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Tigers fall in finale
11/10/2007
By The Hays Daily News
WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Fort Hays State University football team completed a 4-7 season with a 31-10 loss to University of Central Missouri Saturday afternoon.
Tiger third-year coach Kevin Verdugo sees brighter days ahead, what with a strong nucleus returning for next year and an improvement by three victories this season.
"I think we've got a great springboard to jump off for next year," Verdugo said on his postgame radio show.
The Tiger defense has been stellar for most of the season, but five Tiger turnovers on offense was too much to overcome. Fort Hays had been one of the top teams in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in turnover margin coming in.
Central Missouri (7-4 overall, 6-3 MIAA) scored on the game's first series, marching 73 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard TD run by Jeremy Braden.
Fort Hays lost a fumble on the ensuing series, and Mules kicker Mark Starks -- in his first college football game -- made a 21-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Quarterback Eric Czerniewski hooked up with receiver Damond Berry on an 81-yard TD connection to make it 17-0.
Fort Hays (4-7, 2-7) got on the board on senior Justin Barr's 33-yard field goal with 5:27 left in the first half.
Tiger senior QB Ryne Salyer was picked off on Fort Hays' first series of the second half, and the Mules scored on the turnover, on Braden's 1-yard run.
Central Missouri made it 31-3 when Braden scored from 42 yards out on the swinging gate play. Braden finished with 96 yards on 13 carries.
Fort Hays got its lone touchdown in the third quarter, moving the ball 76 yards in 12 plays to score. Salyer hit freshman fullback Justin Glenn with a 1-yard TD pass on fourth down.
Tiger senior Jordan Hickel rushed for 73 yards on 13 carries, and Salyer passed for 161 yards and three interceptions.
Fort Hays finished eighth in the 10-team MIAA. Next year, national power Nebraska-Omaha replaces cellar dweller Southwest Baptist for football in the MIAA.
| 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 |
