The Fort Hays State University football squad looks to end their road losing streak this weekend as they head to the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
UNO comes into the game with momentum after spoiling No. 18 University Central Missouri’s homecoming weekend 38-33.
UNO finished 10-1 and 8-0 in the North Central Conference in 2007 before leaving the NCC to join the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
However, since joining the MIAA, the Mavericks are 4-3 in conference and 5-3 overall.
It will be the first time the two teams have met since 1972.
“It will be an interesting trip for the guys,” Head Coach Kevin Verdugo said. “It’s a new venue and won’t be same old, same old so to speak. A lot of times you get this type of game early in the season in a non-conference game.”
The Tigers have to defend senior quarterback Zach Miller, last week’s MIAA Offensive Player of the Week.
As the field general of the Mavericks’ offense, he completed 17-of-19 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown and carried the ball 19 times for 65 yards and three touchdowns against UCM.
Both teams’ main strengths will be challenging each other as the Tigers’ top-notch rushing defense will attempt to fend off the Maverick’s rushing attack that leads the MIAA.
The UNO offense averages 265.2 rushing yards per game and has a passing offense ranked just ahead of FHSU that averages 161.1 yards per game.
The Tigers rush defense and total defense are still ranked No. 2 in the MIAA despite some recent lopsided losses, giving up 116.2 and 299.6 yards per game respectively.
“UNO came into the conference at the beginning of the year and were a pick to win it,” Verdugo said. “I think what they have learned coming into this conference is what I’ve known and said all along. It is pretty dog-gone good and has been a little bit of a learning process also.
Recent Comments