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Intensity key for Tigers against Western
10/5/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
Last week following a 26-11 loss at Truman State (Mo.) University, Fort Hays State University football coach Kevin Verdugo was not happy with the Tigers' intensity.
The Tigers played their second road game of the season and had their second loss, but failed to show that same offensive prowess they seem to have when taking the field at home.
Fort Hays (3-2 overall, 1-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) will need that intensity back, and then some, when it hosts host Missouri Western State University in Saturday's 2 p.m. homecoming game at Lewis Field Stadium.
"I'm not worried about how they come back. They'll come back well. We, as coaches, have to handle this situation well, the team well," Verdugo said. "It's our job to not beat them into the ground because we lost, but to try and get them to rise up and play well this week."
The home field could provide the spark the Tigers need to move to 4-2. In three wins this season, all at home, the Tigers have scored 55, 34, and 26 points, finding a different way each time to get the job done offensively.
All the while, the offense has complemented a conference-leading defense that has given up just 15.8 points a game and is second in the MIAA in rushing defense, allowing just 70.2 yards per game.
"We've gotten to the point where people have to throw it on us to be in the ball game. They just can't run it at will," Verdugo said. "That's what you hope to get to with a defense. You hope people have to beat you with the pass."
Missouri Western (3-2, 1-2) will look to run the ball first and has had a great deal of success doing so this season. The Griffons have yet to score fewer than 20 points in a game and put up 20 against perennial MIAA powerhouse Northwest Missouri State University.
The Griffons have done it with a trio of freshmen. Running backs LaDarrian Page and Thomas Hodges are averaging 97.6 and 78.8 yards per game, respectively, and quarterback Drew Newhart has thrown for 708 yards and eight scores this year.
"(Griffon coach Jerry Partridge) has done a nice job there. He has brought that program a long way and they're going to be good, year in, year out," Verdugo said.
The Griffons, ranked last week, are coming off a disappointing 31-24 home loss to Washburn University. Last season, the Griffons exploded late for a 24-10 win over the Tigers in St. Joseph, Mo., and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Southwest Regional.
That's something Verdugo wants his program to start thinking about, emphasizing the importance of each week in the MIAA.
"We would have been sitting in there in a jumble in second place in the conference. You never know how that's going to fall out,"¬ Verdugo said. "With the top three teams potentially going to the playoffs, sitting in a tie for second, you're in pretty good shape.
"You have to start thinking about it. You want to go out and play one game at a time, but you want to have a destination in mind."
A win this week by the Tigers would put them right back in the thick of things. A loss puts them on the bottom half of the ladder with the likes of winless Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University. A win over Missouri Western would also get the ball rolling back to the positive.
"We can do that with a win this weekend. We have to get a bad enough taste that those hurt and don't want that to happen, but we don't want to dwell on it too much," Verdugo said.
While the Tiger defense ranks near the top of the MIAA in total defense, rush defense and sacks, the offense has struggled, posting just 311.4 offensive yards per game, while being sacked 13 times.
"We have to get more productive play out of that position. We're antsy and waiting for things to happen. We're watching the rush way too much,"¬ Verdugo said. "Any time we get to where we have to throw the football all the time, we're not a very good football team. We're not a passing team, so to speak. We have to be more balanced. "
Seniors Ryne Salyer and Shane Jackson have combined for six touchdown passes, while senior tailback Jordan Hickel has provided some consistency, rushing for 78.2 yards per contest and six scores. With the offensive line back nearly in full force this week, Verdugo feels good about where his team is going up this week against the MIAA's worst statistical defense.
"Now you have some good decisions you have to make. That creates more competition and brings guys to a higher level," Verdugo said.
Verdugo is also expecting the home field to be an advantage for not only Saturday's game, but in years to come.
"Everyone that comes out here has complained about it. I haven't had a coach that comes out here that doesn't gripe about having to come here," Verdugo said. "That's in our favor. We have to reverse that voodoo when we go on the road.
"We've done well on offense at home. Playing here puts us on a different level and gives us an advantage," he added.
Sports reporter Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 128 or by e-mail at
nmcqueen@dailynews.net.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/11 | Central Missouri | L 4-2 |
| BB | 5/10 | Missouri Western | W 4-3 |
| BB | 5/09 | Emporia State | L 6-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
