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Tigers search for missing offense
10/16/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
Over the past three games in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play, the Fort Hays State University football team has not put up any mind-blowing numbers. The Tigers have scored just one offensive touchdown and are averaging 222 yards per game in the three losses.
In his weekly news conference Monday, Tiger third-year coach Kevin Verdugo said he thinks the offense can produce, especially if it matches the output of the Fort Hays defense this season.
"I totally think we can be productive. We have to make plays when presented the opportunities,"¬ Verdugo said. "We have to continue to do a better job of coaching them and trying to put ourselves in schematic position to score points."
In Saturday's 6-0 loss at Missouri Southern State University, the Tiger' third in a row, the defense once again rose to the challenge, holding one of the league's most dominant rushing attacks to just 111 yards on the ground.
"I thought our defense played a heck of a game. We missed a few sacks in the backfield if you have to pick at anything," Verdugo said.
Missouri Southern had two running backs averaging around 100 yards per game, but the dominant running game never materialized, and the only score of the game came on a short 10-yard pass in the fourth quarter.
"I'm happy with the way the kids played the game. Not happy with the outcome, of course," Verdugo said. "There are going to be some things that are changed and hopefully those help remedy the situation."
The Tiger defense will face its toughest test yet Saturday with Northwest Missouri State University, the No. 6 ranked team in the nation's most recent poll, coming to Lewis Field Stadium.
One thing Verdugo said the Tiger offense got much better at Saturday was getting rid of the ball in passing situations. Senior quarterback Shane Jackson completed 14-of-29 passes with one interception and hooked up with freshman receiver Matt Brevi six times for 53 yards.
"Matt is going to be an excellent football player. He's a young guy and sometimes it's easy to lose sight of that,"¬ Verdugo said of Brevi. "He is a freshman and he's come out and played well."
Jackson and senior transfer Ryne Salyer have split time at quarterback. Each threw an interception in Saturday's game and have combined for just 993 passing yards this season.
Meanwhile, the Tiger running game, anchored by a banged-up senior Jordan Hickel, has continued to slip more toward the bottom.
"He's probably a lot more banged up than he would let me or you know,"¬ Verdugo said of Hickel, who made his way into third place on the all-time Fort Hays rushing list. "Jordan is getting to a point in the season where he's had enough getting beat around in there, he's probably getting a little tired.
"We have to do a better job of getting some fresh legs in to help him out," Verdugo added
While the offense has struggled, the defense has continued to improve, allowing just 17.4 points a game and is among the leaders in the conference in several categories, including sacks. Senior defensive end Jason Hill has at least one sack in every game, and has nine on the season.
"Jason has grown up a lot in the past year. He's probably gone from being a boy to a great young man," Verdugo said of Hill. "His attitude, unselfishness and work ethic is the best it's been since we've been here."
This week's opponent, MIAA-leading Northwest Missouri State, sits at 5-0 in conference play. The Bearcats have put up 44.8 points a game, including an 86-13 win over Southwest Baptist University. They are coming off a 28-26 win over University of Central Missouri on Saturday.
"We're going to find out this weekend how good we really are on defense,"¬ Verdugo said.
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 |
