The Lindenwood football team dropped its first home game of the 2015 season on Saturday night when Fort Hays State came into Hunter Stadium and defeated the Lions by a 30-7 score. 

Fort Hays State went ahead on its second possession, which forced the Lions to play from behind for the rest of the game. On a third-and-nine play, Treveon Alberts found Andrew Flory with a 39-yard touchdown pass play. On Lindenwood's next possession, it had its punt blocked, giving the Tigers good field position. Fort Hays State took advantage with a rushing touchdown to go up 13-0.

The two defenses took over the rest of the half for both teams, but Fort Hays State was winning the field-position battle. That finally paid off late in the half with another rushing touchdown, and the Tigers went into the break ahead 20-0.

Fort Hays State put the game away in the third quarter with 10 more points. The Tigers kicked a field goal early in the quarter, and then had a 43-yard interception return touchdown late in the quarter.

Lindenwood got a big kickoff return from Bakari Triggs after that touchdown, and the Lions took advantage. On the first play of the fourth quarter, on fourth-and-three from the 11-yard line, Jesse Scroggins found Tre' Roby open in the endzone for a touchdown. That was the game's final points as neither team had a drive longer than six plays for the remainder of the game.

Fort Hays State finished with 328 yards of offense, including 227 on the ground. Lindenwood did hold the Tigers to 4.3 yards per carry, nearly three yards a carry lower than their season average. The Lions finished with 268 yards of offense, and they had three turnovers in the contest. Fort Hays State finished with a starting field position of its 38-yard line, compared to the 29-yard line for Lindenwood. The Tigers especially held the advantage in the first half when their starting field position was 24 yards better than Lindenwood.

The top highlight for the Lions was Connor Harris, who played defense, special teams, and offense. On defense, he continued his double-figure tackle streak with 13. He also had 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and intercepted a pass in the endzone. On offense, Harris rushed five times for 14 yards. On special teams, he punted five times for a 37.8 yard average and a net of 35.2 yards.

Clint Koons led the team in tackles with 14, one more than Harris and Roderick Ryles. On offense, Scroggins finished with 143 passing yards and 38 rushing yards, both team highs. DeSean Warren was the leading receiving with 46 receiving yards.
 
Game Notes: Lindenwood falls to 1-2 overall and in MIAA play … Fort Hays State improves to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in the MIAA … Fort Hays State now leads the all-time series by a 3-1 margin, including a 2-0 mark at Hunter Stadium … Connor Harris now has double-figure tackle games in eight straight contests, and he has 20 double-figure tackle contests in his career … Clint Koons had his third career game with double-figure tackles, and Roderick Ryles had his eighth double-figure tackle contest … Bakari Triggs finished with 109 all-purpose yards, all on kickoff returns … Tre' Roby's touchdown was the sixth of his career, including his third receiving touchdown … Fort Hays State's Shaquille Cooper came into the game averaging 213.0 rushing yards a game and 8.5 rushing yards per carry, but Lindenwood held him to 57 rushing yards and 2.8 yards per carry … Lindenwood is in action again next week at Missouri Western with a 2 p.m. kickoff in St. Joseph, Mo.