Box Score
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – J.B. Clark's one-yard touchdown plunge early in fourth quarter gave the Truman Bulldogs a 36-31 victory over Fort Hays State (Kan.) on Saturday afternoon at Stokes Stadium. Truman scored 13 points in the final 15 minutes to even their record at 1-1.
Clark threw for 298 yards on 28-of-48 passing with three touchdown passes as he used 10 receivers in the victory. Donald Harvey caught seven for 38 yards while Andy Mundwiller had a big day with 58 yards receiving and another 94 on punt returns, including a 58-yard jaunt to set up a 20-yard field goal by Derek Koon to give the Bulldogs a 23-21 lead early in the second half.
Special teams would be the theme of the day as the Bulldogs blocked the Tigers first punt from scrimmage in the first quarter and converted it into seven points as Clark found Paul Taylor from 18-yards away for a 7-0 Bulldog lead.
Fort Hays struck quickly to even the score as Shaun Ohlde followed an Andre Smith 42-yard run with a 14-yard score on the Tigers next possession to even things up.
Koon would hit a career-long 42-yards and again from 37 to give the Bulldogs a 13-7 first quarter lead.
Truman then went 69-yards in 14 plays to start the second quarter with Dallas Grier catching a four-yard TD pass and a 20-7 lead before the Tigers got things going.
Edward Smith scored from 27-yards out to cut the lead to six and following an interception, Blake McAhern tossed a 12-yard strike to Anthony Smith to give the Tigers a 21-20 lead at the break.
Andre Smith, later in the third quarter, ripped off an 83-yard touchdown run to put the Tigers up by eight heading into the final quarter.
Ethan Kosjer slipped on the ensuing kickoff giving the Bulldogs great field position and Clark took advantage by hitting Anthony Brown on a 27-yard TD pass to pull the 'Dogs to within two. The two-point conversion failed but the Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out to keep the momentum going.
Setting up near midfield, Clark found Harvey for 11 on third down then Grier for 19 to move the ball down to the Tigers 13. Harnish Ayora rushed the ball down to the two before Clark punched it in from a yard away.
The Bulldog defense then got a big stop on fourth and five at their own 30 to thwart the Tigers attempt to take the lead.
After Truman was quickly forced to punt, the biggest play of the game occurred. Andre Smith caught the Eric Phillips' punt but had the ball poked away by Ja'Cobe Britt with Truman's Matthew Bell falling on the loose ball to keep the possession with the 'Dogs. Ayora then rushed the ball six times picking up two big first downs to secure the win.
Andre Smith rushed for 204 yards on 21 carries as the Tigers gained 314 on the ground. McAhren and Anthon Sheppard split time at quarterback for Fort Hays State with McAhren going 11-of-19 for 82 yards.
Defensively for the Bulldogs, Richie Schumacher registered 10 total tackles with both Jeramey Dockery and Patrick Blackwell each recording a sack.
Truman moves to 1-1 in overall and conference play while the Tigers also drop to 1-1.
The Bulldogs will face Pittsburg State next Saturday night at home. Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m.
