Lincoln preps to host tough Fort Hays State

There are only three games remaining on Lincoln's schedule, but the gauntlet of facing top teams has only just begun for the Blue Tigers.

Following last Saturday's 56-9 loss at No. 14 Northwest Missouri, Lincoln returns home to host the Fort Hays State Tigers today in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Fort Hays State received votes in this top AFCA Division II Top 25 rankings. The rest of Lincoln's schedule? Next week at No. 11 Central Missouri, followed by the season finale at home against Missouri Western, which is also receiving votes.

"Another week in the MIAA," Lincoln interim head coach Malik Hoskins said.

This week, the Blue Tigers will host a Fort Hays State team that has won six straight games after starting the season 0-2 with a No. 11 ranking in the preseason poll. The Tigers pulled out a 37-31 win last Saturday at home against Nebraska-Kearney.

"Starting off the year, I think they were just trying to find their way," Hoskins said. "They lost two games that could have gone either way, but they're on a hot streak now. I would say they're probably one of three of the hottest teams in Division II football right now."

Lincoln forced the Bearcats to punt on their first three possessions of the game last Saturday, then had an interception return for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead late in the fourth quarter.

"Coach (Craig) Cox and the defensive staff, they've been harping on getting turnovers all season," Hoskins said. "The kids are starting to believe that every time that ball's in the air, they've got as much right to it as the offensive guy.

"As far as turnovers are concerned, we're on the plus side of it."

"He's probably the best pure passer that we've seen all year," Hoskins said. "He does a good job of spreading the football around to receivers."

His top receiver is senior Harley Hazlett (6-3, 255), who has 57 catches for 673 yards and eight touchdowns. He is one of three Fort Hays State players averaging 70 yards or more receiving per game.

The others are sophomore Manny Ramsey (5-11, 185), who has 33 catches for 596 yards and six touchdowns, and senior Layne Bieberle (6-2, 190), who has 28 catches for 589 yards and four scores.

"He's got some weapons on the offensive side of the ball," Hoskins said. " He just does a great job of getting the ball out of his hands."

Lincoln's defense ranks in the top 25 in Division II with 19 takeaways, including eight interceptions. The Blue Tigers have scored defensive touchdowns in each of the past two games.

"With that they've seen of us on film, they're going to try and come out and throw the football early," Hoskins said. "If we do a good job of playing sound and disciplined in the secondary, they'll try and run the ball, which plays into our hand. I think we're a better run defense than we are pass defense."

On top of that, the Tigers are averaging 138.3 rushing yards per game. Senior running back Charles Tigner (5-9, 195) has 141 carries for 643 yards and four touchdowns.

"When teams go with their three down linemen and they drop eight, they just give it to Charles and he does a great job of running the football," Hoskins said.

Defensively, Fort Hays State operates out of a 4-3 formation, although they have shown a 4-3 at times.

"With us not having much of a pass game and being real run-heavy, we'll expect to see their four down linemen," Hoskins said.

While the Tigers enter today's game averaging 33.1 points per game, they have the third-best scoring defense in the MIAA, allowing just 23.1 points per contest.

"They're not a high-volume blitz team. They don't have to, because they beat you up up front," Hoskins said.

Senior defensive end Sheldon Schmidt (6-5, 250) leads the Tigers with three sacks.

"They're not the biggest group that we've seen on the defensive line, but they are fast," Hoskins said.

Inside linebacker Drew Harvey (6-1, 230), a junior, leads Fort Hays State with 69 tackles and 7 tackles for loss.

"Drew may be as big as their D-linemen, and he runs really well," Hoskins said. "He's going to somebody we'll definitely be having to pay attention to."

Senior defensive back Tanner Hoekman (6-1, 220) has a team-high three interceptions with go with his 67 tackles. Sophomore free safety Jordan Starks (5-11, 185) also has 64 tackles for the Tigers.

"Their second-level guys, the linebackers, are really, really good," Hoskins said. "Just looking at the film, you don't see a lot of wide receivers getting separation from their defensive backs."

The only returning All-MIAA first-team player for Fort Hays State is senior Dante Brown, who was honored as both a kicker and a punter. Brown has made 14-of-18 field goals with a long of 51 yards this season, but he has passed off the punting duties to freshman Benjamin Donald.

Last Saturday against Northwest Missouri, Lincoln quarterback Chancellor Johnson filled in as the team's punter. He kicked the ball 11 times for an average of 35.5 yards per attempt.

"He came in and did a pretty good job," Hoskins said. "He was booming some of them. We knew he could do that, but because he's our starting quarterback, we'd rather not have him back there."

Reagan Howell, who was in concussion protocol last week, is expected to return as punter today for Lincoln.

Hoskins said running backs Hoseas Franklin and Tori Hicks are nursing ankle injuries, but both will play today.

"We're like everybody else, we're beat up," Hoskins said.

III

Notes: Fort Hays State leads the all-time series 7-2 against Lincoln, winning each of the last six matchups. When the two teams last met in 2013, the Tigers won 45-35. With only 47 yards rushing last Saturday, Franklin is now fourth in Division II with 1,048 yards rushing. He ranks 19th in the nation with 6.4 yards per carry. Full ranks sixth in Division II with 306.5 yards passing per game, while Hazlett is two receptions from breaking the Fort Hays State all-time record of 168. Lincoln freshman linebacker Collin Nichols has been ruled out for today's game while he is in concussion protocol.

Related Media: Lincoln Blue Tigers Football Podcast [Fort Hays State preview, Nov. 2, 2019]