MIAA Preview: Fort Hays State

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Fort Hays State coach Chris Brown speaks at MIAA Media Day in Topeka.

TOPEKA, Kan. — It’s becoming a tradition at MIAA Media Day, the nine other coaches in the conference bring one offensive player and one defensive player to the podium with them to talk about the upcoming season, but Chris Brown breaks the mold with his Fort Hays State Tigers. Brown once again was flanked by a pair of his defensive standouts at Media Day with defensive end Gaven Haselhorst and safety Jaxon Kolzow.

And that makes sense for a Tiger squad that has built its identity in the 14 previous seasons on a smash-mouth defense. That doesn’t figure to change this season with the best returning defensive end duo in the MIAA returning to lead the unit.

“I’m very excited about this upcoming season and what is going to happen,” Brown said.

Haselhorst is the headliner as a First Team All-MIAA selection and Honorable Mention All-American by Don Hansen and D2Football.com last season. The Kansas State transfer had 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and six sacks as a junior.

“On the football field, just working on all the little keys, adjustments and the little nicks that people don’t like working on — I keyed in on that a ton and it helped me tremendously,” Haselhorst said.

Across from him is senior bookend Parrish Terry, who looks the part of a dominant defensive end with his 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame. The 2-time Third Team All-MIAA selection made 31 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks as a junior.

The middle of the line doesn’t lack for talent either with Taderian Partee returning as a 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior. He made 27 tackles last season, but made a couple of the biggest plays of the season for the Tigers with a blocked extra-point securing a 36-35 win over Colorado State-Pueblo. He also had a 69-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Central Oklahoma and an interception against Missouri Western.

The linebacking room loses one of the MIAA’s best with John Johnson graduating, but junior Shadryon Blanka and senior Gavin Meyers each had over 40 tackles last season and seem set for bigger roles.

Kolzow leads the secondary after playing just eight games before an injury last season, but still finishing third on the team with 45 tackles. Koa McIntyre stepped in for Kolzow after the injury and gets the team another experienced safety.

“This is the closest group of guys that I’ve played with for all the years that I’ve been here, and we are just ready to go for the season,” Kolzow said.

Offensively, the team landed reigning MIAA Offensive Player of the Year Jackson Berry in the transfer portal from Pittsburg State, but Berry made the decision to retire from football this summer. But the team wasn’t done in the transfer market and added Iowa State transfer Major Cantrell. The sophomore appeared in three games for Iowa State and will compete with returning sophomore Mason McMinn for the starting job.

“I really feel like our room is very competitive,” Brown said. “I feel like we have three or four guys who can step on the field for us at any time. We are going to see how fall camp goes. … It is going to be fun to see through camp to see how these guys compete and how they battle.”

Kent State transfer Curtis Douglas had 83 carries and 440 yards for the Tigers last season while the team replaces its top-3 pass catchers.

The Tigers open the season with two tough non-conference games again wit a road trip to Angelo State and then the home opener against Colorado State-Pueblo.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way and I don’t think our team would have it any other way either,” Brown said. “We want to go out and play the best in the country. Pueblo is always one of the best in the RMAC. Angelo State is always one of the best in the Lone Star Conference. And that prepares us for our MIAA conference schedule. I’m excited for it. It helps us see where these guys are at on offense, defense and special teams.

“I think these guys are up for the challenge. I think that these guys are chomping at the bit for that challenge as well. Angelo got us last year — well, we need to go down to their place and get them this year. That is the attitude that these guys are taking. We beat Pueblo at there place last year — well, we know Pueblo is going to come in with a little bit of vengence to try and beat us at our home place as well. I like that pressure and I think these guys like that pressure as well. … Life’s not easy, so why make a schedule easy?”