Curtis Meyer sports editor
It’s officially the mid-way point of the 2024 football season for the Gorillas, and they are sitting in a good spot at 5-1 in a very tight MIAA race. Currently, Central Oklahoma leads the MIAA, sitting at 6-0 overall and 5-0 in the MIAA. Of these wins, only one has come against a ranked opponent, the then #2 ranked Central Missouri Mules. Since that week, the Mules are now 3-3 overall and only 1-3 in the MIAA, leaving the Bronchos without a true test of strength.
Pitt State will have their chance to take the MIAA crown away from the Bronchos, but first they have to handle things at homecoming when the Fort Hayes Tigers come into town. Sitting at 5-2, the Tigers have lost games to the Northwest Missouri Bearcats and to Central Oklahoma, with one ranked win over then #13 Central Missouri and a ranked win over #23 Angelo State in the first game of the year.
When it comes to the statistics, Fort Hayes has had middling results so far within the MIAA. Ranking sixth on offense and fifth on defense, the Tigers have failed to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack in what is a strong conference.
The Tigers like to lean on their strong running game, averaging four yards per carry with 12 total rushing touchdowns and 133.7 average yards per game. Pitt State sits behind them, with just 3.4 yards per carry with nine touchdowns to go with 127.3 yards per game. The script is flipped in the passing game, as the Gorillas are just ahead of Fort Hays with the Gorillas averaging 265.5 passing yards per game with 10 touchdowns, while Fort Hayes sits at 255.9 yards per game and 11 touchdowns.
The big difference in these teams is in the defense. Pitt State has arguably the best defense in the MIAA, holding opponents to just 17.5 points per game this season. The Tigers have allowed 18.9 points per game to this point. The Gorillas hold the number one rushing defense in the MIAA, and the number three passing defense as well. The Tigers sit at fifth in rushing, and fourth on passing, once again sitting at solid but unspectacular numbers.
The Tigers rely heavily on their running back, Shane Watts, with his 130 rushing attempts and eight touchdowns leading the MIAA, 31 attempts of the second highest used back. For comparison, Noah Hernadez, the Gorillas highest used back, has just 92 attempts and four touchdowns, with almost 20 average yards per carry less.
Looking at this matchup, the Gorillas will need to find ways to limit Fort Hayes’ ground attack, which should be achievable with the solid rushing defense that Pitt State boasts. It will be strength-on-strength between the two. On offense, the Gorillas will simply need to be more consistent, as finding the end zone early and often will force the Tigers into more of a passing game.
Both teams will be desperate for the win, as a loss knocks out the Tigers’ hopes of competing for a playoff spot or MIAA title, and the Gorillas will need to win out to guarantee home field advantage for at least part of the playoffs.