 636 yards.

However, neither defense was at full strength. FHSU was missing five of its starting defenders, while NWMSU was missing three of its top cornerbacks and two of its defensive ends, which left the game in the first half.

Head coach Kevin Verdugo disputes with a referee about the lack of a call on a fourth quarter Northwest Missouri State University touchdown play.

“Everything is not in place,” freshman linebacker Layton Hickel said. “We have a lot of nicks here and there. We know our offense can score points. It is just about getting off the field and making plays when we’ve got to. That is something that we are struggling with right now.”

NWMSU dominated the game from the start, scoring on all of its first half possessions, and wracked up a 45-19 lead by the end of the first half.

After a lopsided first half, FHSU battled back in the second half and got within three scores with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers recovered an onside kick, but Garrison failed to convert a fourth-and-nine opportunity on NWMSU’s 32-yard line.

NWMSU then marched down the field on its next drive, consuming 4:11 of the clock and capping the drive with a 12-yard scoring run by NWMSU senior running back LaRon Council to put the game away.

“I thought they didn’t give up, and they kept plugging away throughout the day,” Verdugo said.

It was a record day for both teams.

For the Bearcats, sophomore wide receiver Jake Soy broke the MIAA record for receiving touchdowns in a season after scoring four against the Tigers. Senior running back LaRon Council posted his first career 200-yard game, and junior quarterback Blake Bolles broke NWMSU’s regular season record for passing touchdowns.

“The offensive line does a great job,” Bolles said. “When you have running back like LaRon Council and the receivers that we do, it is pretty easy to do my job.”

For the Tigers, they posted more yards and more points against NWMSU than any team the Bearcats have played this season.

Senior kicker Nathan Rausa converts the extra point against Northwest Missouri State University on Saturday. Sophomore punter Ethan Kosjer held it.

However, Verdugo said it doesn’t mean much in the end.

“Those are all hollow things that we teach our kids to not pay attention to,” Verdugo said. “The bottom line is you either win or you lose, and we lost today. Trying to get some warm fuzzies and some googlies just doesn’t get it done.”

FHSU senior quarterback Mike Garrison completed 31-of-46 passes for 381 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

Garrison said he was proud of his offense’s performance against the defending national runner-up.

“Putting up these kinds of numbers is an accomplishment,” Garrison said. “Not too many people do this every week playing these guys.”

Senior running back Jacobb Irvin led the Tigers in rushing, accounting for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Five Tigers finished the game with four or more receptions.

Junior wide receiver Anthony Smith led the team with seven receptions for 88 yards, junior wide receiver O.J. Murdock caught six passes for 71 yards, senior tight end Beau Gadwood caught six passes for 55 yards and a touchdown and Scales caught four passes for 85 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“The offense is improving and getting better and better every week,” Scales said.

On Saturday, the Tigers will travel to Joplin, Mo., to face Missouri Southern State University with their winning record on the line — something FHSU has not obtained since 2004.

“We haven’t had one around here for a long time,” Verdugo said. “We haven’t ever had one in the MIAA. It is a huge step for our program.”