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Winless vs. woeful: Tigers host Bearcats for final 2007 home game
11/2/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
Look at the schedule and records heading into Saturday's Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association game at Lewis Field Stadium and chalk up a win for the Fort Hays State University football team.
But nothing is guaranteed. That's why they play the game. Kickoff is 2 p.m. in the Tigers' final home game of the 2007 season against Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University.
Though the Bearcats are winless entering Saturday's contest, Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo knows his team will have to do something it hasn't done in recent games -- put some numbers up on the scoreboard -- in order to get that elusive fourth win.
Southwest Baptist (0-9 overall, 0-7 MIAA) has been able to score points, despite not being able to get over the top. The Bearcats average 21.8 points a game in their final season as a football member of the MIAA.
"They've scored points against people. We're going to have to score,"¬ Verdugo said. "This is probably one of the scarier games you can coach in."
Fort Hays (3-6, 1-6) has not won a game since defeating Emporia State University in its MIAA opener and has scored just one offensive touchdown in its last four games. The Tiger defense. meanwhile, has held opponents to 19.3 points game.
Again the focus this week is getting the ball in the end zone. Coming off a 35-0 shutout at the hands of in-state foe Pittsburg State University, the Tigers are at or near the bottom in every offensive category in the MIAA. They were held to a season-low 171 yards.
Defensively, the Tigers are at or near the top in every category, including sacks, which could come into play if they hope to get the better of Southwest Baptist, a team that likes to "throw it all over the yard," Verdugo said.
Bearcat freshman quarterback Steve Gachette has thrown for 2,584 yards this season with 13 touchdowns, averaging 287.1 yards a game.
"If we can hold up in the secondary and not give him too much time and keep the ball in front of us, that will be the big one,"¬ Verdugo said. "They're going to run some different vertical routes to try and get behind us. If we can just not let them get behind us and keep that ball in front of us, we'll be fine."
After giving up more than 300 yards rushing last week, the Tigers dropped to third in rushing defense, and pass defense is something they have struggled with all season, giving up the quick-hitter or the big play. The Tigers rank ninth in pass defense, allowing 243.2 passing yards per game, but have the best turnover rate at plus-13.
"(Defensive coordinator Shawn Mennenga) and the defensive staff are pretty creative in putting some packages together that gives the guy a hard time and puts some pressure on them,"¬ Verdugo said. "We'll be able to mix them up a little."
Last year's game at Southwest Baptist, a 39-21 Bearcat win, is a perfect example of showing anything can happen in the MIAA. Both teams were winless going in and Fort Hays looked to be the favorite on paper. The teams combined for more than 800 yards of offense, but it was Southwest Baptist picking up its only win of the season. All week long, Fort Hays prepared for a four-man front on defense and Southwest Baptist switched things up at the last minute.
"The week we played them, they installed a brand new 3-man front. We had to adjust on the fly after the first snap," Verdugo said. "Most people don't do that."
For the Tiger offense, anything would be a step up from where it has been lately, but putting the ball in the end zone won't be an easy task.
"Nothing is guaranteed. If we play with energy and we play hard, we'll be right in that ball game and have a chance," 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 |
