HAYS, Kan. - The Missouri Western football team (1-1, 0-1 MIAA) dropped its first game of the season 30-16 in the MIAA opener to No.24 Fort Hays State (2-0, 1-0 MIAA) at Lewis Field Stadium.
 
The Tigers struck first in the opening drive with a four-play, 63-yard drive in under two minutes. However, following a missed field goal, the Griffons answered with a touchdown strike from Kane Donovan to senior Jake Berrey to tie the game at 7-7.
 
Both defenses dished out blows in the physical first half. With their backs against the wall following a deflected interception halfway through the second, Antonio Taylor bailed out the Griffons with an intercept at the goal line to halt the Hays' momentum. Jaden Brown caused havoc in the backfield with a team-leading two sacks, while Kienen Gaskin added six tackles.
 
Following the two-minute warning, transfer quarterback Branden Berwald, who made his first appearance of the season in the second quarter, secured his first passing touchdown as Griffon after hitting tight end Michael Haggerty for a 17-yard touchdown to give Western a 13-10 lead heading into the half.
 
Hays grabbed the early momentum to start the second half after capitalizing on a Griffon fumble on the second-half kickoff. They used the excellent field position to level the score at 13-13 with a 30-yard field goal. Following a Griffon fumble, Hays regained the lead with a field goal. Later on, a 42-yard rush from Shane Watts extend their lead to 23-13 as time expired in the third quarter.
 
Early in the fourth, Missouri Western found a rhythm in the rushing game with a combined attack from Berwald and Brandon Hall to set up senior Cody Watson for a career-long 48-yard field goal that he drove straight through the uprights to bring MWSU back within one score.
 
In the latter portion of the fourth, the Tigers duplicated the Griffons' rushing formula, eventually adding a one-yard touchdown from Caleb Heavner to seal the 30-16 victory.
 
Penalties and turnovers played a massive role in the defeat. The Griffons committed 11 penalties for 95 yards and turned the ball over three times - an interception in the first half and two fumbles in the second.
 
Western out gained Hays on the ground with 208 total years. Berwald led the Griffons in rushing with 88 yards on 11 carries, while Hall collected 75 yards and Jayden Williams added 40 of his own.
 
Berwald led the aerial attack after going 15-28 for 120 yards and a touchdown. Donovan made his second start of the season at quarterback, finishing with 54 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Berrey was the leading receiver with 54 yards.
 
Gaskin led the defense with 10 tackles, followed by Brown, who secured eight tackles and a pair of sacks. Taylor added his second interception of the season and a trio of tackles.

MWSU's record against FHSU dropped to 19-13-1, and its five-game winning streak against the Tigers was snapped following Saturday night's loss. It was also the first time since 2016 they lost in Hays. 

The Griffons will look to bounce back next Saturday against Missouri Southern at Spratt Stadium for Paint It Black Night / Family Day. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. with pregame cover beginning at 5:00 p.m.