HAYS, Kan. (Sept. 21, 2024) – A fumble return for a touchdown by Fort Hays State (Kan.) as Northeastern State was driving in the red zone just before halftime swung momentum and the Tigers eventually pulled away for a 37-0 win over NSU on Saturday at Lewis Field Stadium.
Fort Hays State (3-1), which was receiving votes in one of the NCAA Division II football polls, picked up 118 yards rushing (on 22 carries) and 40 yards receiving (on four catches) from Shane Watts, who scored two touchdowns. Fort Hays State quarterback Jack Dawson completed 20 of 32 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Carson Arndt converted field goals of 32, 28 and 22 yards for the Tigers.
NSU (0-3) had its offense bottled up most of the game, but the RiverHawks showed promise in the second half, with backup quarterback
Luke Milligan hitting 18 of 28 passes for 141 yards and guiding a drive that ended with a missed 36-yard field-goal attempt on the game's final play. NSU finished with 257 yards of offense.
With the RiverHawks trailing 10-0, defensive lineman
Chris Lee's 24-yard return after he intercepted Dawson – Lee's first collegiate pickoff – put NSU in prime position at the Fort Hays State 17 with 1:49 left before halftime. NSU had a first-and-goal at the 6 when a high snap rolled behind quarterback
Dereun Dortch to the 19, where Fort Hays State's Benyon Williams picked it up and started an 81-yard return for a touchdown that put the Tigers ahead 17-0.
Fort Hays State scored on its first two possessions after halftime to go up 27-0. With Milligan at quarterback, the RiverHawks drove to the Fort Hays State 30 early in the fourth quarter before losing possession on downs.
Dortch completed 5 of 14 passes for 15 yards and rushed seven times for 28 yards.
Marco Smith led NSU in rushing with six carries for 29 yards.
Deuce Roberson had six catches for 36 yards, while
Jay Caldwell had four catches for 34 yards and
Dean Odom added three catches for 32 yards for the RiverHawks.
Natea Coleman paced the NSU defense with 10 tackles while
Jordan Banks and
Juwan Dancy had nine stops each.
Clavon Caine had eight tackles, two of those for losses.
The game had been scheduled to start at 7 p.m., but kickoff was moved to 11 a.m. to avoid severe weather in north-central Kansas that was expected Saturday night.
NSU will host Missouri Southern next Saturday at 3 p.m. at Broken Arrow High School's Tiger Memorial Stadium. It will be the RiverHawks' first game in Oklahoma in nearly a month.
