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Tigers take advantage of turnovers, rip Western State, 55-3
8/25/2007
By NICK McQUEENHays Daily NewsDeep down, everyone on the Fort Hays State University football knew the 2007 version of the Tigers was going to be better.Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo has done his best to ingrain a certain level of expectation entering his third year in the program.Fans and nay-sayers alike probably never expected this, though -- a 55-3 rout of former Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Western State (Colo.) College in Saturday night's season opener at Lewis Field Stadium."I expected us to play physical. You don't want to sound arrogant or have a big head, but I knew we would play well, I just wasn't sure to what degree," Verdugo said.The Tigers took the first step in proving they are a better football team. They got that first win.The Tigers now get to call themselves something they haven't been able to since the 2000 season -- undefeated. For the first time since a 16-10 win over Emporia State University that season, the Tigers are 1-0.The Tigers poured it on early and often with a heavy dose of senior tailback Jordan Hickel. Behind a bigger, beefier offensive line, the Claflin senior rumbled for 128 first-half yards and four touchdowns, propelling the Tigers to a 38-0 halftime lead that was highlighted by four forced turnovers, a blocked punt and a fumble recovery on a kickoff. It was all Tigers from start to finish, similar to what traditional Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association teams do to their early-season nonconference opponents."It's unbelievable. My hat's off to the offensive line. They did an unbelievable job tonight," said Hickel, who sat out the entire second half. "I probably should have had more yards on a few plays if I would have read them right, but the O-line did a great job."Hickel scored his first touchdown from 13 yards out, starting the throttling of Western State (0-1). By the midway point of the second quarter with Hickel's fourth touchdown, the Tigers amassed more points than they had in a full game in Verdugo's previous two seasons. The Tigers hadn't scored more than 30 points in an entire game since a 42-30 win over the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 2004. The 55 total points is the highest since a 58-27 win over Fort Lewis in 2002. The shutout was erased by a 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter by Western State sophomore Lloyd Tucker, but that didn't take away what the Tiger defense accomplished."We were looking for the shutout," said Tiger junior linebacker Joey Cotton. "That's all we could talk about on the sidelines, but we're so proud of our effort and we'll take the W."The Tiger defense held Western State to 223 yards -- 14 rushing -- while forcing four turnovers and sacking Western State's quarterback duo five times.Cotton had one sack and two tackles for loss."The d-line ate up blocks all day and allowed us to get up in there and make plays," Cotton said.At the start of the second half it just got better for the Tigers and a worse nightmare for Western State. Tiger newcomer Bryan Haynes returned the second-half kickoff 66 yards to set up yet another score, this time a pass from senior Ryne Salyer to freshman tight end Tyler Buzzard. Salyer came in at QB in the second quarter when starting senior Shane Jackson left the game after taking a hard shot.It didn't matter who was playing behind center. Everyone in a black uniform was getting in on the shellacking."I'm glad we got to go out there and cut it loose tonight. The entire team played well tonight," Verdugo said.The Tiger rushing game gained 274 yards from eight different ball carriers and the passing combination of Jackson and Salyer put up 73 yards and a score."Defensively and offensively, it starts up front and the line of scrimmage played well tonight," Verdugo said.The Tigers are off until Sept. 8 when they host another former RMAC foe, Colorado School of Mines for TailGreat at 7 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium.Sports reporter Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 128 or by e-mail atnmcqueen@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 |
