Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Fort Hays State football team used a safety and a 61-yard TD pass to rally past Nebraska-Kearney, 24-17, Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
 
This was MIAA "Rivalry Week" and the 61st all-time meeting between the Tigers (5-4, 5-4) and Lopers (2-7, 2-7). Kearney still leads in the series, 34-26-1.
 
On a very windy day, UNK absolutely dominated the first half, out gaining Hays by a 237-55 margin. However, the Lopers led only 10-0 as they just missed a 25-yard field goal and the Tigers picked off a pass at their own 20-yard line.
 
The script flipped in the second half as Hays scored 24 unanswered points before the Lopers added a TD with 1:15 left. Over the final two quarters, the Tigers out gained UNK by a 259-86 margin.
 
"We just didn't play well enough in the second half to win the ball game," said UNK head coach Darrell Morris. "That's our thing right now. We play really hard and well in the 1st half but just can't finish."

 
The black and gold comeback started four plays into the 3rd quarter when a high snap on a Kearney put attempt resulted in a safety.
 
After a 22-yard kick return, Hays used four runs to suddenly make it a 10-9 game. Junior quarterback Treveon Albert called his own number from three yards out and the ensuing PAT was good.
 
Later in the quarter, Drew O'Brien was short on a 47-yard field goal attempt. UNK responded with runs of five and eight yards, respectively, but the drive ended when they couldn't convert on 3rd and 4 from midfield.
 
Hays was only 2 of 9 on 3rd down on the day but they hit a home run early in the 4th quarter when Albert threw a short pass and senior receiver Ed Williams broke a couple of tackles and raced down the sidelines for a 61-yard score.
 
UNK's next drive went just six yards but sophomore ILB Tyke Kozeal (Sargent) forced running back Kenneth Iheme to fumble at this own 23-yard line and redshirt freshman safety George Brown (University City, Mo.) pounced on the loose ball.
 
However, junior QB Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.) was sacked for a 10 yard loss on 4th and 7 and the Tigers took over at their own 31-yard line.
 
Iheme then made up for his turnover with a 44-yard scamper to the UNK 22-yard line. Four plays later, he scored from four yards out with 4:08 left.
 
"I don't think they made any big adjustments in the second half. They just started to run the ball better," said Morris.
 
A short kick and a Kozeal return of eight yards gave UNK some hope. Marsh and the offense moved down the field with some short passes and then Marsh ran 13 yards on 4th and 11 to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, he tossed an 18-yard scoring strike to junior receiver Dalton Sealey (Adams Central).
 
Sophomore reserve kicker Payton Fluckey (Springfield) attempted an onside kick but the Tigers recovered inside Kearney territory and ran out the clock.
 
Hays had 187 of its 242 rushing yards in the second half with Iheme, a reserve, totaling 149 yards on 22 carries. Albert finished with 61 yards on 11 carries while going 3 of 8 in the air for 72 yards.
 
Running 29 more plays than the Tigers, 78-49, UNK had 150 rushing yards on 53 carries. They actually gained 207 but lost 27 yards on that high snap.
 
Individually, Marsh had 24 totes for 64 yards with backs Romero Cotton (39) and Dezden Petty (34) combining for 73. In the passing game, Marsh was 13 of 25 for 173 yards, one TD and one INT. Junior Allen Sampson (Tampa, Fla.) was one of six Lopers with a catch, having six for 76.
 
Hays, having 11 TFL's, saw safety Michael Jordan have a team-high 12 tackles (nine solo) with linebacker Justin McPhail making nine (six solo).
 
Kozeal led UNK once again, having 13 stops (seven solo) including one for a loss of three yards. Finally, Brown had eight tackles and redshirt freshman tackle/end Wyatt Anderson (Arapahoe) had five.
 
UNK is at Missouri Western State next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Griffons lost to NW Missouri State today, 40-3.