Tigers Feast on Three Turnovers to Beat the Lopers, 26-7

Kearney, Neb. – The 34th-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers turned three turnovers into 13 points and got 110 rushing yards from senior back Travis Dixon to down Nebraska Kearney, 26-7, Saturday night in Kansas.

The Tigers (2-1) move ahead in the all-time series by a single game and have now beaten the Lopers (2-1) in 12 of the last 13 meetings.

Looking for its first win at Lewis Stadium since 2005, the Lopers out gained the Tigers, 272-270, but Hays held the ball for nearly 35 minutes. A 78-yard interception return for six points not only stopped a potential UNK scoring drive but also gave the Tigers a 17-0 second quarter lead.

"You can't turn the ball over three times and give up a pick six. We had numerous opportunities and just didn't take advantage at times on offense," said UNK head coach Ryan Held.

UNK tried to comeback as it drove to the Tigers 34-yard line to start the second half. However, Hays forced and recovered a fumble and that later led to a 38-yard field goal by Oklahoma Stater transfer Davis Arriaga. He also hit a 42-yarder in the first half and made 34 and 27 efforts, respectively, later in the second half. The last one came after the Lopers lost the ball at its own 36-yard line. All toll, UNK had four drives of at least 40 yards that resulted in no points (two turnovers, a missed field goal and turnover on downs). Meanwhile, the Tigers first two scoring drives (10 points) covered 120 yards and 21 plays. 

Dixon (5-10, 220 lbs.) paced the Tiger offense by having 110 yards and one TD (two yards) on 21 carries. He had a long run of 20 yards and was one of eight players to catch a pass from junior quarterback Caleb Heavner. The 2024 All-MIAA honoree finished 17 of 28 for 134 yards and was sacked four times by the Loper defense.

Junior "Bandit" Michael Polley stepped in front of redshirt sophomore QB Abram Scholting (Pierce) and raced 78-yard for six points at the 3:27 mark of the half. Scholting had just thrown a 15-yard completion to senior receiver Zane Schawang (Waverly) with senior back Isaiah Harris (Millard South) having a 28-yard scamper earlier in the drive.

"We were really moving the ball well and we called an ROP (run pass option). Obviously, we shouldn't have thrown it. When we would get something going, we would turn the ball over," said Held. "I thought the defense did a lot of good things and they played well enough for us. I walk off the field and I don't feel like we got pushed around or anything. We just didn't make the plays when we needed to." ​

Scholting and redshirt junior Daron Bryden (Enfield, Conn.) combined to go 10 of 27 for 108 yards. Bryden, who missed last week with injury, ran five times for 30 yards and threw a late 41-yard completion to redshirt freshman receiver Ryker Evans (Elwood). That set up an eight-yard TD run by redshirt freshman back Jahmez Ross (Omaha Westside). Next, Harris topped the Century mark (107 yards) for the seventh time in his short UNK career with Schawang and redshirt freshman receiver Alex Parks (Overland Park, Kan.) having three catches apiece.

"We only had two penalties but had a big one on 3rd & 1 and then ended up not getting the first down and not making a field goal (42 yards). I thought we did some good things in the running game, and I liked our game plan. They lined up basically how we thought they would. But we just didn't execute when we needed to, and it really hurt us," said Held. 

The Loper "D" got solo sacks from ends Josh Davies-Balogun (Richmond, Texas) and Xavier Morrow (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and defensive back Qualyn McQueen Sr. (Miami). Veteran safety CJ Kuehl (Indianola, Ia.) and junior corner Ife Current (Kennedale, Texas) had nine stops apiece with redshirt sophomore backer Garhett Reese (Stillwater, Okla.) had six stops and a half sack.

Finally, linebacker John Johnson, a 2023 All-American, led the Tigers in tackles (seven) with 6-6 senior tackle Jalen Williams at six tackles.

UNK hosts Emporia State (1-1) next Saturday at Cope Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon with the Hornets idle today.