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Tigers look to take it to next level
10/2/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
The Fort Hays State University football team has produced plenty of positives through the first part of the season, including a high-octane no-huddle spread offense that averages more than 37 points a game, and strong play from senior quarterback Mike Garrison and the host of offensive transfers. And, most importantly, a 4-1 start, including 2-1 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The Tigers collected three votes in this week's national Top 25 coaches' poll, but in some people's eyes, Fort Hays is not considered a strong squad. Three of Fort Hays' four wins have come against teams with losing records, including conference bottom feeders Truman State (Mo.) University and Emporia State University, squads that combine for a 2-8 record, 0-6 in the conference.
"I am not sold on how good people think we are," Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo said. "We heard it from the (Emporia State) coaches through the media that we played last week. They came right out and said we were the worst team in the conference defensively and we hadn't played anybody offensively yet. I think our kids kind of took that as a little bit of a challenge. They read it and they saw it."
Fort Hays defeated Emporia State 40-20 and have already tied the most wins (four) and MIAA victories (two) in the five-year Verdugo era.
Saturday's game, though, starts a five-week stretch against national powers that will determine the Tigers' season.
The Tigers travel to No. 17 Washburn University (4-1 overall, 2-1 MIAA) for a 1 p.m. kickoff in Topeka. Washburn's only loss was 37-34 to Missouri Western State University on a last-second field goal; Missouri Western is the lone team to beat Fort Hays, too.
Three of Fort Hays' next five opponents are ranked.
"I think we have proven that we can play with some people, and I hope they underestimate us," Verdugo said.
Last season, Fort Hays defeated Washburn 17-7, then ranked No. 18 in the nation, for the first win against a ranked team in Verdugo's tenure. The Tigers, though, then dropped eight straight contests to finish the season last in the conference at 2-9. Washburn finished 6-5 and is 50-35 in eight years under Ichabod coach Craig Schurig.
"I think Washburn's program for a few years has been in a different position than ours," Verdugo said. "They probably don't sweat us a great deal. They look at where we are now and they probably think, we have gotten a little better, but they are a playoff team the past few years, multiple times.
"I think they probably see themselves -- and they have never said it -- but if you are in their shoes and their kids, they probably see themselves on a little different plane, a little different level than us. I would imagine in their shoes, they probably feel like they should win this game and shouldn't have to worry about a whole lot. I just want our kids to be focused and play," Verdugo added.
Fort Hays, which entered the season on an 18-game road losing streak, is 2-0 away from Hays this fall. Much of the success is helped by the offense, which has tallied more than 30 points in all five games -- the longest streak since 1995, Fort Hays' last playoff season. The Tigers, who averaged 16 points per game in 2008, now score more than 37 a game and are one of several MIAA teams that have seen a jump in scoring.
"You look at the conference this year, I am not really so sure any of us are really playing defense," Verdugo said, "when you look at the scores. (Defensive coordinator) Kyle Nystrom and I talk about that all the time, especially when we are driving back on a road game because he rides with me. You look at it, I think we are averaging over 37 points a game and we are third. That's criminal for teams to be scoring that much."
Washburn has seen the biggest jump of any MIAA team in offensive production. Last year, the Ichabods averaged 22 points and 302 yards a game. This fall, they lead the nation in scoring offense (46.6 points) and rank seventh in total offense (459.6). Washburn sophomore quarterback Dane Simoneau has 13 TD passes against five interceptions and ranks seventh in the nation in passing efficiency. The Ichabods' plus-9 turnover margin leads the conference.
"They are a tough opponent," senior defensive end Charlie Carr said. "Solid football team. They are not into the tricks and all that stuff. They will line up and run the ball at you and they'll say, 'Hey, we are running here, stop it.' You go into their house and beat them, that's saying a lot."
Overall, five MIAA teams, including Fort Hays at No. 19, rank in the top 20 nationally in scoring offense. Five squads stand in the top 26 in total offense. Last season, three MIAA squads were in the top 23 in scoring offense; two in the top 26 in total offense.
"I think the styles of offenses that are being presented in today's college football are extremely difficult to defend," Verdugo said. "It's not that defenses have gotten worse. It's just the challenges that they are facing are that much tougher every week. Some of those challenges are new to them, maybe things they haven't seen before. It becomes difficult for them."
For Fort Hays, senior C.J. Lovett paces the nation in punt return average (44.1 yards), while junior wideout O.J. Murdock, who began his collegiate career at Division I University of South Carolina, is Fort Hays' big-play offensive threat with 14 catches for 368 yards and four scores.
Murdock's 26.4 yards per catch is on pace to shatter the school record (minimum 20 catches) of 21.5 yards per catch. The conference record (minimum 40 catches) is 24.0 set by Missouri Southern State University's Rod Smith, the former Denver Broncos' wideout.
"Hays is a much better team than last year, particularly on offense," Schurig said in an interview with the Topeka Capital-Journal. "They can put points on the board."
That offense could continue to help Fort Hays gain respect and move up the MIAA ranks.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |