By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

Whether the Tigers go 6-5 or 5-6, Fort Hays State University football coach Kevin Verdugo knows one very important thing about the 2009 squad:

"I know we're a lot better," said Verdugo, finishing his fifth year at Fort Hays. "I can tell the difference; kids feel the difference, too." Fort Hays finishes the season Saturday in Joplin, Mo., against Missouri Southern State University in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association action. Kickoff is 2 p.m. at Hughes Stadium.

Fort Hays (5-5 overall, 3-5 MIAA) needs a victory over Missouri Southern (3-6, 3-5) for its first winning season since 2004.

"Huge for the kids," Verdugo said, "have a sense of accomplishment."

With a Tiger defense minus six starters due to season-ending injuries, the team's no-huddle spread offense might have to carry the day. The Fort Hays defense is allowing almost 37 points per game while the Tiger offense is averaging almost 32 a game.

"Pretty good deal of confidence right now," Verdugo said of the offense, "feel we can play with anybody."

Senior quarterback Mike Garrison has flourished in the new scheme, throwing for 2,409 yards, with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has completed 61.4 percent of his passes (199-of-324).

In last week's 66-40 home loss to third-ranked Northwest Missouri State University, Garrison threw for 381 yards and four TDs. Earlier in the year against Missouri Western State University, Garrison threw for 394 yards and four scores.

Junior running back James Walker is the team's leading rusher and also leads in receptions. Walker has rushed for 793 yards and eight touchdowns and has caught 41 passes for 269 yards and one TD. Walker has 1,064 all-purpose yards.

The Tigers' big-play threat is junior wideout O.J. Murdock. For the season, Murdock has 33 catches for 689 yards (20.9 average), and has eight TD receptions.

Junior wide receiver Cordarol Scales has 37 catches for 479 yards and two TDs.

Fort Hays also is leading the MIAA and NCAA Division II in punt returns. Senior cornerback C.J. Lovett -- who also leads the Tigers with four interceptions -- is averaging 38.8 yards on nine punt returns, including three for scores. Lovett also is averaging 28.2 yards on 17 kickoff returns, including one for a touchdown.

Missouri Southern -- which shut out Fort Hays 28-0 in Hays last year -- is coming off a 27-17 loss at 19th-ranked University of Central Missouri. The Lions led 10-0 before the Mules scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to pull out the victory.

Sophomore quarterback Collin Howard -- who threw 10 TD passes in four games -- has missed the last five games with a knee injury for Missouri Southern. In his place, junior Roland Thompson has completed 50 percent of his passes (84-of-168) for 988 yards, with seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Senior Johnny Johnson, who had split time between wide receiver and running back, has found a home at slotback. While senior Toderick Hunt leads the Lions in rushing with 532 yards and three TDs, Johnson has 478 yards and a team-high four rushing touchdowns.

Senior wide receiver Daniel Thompson is the top receiver with 40 catches -- 10 for touchdowns -- for 578 yards. Thompson is the second player in school history with at least 10 TD catches in a season, joining former NFL star Rod Smith, who caught 15 TD passes in 1991 and 14 for scores in 1993 for the Lions.