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Offensive woes continue for strugging Tigers
10/30/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
Just a week removed from putting one of its better games together against No. 9 Northwest Missouri State University, things took a bit of a sour turn for the Fort Hays State University football team.
Frustrations hit a high note following Saturday's 35-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association rout at the hands of in-state rival Pittsburg State University at Carnie Smith Stadium.
Offensive woes continue to lag behind the Tigers' efforts on the other side of the ball, and it's gotten to the point where Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo and staff are looking for answers.
The important thing to remember right now is "making sure everyone stays together," Verdugo said Monday in his weekly news conference.
"It's one of those things where it's a joint effort by everyone, coaches and players," Verdugo said. "It's not just the coaches. We have to make sure we find a way to stick together, band together and find a way to make something positive happen."
With two games left in the regular season, Fort Hays (3-5 overall, 1-5 MIAA) is the worst scoring offense, the worst passing offense and near the bottom of the pack in rushing offense. Meanwhile, the Tiger defense is causing turnovers, holding teams out of the end zone, basically doing everything it can to get off the field.
"The defense is playing well, and that's probably an understatement," Verdugo said. "The biggest thing right now is making sure everyone stays together. Our kids and our coaches have done a great job of that."
The Tigers did allow a season-high in rushing yards to the two-headed juggernaut of Pitt State quarterback Mark Smith and tailback Caleb Farabi. The two were dominant forces in the Gorillas' 353 yards gained on the ground on Pitt State's homecoming. But, the Tigers forced four fumbles, recovering two and sacked Smith once.
The Fort Hays offense, meanwhile, gained a season-low 171 yards -- just 63 on the ground and 108 through the air. They have scored just one offensive touchdown in their last four games, two of which have been shutout losses.
"As a coaching staff, we have to do a better job, somehow, some way of finding a way to get the ball to move," Verdugo said. "It's not like we work short hours as it is anyway. If it means we're up here five extra hours a night, three extra hours in the morning, whatever it is we have to do, we have to try and do something to give our players an opportunity. We just have to make sure it's something they're able to execute and go out and do."
With two games remaining, the Tigers host a winless Southwest Baptist University team Saturday at Lewis Field Stadium. Fort Hays will again be looking to get something going on the offensive side.
"A lot of it has to do with confidence. The things we're doing schematically are sound," Verdugo said. "Maybe they're not the best thing sometime, but we have to make sure we're in the best position possible."
The important thing Verdugo noted was the team unity still is there, despite the difference in play on the field.
"There has been no looking down their nose or looking out the corner of their eye down to the end of the bench," Verdugo said. "They continue to do a good job of 'let's go out there and plug away.' "
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 |
