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Tigers remain one away from winning season

11/3/2009

By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

The Tiger defense -- riddled with injuries -- is allowing almost 37 points per game.

If not for the offense scoring almost 32 points per game, the Fort Hays State University football team likely wouldn't be one victory away from its first winning season under Coach Kevin Verdugo.

The Tigers' defense has six starters out for the season with injuries. A week after surrendering 550 total yards (406 rushing) in a 59-41 loss at Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays gave up 636 total yards in a 66-40 loss to third-ranked Northwest Missouri State University last Saturday in the Tigers' final home game.

"Imagine you're the most frustrated you've ever been in your life, and magnify by 10, probably," Verdugo said in Monday's weekly news conference of the level of frustration for the Tiger defensive players and coaches.

In first-year defensive coordinator Kyle Nystrom's 4-2-5 scheme, Fort Hays is:

-- last in the 10-team Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association in scoring defense (36.8);

-- last in total defense (456.1 yards per game);

-- next-to-last in rushing defense (193.1);

-- next-to-last in pass defense (263);

-- last in pass defense efficiency (MIAA-high 24 TD passes allowed)

-- last in interceptions (6);

-- eighth in sacks (15);

-- last in first downs allowed (22.9 per game);

-- next-to-last in opponents' third-down conversions (44.7 percent).

Verdugo said the timing of the injuries has hurt the defense, too.

"Some of ours happened midseason, past midseason," he said. "I felt we were pretty good on defense, the first two (starters and backups)."

But the injuries have forced players to see the field that weren't meant to see extensive action. You can only teach those players so much at this point in the season, Verdugo said.

"Nothing you can do about it," Verdugo said. "It is what it is."

Fort Hays (5-5) likely will need its offense to put points on the board in bunches again Saturday at Missouri Southern State University (3-6) to finish with a winning record.

In the MIAA statistics, the Fort Hays offense is:

-- sixth in scoring (31.7);

-- seventh in total offense (379.3);

-- next-to-last in rushing (138.6)

-- sixth in passing (240.7 yards);

-- seventh in pass efficiency (17 TDs);

-- last in sacks allowed (25);

-- sixth in first downs (21 per game);

-- sixth in third-down conversions (43.1 percent)

In assorted other statistics, the Tigers have committed the fewest penalties in the conference (36) and lead in punt returns (32.1 average).

Individually, in the Tigers' no-huddle spread offense installed this season, junior running back James Walker is sixth in the MIAA in rushing with 793 yards. Walker also is tied for eighth in receptions with 41.

Senior quarterback Mike Garrison is sixth in passing with 240.9 yards per game, with 17 TDs and eight interceptions. Garrison also is eighth in passing efficiency and second in total offense (271.5).

Junior wideout O.J. Murdock is fifth in receiving yards per game at 76.6.

Senior C.J. Lovett is averaging 38.8 yards on nine punt returns, with three TDs, and is second in kickoff returns, averaging 28.2 yards on 17 runbacks, with one score. He also is fourth in interceptions, with four picks.

Sophomore Ethan Kosjer is third in punting, averaging 39.9 yards.

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