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Big plays doom Tigers in MIAA opening loss
9/15/2007
By RICK PETERSON JR.
Special to the Hays Daily News
TOPEKA --¬Fort Hays State University couldn't contain Washburn's big offensive plays in the first half.
They couldn't make the little plays to have a chance at victory in the second half.
The end result was a 28-10 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association loss to Washburn Saturday at Yager Stadium.
Washburn all but dominated the Tigers in the first half of play and led 28-7 at halftime. While Fort Hays recovered from a shoddy first-half defensive performance, the Tigers never could convert scoring chances throughout the game.
Hays crept back into the game early in the third quarter after a 35-yard field goal by Justin Barr and had a solid defensive performance in the second half. However, the Tigers stalled on their last five possessions of the game.
Fort Hays drove into Washburn territory on three straight possessions in the final quarter but turned the ball over on downs on the first two and were forced to punt with 5:10 left, ending its slim chance of victory.
The Tigers' offense showed signs of life throughout the game, but had trouble collecting first downs in key situations and incurred penalties at inopportune times.
Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo said his team was hampered by little mistakes throughout the game.
"We didn't pass protect well enough, we didn't have good quarterback decision-making," he said. "Wide receivers should never jump off-sides, that's a football sin.
"When you make several mistakes, the opportunities don't become fruitful for you."
Washburn jumped on top early when senior running back Ra'Shawn Mosley scampered for a 68-yard score on the Ichabods' second play from scrimmage. After Hays quarterback Ryne Salyer was picked off by Washburn defensive back Cary Williams, the Ichabods scored four plays later when Jordan Brill hit Nathan Gaswick for a 17-yard score with 5:46 left in the first quarter.
Brandon Walker added another Ichabod score on a 7-yard run with 13:44 left in the second quarter.
Hays got on the board with 4:01 left in the half with an 8-play, 63-yard drive capped off by a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nate Stroup from Shane Jackson, who played sparingly. However, Washburn was able to put points on the board right before the half when Washburn quarterback Jordan Brill hit Drameagon Powers for a 12-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the half.
"We came out first half and we knew what they we're going to do," said Tigers linebacker Andrew Jones. "But we didn't execute plays and we didn't read our keys right.
"We came out the second half and said, 'If we reads our keys and play hard there was no reason we shouldn't stop them.'"
Washburn had a chance to break the game open on the last play of the third quarter when Ichabod wide receiver Jake Lebahn was tripped up on the 1-yard line after catching a 48-yard pass from Brill. However, the Tiger defense held the Ichabods, thanks to a false-start penalty and a missed field-goal.
The Tigers also missed out on two scoring opportunities in the first half of play, with Barr missing two field goals, including one off the upright.
Brill picked apart the Tigers defense for 297 passing yards. Salyer, who earned his first start of the season, was 19-for-34 passing with one interception.
Washburn's Mosley had 106 rushing yards on 14 carries.
Washburn improved to 2-1 on the season, while Fort Hays State fell to 2-1.
| 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 |
