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Tigers close out season on road
11/9/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
This week's final regular-season game for the Fort Hays State University football team matches up two teams with very different goals. No. 11 University of Central Missouri is trying to climb the top-four ladder in the MIAA standingsto keep its hope alive for a chance at the Mineral Water Bowl or even an NCAA Division II playoff appearance.
The visiting Tigers will look to close out the season on a positive note and pave the way for more improvement next season.
Kick off is 1:30 p.m. at Audrey J. Walton Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.
It will be the last game for a group of Tiger seniors that had to fight and claw its way to stay on the team, following a coaching change that took place nearly three seasons ago when third-year Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo took over for Tim O'Connor.
"They took a giant leadership role more so than any group since we've been here," Verdugo said of his senior group. "They're the ones that set the team goals and had those meetings with people to get stuff done."
During the offseason, the Tigers hit the weight room with the goal of getting bigger, faster and stronger. In the eyes of the coaches, they did just that and the Tigers could end their sophomore season in the MIAA with five wins, four better than last year.
"I thought we needed to clean some house and we did so. There was a lot of hard work, early mornings, and some stuff that guys weren't accustomed to," Verdugo said.
"They put up with it for two years and these are the guys that were left standings that were willing to do those things."
Fort Hays is coming off its third win after last week's 36-30 escape against Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University, while Central Missouri is looking to stay alive for a postseason berth in one form or another. The Mules are 6-4 overall and 5-3 in MIAA play, where they sit in fifth place. Though a postseason chance is slim, a win is needed.
"If we can play well like we did last week on offense, we'll have a chance,"¬ Verdugo said.
The Tigers are in a little different situation than they have been the last two seasons under Verdugo. Fort Hays has ended its last two seasons at home on senior day, something that can often take focus away from the task at hand.
"I'm looking forward to going out there and playing focused. Having that same energy, but maybe being zeroed in a little bit more," Verdugo said.
Last week, the Tigers were whistled for 12 penalties against a Southwest Baptist team that leads the MIAA in opponent penalties. More than a handful of those were personal foul calls against Fort Hays.
"The emotion maybe got the better of them a little bit. We'll go out and play well (this week)," Verdugo said. "We've only gone out and played what I would call a poor game on the road."
Still, the Tigers have yet to win a road game this season and have been on the receiving end of two road shutouts and still sit near the bottom of the MIAA in total offense. A win this week, though, would give the Tigers of a tie for seventh place in the final standings. A loss might mean a tie for ninth.
"I've talked to our kids about every ounce of energy that we have needs to be focused on this game this week," Verdugo said. "This is a little bit different setting. The last two years, the last game of the year was at home and has been senior day."
One of those seniors, defensive end Jason Hill, has made the most of his final season as one of the team leaders on defense. Hill has recorded at least one sack in eight of the 10 games played and has 10 for the season, which leads the MIAA and ranks fifth in Division II. The Tiger defense has proved to be one of best in the conference, holding opponents to 20.4 points a game and forcing opponents into 25 turnovers.
Central Missouri is the fourth-highest scoring offense in the MIAA at 32.8 points per contest and have done it with a mix of the pass and run. Fort Hays is scoring 19.1 points a game, but broke out last week for 370 yards of total offense (275 in the air).
The Mules' balanced offense is led by a pair of quarterbacks who split time in sophomore Eric Czerniewski and junior Stinson Dean. They have combined for more than 2,000 yards passing and 16 TD passes this season, while junior running back Glenn Milner averages 104.8 yards per game and has 18 touchdowns.
"They're both able to throw the ball well and they're both pretty mobile kids. They're not what I would call running quarterbacks, but they have some pocket escapability and can make you pay the price if you miss them,"¬ Verdugo said. Milner? "He's another MIAA back that's pretty good."
The Tigers counter with senior quarterback Ryne Salyer, who has 1,132 yards passing this season and took over full-time three games ago for senior Shane Jackson. Salyer threw one touchdown pass last week and has five on the year. Senior tailback Jordan Hickel has rushed for 647 yards and seven scores this year, climbing the all-time ladder at Fort Hays and now sits in third place on the all-time list with 3,144 yards. He is second in rushing all-time in attempts.
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 |
