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Fort Hays takes down East Central
Published on -9/5/2010, 5:10 PM
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Mike Garrison entered the record book, and the Fort Hays State University football team accomplished a first in Saturday night's 45-23 win over East Central (Okla.) University at Lewis Field Stadium.
Garrison threw for five scores to tie the school record for touchdown passes in a game, and Fort Hays claimed its first win over a school from the Lone Star Conference since joining NCAA Division II in 1991. The Tigers had been 0-6 against teams from that conference.
"I really didn't know what the record was," said Garrison, who was 16-of-25 through the air for 358 yards, with one interception, his first of the season. "It's a big accomplishment.
"I didn't do it all myself," the senior QB added. "It started up front, the line … (and) especially the receivers. I had a couple underthrown balls, balls behind them — they caught it and just made a play on it. … I have to give credit to all my teammates out there."
Senior wide receiver O.J. Murdock caught four passes for 175 yards and three TDs, including one from 80 yards out. On that play, Garrison slightly underthrew Murdock, who had to fight for the ball to make the catch, then outrace the secondary into the end zone.
"It was underthrown a little bit, I don't know if the wind took it or what," Murdock said. "I just tried to come back and make a play on the ball.
"It worked out in my favor," he added.
Garrison also connected with Murdock on TD passes of 66 and 16 yards, and threw scoring strikes of 13 and 34 yards to senior wideout Cordarol Scales. Garrison finished his big night with a 7-yard TD run.
East Central, in its season opener, trailed 24-14 at halftime. Junior QB Tyler Vanderzee threw a pair of TD passes in the first half, a 44-yarder to junior wide receiver Zack Patteson, and a screen pass to senior running back John Gaines that covered 74 yards. Vanderzee finished the game completing 20-of-31 passes for 276 yards.
"The plays that we gave up were busted coverages," Fort Hays coach Kevin Verdugo said. "It wasn't us getting beat down the field. … There are some things we can rectify."
After delighting a crowd of 3,148 with their second straight win to start the season, the Tigers now have a bye week. Fort Hays opens Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play at home on Sept. 18, against Truman State (Mo.) University.
"If we use this properly … it's going to be a benefit to us," Verdugo said. "We get extra time to prep for the next team."
