Down 21-0, Hays scores 42 in second half to stun UNK

Kearney, Neb. – The Fort Hays State Tigers scored touchdowns on all six second half possessions to erase three different 21-point deficits and beat No. 12/15 Nebraska-Kearney, 42-35, Saturday night at Lewis Field Stadium in Kansas.

The Tigers (3-2) win a third straight game and pick up a ninth consecutive win in a series that dates back to 1926. UNK (4-1), suffering its first defeat in 686 days, has led at the half in five of those nine setbacks but Hays has always had a big second half response.

UNK, which has had three come-from-behind wins in 2021, came in having allowed just 17 second half points. But led by fifth-year quarterback Chance Fuller, the Tigers had second half scoring drives of 81, 78, 37, 54, 86 and 67 yards. They totaled 387 yards in the second half after punting four straight times to start the game.

McCook High grads Zach Schlager and Hunter Hays have been starters so far this season for the Lopers. Schlepper plays linebacker with Hays on the offensive line.

The last scoring drive started at the 3:05 mark with Fuller completing back-to-back passes for 17 yards and then sophomore back Adrian Soto had two runs that picked up 18 more. A 31-yard run by back senior Keylan Chapman almost was the game winner but he followed it up with a one-yard plunge with 1:07 left. Damien Cearns

UNK gained 20 yards on its next two plays but freshman corner Devin White picked off a TJ Davis (Colorado Springs) pass to seal the deal. The Lopers tallied TD's on five of its first seven possessions but had three punts and that turnover on its last four.

Up 21-0 late in the second quarter, a halfback pass could've made it a four-score game but it was just a bit overthrown. A punt followed with Hays almost connecting on a 27-yard "Hail May" to end the half. However, junior tight end Hunter Budke was ruled down at the one.

Fuller, who had 435 yards and three TD's in a 37-31 win over the Lopers in 2019, overcame a slow start to go 22 of 32 for 345 yards, three TD's and no INT's. He also rushed for 38 yards and completed passes to six teammates. Freshman receiver Alex Schremmer had six grabs for a team-best 98 yards with Budke having scoring grabs of 16 and 29 yards. Going 4 of 8 on third down, the Tigers also saw Soto run for 98 yards on 12 carries.

Hays was down 21-0 midway through the second quarter, 28-7 at the 9:52 mark of the third and then 35-14 seven minutes later. They got a team-high 11 tackles from junior corner Jhimon Preston with sophomore bandit Will White at seven solo stops. Finally on special teams, Soto had 47-yard kick return with Schremmer having a 12-yard punt return. Both helped setup shorter fields for the offense and continued the Tigers second half momentum.

Out gained 567-465 despite running one more play, the Lopers saw Davis complete his first nine passes. He finished 12 of 15 for 202 yards and two scores while running 23 times for 96 yards and two TD's. He now has 2,020 rushing yards in his career, 11th most in school history. Davis' career rushing TD tally of 34 ties him with Mike Miller for second most in Loper lore. QB Jake Spitzlberger has the school mark with 38.