Saturday’s small-college football games (Sept. 27)
MIAA
Fort Hays State (2-1, 2-1 MIAA) at No. 8 Pittsburg State (3-0, 3-0), 2 p.m. — Fort Hays State’s opening-game loss to Central Oklahoma at home doesn’t look as bad now, with the Bronchos rolling to a 3-0 start, but if the Tigers want to stay in the NCAA Division II playoff hunt, this game is a must-win.
That being said, Fort Hays State hasn’t beaten the Gorillas since 1978 (0-19-1) and Pitt State officials think that Saturday’s crowd could break the single-game attendance record of 11,910. The Gorillas lead the MIAA in scoring defense (2.3 points), with two shutouts in three games.
Other games
No. 1 Northwest Missouri (3-0, 3-0) at Central Oklahoma (3-0, 3-0), 1 p.m.
Nebraska-Kearney (0-3, 0-3) at Central Missouri (1-2, 1-2), 1:30 p.m.
Emporia State (1-2, 1-2) at Northeastern State (0-3, 0-3), 6 p.m.
Washburn (1-2, 1-2) at Missouri Southern (1-2, 1-2), 6:30 p.m.
KCAC
Sterling (1-2, 1-0 KCAC) at No. 3 Tabor (3-0, 1-0), 7 p.m. — Tabor has the nation’s best scoring defense at 10.3 points, and the second-best rushing defense at 43 yards. On offense, the Bluejays are winning games on the ground at a clip of 392 yards — third-best in the country — and are led by 5-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore Owen Cole, who is averaging 111.7 rushing yards.
Other games
Saint Mary (0-3, 0-1) at Bethany (2-1, 1-0), 1:30 p.m.
No. 25 Ottawa (1-2, 0-1) at Bethel (2-1, 1-0), 6 p.m.
Friends (1-2, 0-1) at Southwestern (0-3, 0-1), 7 p.m.
Kansas Wesleyan (1-2, 1-0) at McPherson (0-3, 0-1), 7 p.m.
Jayhawk
No. 5 Hutchinson (4-0, 2-0 Jayhawk) at Dodge City (2-2, 2-0), 1 p.m. — The Blue Dragons are very much in the conversation when it comes to NJCAA title contenders, and now have back-to-back road games against the other two Jayhawk Conference unbeatens — on Saturday at Dodge City and Oct. 4 at No. 19 Coffeyville.
Other games
Fort Scott (1-3, 0-3) at Highland (2-2, 0-1), 1 p.m.
Iowa Central (2-1) at No. 19 Coffeyville (3-1), 1 p.m.
Independence (0-4, 0-3) at Garden City (2-1, 1-1), 1 p.m.
Air Force Prep (0-0) at No. 13 Butler (2-2), 7 p.m.
This story was originally published September 26, 2014 at 4:13 PM with the headline "Saturday’s small-college football games (Sept. 27)."