Box Score
Sept. 18, 2010
HAYS, Kan. - Three big touchdown passes by Fort Hays quarterback Mike Garrison were key in the Tigers 34-9 victory over the Truman State University Bulldogs on Saturday night in Hays. Garrison completed touchdown passes of 25, 47 and 21 yards as Truman falls for the first time in 2010.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Tigers (3-0/1-0 MIAA) were able to march out from the shadow of their own goal posts as Garrison completed passes of 12 and 19 yards and running back James Walker scampered another seven and 20 yards to set up a 25-yard touchdown pass from Garrison to tight end Beau Gadwood and a 7-0 lead. The drive went for 97-yards in nine plays.
The Bulldogs responded right back as quarterback Phil Davis found freshman Paul Taylor for a 21-yard completion with a late hit foul tacked on to jump start the offense into FHSU territory.
Anthony Brown caught another big third down pass for 12 yards and Davis marched in untouched from 15 yards out to knot the score at seven apiece.
With just under a minute to play in the half, the Tigers got into Bulldogs' territory on a 17-yard pass from Garrison to O.J. Murdock.
After a timeout, Garrison was pressured and was nearly dropped for a loss but found Walker on a screen pass and the senior tailback knifed 47-yards for the go ahead score.
The Bulldogs cut it to 14-9 when a bad snap resulted in a safety and were set up in great field position as freshman Paul Taylor took the free kick 35 yards to the Tigers' 42 yardline.
However, the Truman offense stalled out and was forced to punt.
On the ensuing possession, the Tigers gambled on a fourth and one from the Truman 24 and it paid off as Garrison found Murdock deep slant and the insurance score.
From their the flood gates opened as the Tigers tacked on a Walker one-yard run and a Garrison five-yard run late in the fourth quarter.
Fort Hays racked up the offensive numbers as the Tigers gained 492 yards overall with Garrison throwing for 325 and Walker leading the rushers with 114 yards. Murdock was the big target with 128 receiving.
Davis led Truman in total offense with 69 yards on the ground and 84 through the air. Taylor led the receiving corps with three catches for 32 yards.
The Bulldogs (2-1/0-1 MIAA) will next host the defending national champion, Northwest Missouri State, in the ol' Hickory Stick game at Stokes Stadium next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The Bearcats won convincingly in Omaha over Nebraska-Omaha 58-23 on Saturday night.
