HAYS, Kan. — The Fort Hays State University football team scored 31 unanswered points to rally from a 14-12 deficit en route to a 50-21 victory Saturday (Oct. 13) at Lewis Field.

The Gorillas (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) suffered their second straight loss after opening the season 5-0. The Tigers (5-2, 5-2 MIAA) bounced back from a road loss to Emporia State last week to pull into a tie for second place in the MIAA standings with Pitt State.

The Tigers scored on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Mezera to Harley Hazlett on the first offensive play of the game. After a miscue on the ensuing kickoff pinned PSU at its own 2 yard line, FHSU's Malik Young stopped Keynan Scheurich in the end zone for a safety, staking the Tigers to a 9-0 lead 27 seconds into the game.

Pitt State bounced back with a 25-yard John Roderique to Brenner Clemons touchdown pass. After FHSU's Dante Brown booted a 27-yard field goal, the Gorillas took a 14-12 lead on Tyler Adkins' 20-yard run with 14:22 to play in the second quarter.

FHSU took a 26-14 lead to halftime thanks to a 59-yard pass from Mezera to Matt Wendelberger and a one-yard run by Hazlett.

The Tigers ran off 17 more points before the Gorillas halted the scoring splurge with Roderique's 15-yard scoring pass to Lorenzo West.

FHSU, which capitalized on five Pitt State turnovers, added a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown by Doyin Jibowu for the game's final points.

Mezera completed nine of 13 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers.

Roderique competed 21 of 37 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns for Pitt State. Adkins carried the ball 20 times for 55 yards, while West had 13 grabs for 96 yards.