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Tigers fall in shootout at Pitt State
10/25/2009
By MATTHEW CLARK
Special to The Hays Daily News
PITTSBURG -- Fort Hays head football coach Kevin Verdugo's plans for returning home to Pittsburg on Saturday took a drastic change after the Tigers' 59-41 loss to the Gorillas at Carnie Smith Stadium.
"I'm just going home, back to Hays," Verdugo said after watching his Tigers give up over 400 yards on the ground to the Gorillas.
It was the first time since 2005 that Pitt State rushed over the 400-yard mark.
"We just couldn't stop them," Verdugo said. "We were in some positions to make plays and we didn't tackle."
Pitt State running back Terrance Isaac accounted for 185 of the Gorillas rushing yards and got most of those yards as the Gorillas utilized the trap and dive, exploiting gaps in the Tigers' defensive line.
Not to mention it was about emotion for the Gorillas after getting shell-shocked 55-3 at the hands of Washburn the week prior.
"We really did need to make a big statement today," said senior defensive lineman Rashad Pittman. "We came out and did that."
The Gorilla offense seemed to move the football with more verasity on their opening drive as they went four plays and 55 yards for their first touchdown since the fourth quarter against Emporia State when Eric Love scampered in from 33 yards on an option pitch from McCoy.
In addition to trapping and running dives, the Gorilla offense went back to the basics as they utilized their option attack to near-perfection for most of the game.
"They [Fort Hays] gave us a lot of pull reads on option and the O-line really executed," McCoy said.
Defensively, the Gorillas, who gave up a record 6 touchdown passes the week before, held Fort Hays to a 3-and-out as the Tigers managed just five yards.
Three plays later, McCoy used the option and kept the ball for a 16-yard score, putting the Gorillas up 14-6 midway through the first quarter.
Fort Hays was able to utilize a health Mike Garrison as the Tigers' quarterback threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns in the shootout.
Wide receiver O.J. Murdock did torch the Gorilla secondary for 98 yards on five catches and a pair of touchdowns.
However, the key was that the Gorilla defense held Fort Hays scoreless in the third quarter.
In fact, Pitt State scored 20 unanswered points after Hays took a 27-24 lead midway through the second quarter.
"Anytime you are against option football it is about assignments," Verdugo said. "That is what we have to do a better job at."
Against the Gorilla running attack, Fort Hays struggled, giving Pitt State an average of 6.9 yards per carry, well over their season average of 3.6.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |