By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Bryan Haynes had a problematic pregame session as he warmed up with his Fort Hays State University teammates Thursday night at Lewis Field Stadium.

The senior wide receiver/kick returner dropped several kickoffs and had trouble catching balls. Haynes also fought what he labeled "an intense wind" and "pregame jitters" before the season opener.

"Just needed to get it together, get calmed down and focus on the game," he said. "Nothing changes from practice. Now we just have people in the stands and the lights are on, the cameras are on. Just kind of have to block everything out."

Haynes steadied when the game started and delivered an electrifying performance that helped provide Fort Hays with a 44-0 victory against New Mexico Highlands University.

"I thought he turned into another gear tonight," Tiger coach Kevin Verdugo said.

Haynes had 187 all-purpose yards on just four touches. A national track champion in the 200 meters, Haynes had a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to start the second half, tied for the fourth-longest play in school history.

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound senior also caught a team-high three passes, the same number he caught all last year, for a game-best 90 yards.

One of those receptions was a 71-yard TD pass, the longest Tiger play from scrimmage since 2004.

"Haynes is faster than anyone out there," junior quarterback Mike Garrison said.

Haynes' speed has always made him an offensive threat, though it's been on the return game in past seasons.

An Arizona native and Div. I-A transfer from the University of Massachusetts, Haynes averaged a team-best 27.2 yards per kickoff return in 2007.

The average ranked second in the conference and 19th in the nation and helped Haynes earn all-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association honorable mention honors.

Because of several drops, Haynes caught just three passes all year for 60 yards as a receiver.

In the winter, Haynes won the Div. II 200-meter national title at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field national championships and earned 11 more sprint titles in spring.

That speed on special teams yielded Haynes' first big play -- on the opening kickoff of the second half.

With Fort Hays leading 14-0, Haynes cradled the ball at the 3-yard line and sprinted up midfield, untouched -- the first sign that he could break a long run.

"When I hit it and I didn't get touched, I said oh man, just let me keep running," Haynes said with a smile.

Haynes broke down the left sideline around Fort Hays' 40-yard line, and using his elite speed, broke away from the field. He received a late block from rjunior Anthony Dickson that keyed the 97-yard burst to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead.

"Our whole goal is just to hit up the middle and just get as many yards as we can and getting that touchdown right off the bat is always a good positive, momentum swing," Haynes said.

Only three players in Tiger history, including current teammate C.J. Lovett, have had a run longer than Haynes' burst. Coupled with a 93-yard run against Southwest Baptist (Mo.) University last season, Haynes owns two of the top seven kickoff returns in school history.

"We have two returners that are insanely, amazingly crazy fast," Garrison said of Haynes and Dickson (102 all-purpose yards). "Get the ball in their hands, they are going to make something happen."

Haynes delivered late in the third quarter on the receiving end.

Garrison and Haynes had tried to team up on a deep threat. Earlier in the quarter, Haynes had outrun the defensive back at midfield, but Garrison overthrew him by a few steps.

"That is basically practice right there," Haynes said. "We will basically hit and miss, but usually we will connect on three or four balls in practice and miss about four or five, but it's all timing."

With 2:16 left, they went back to the deep ball on the first play of a drive.

"We saw the defensive back kind of scooted, not backpedaling," Haynes said. "(Wide receivers coach Al McCray) and coach Verdugo, told me just go. Don't worry about it. Just run as fast as I could."

Haynes ran down the left sideline as Garrison unloaded. The wideout made the catch and completed the 71-yard touchdown pass for his third reception of the game.

"We wanted to throw it deep because there was not a corner that could keep up with him," Garrison said.

It was Fort Hays' longest play from scrimmage since quarterback Reed Gottula broke a 76-yard run against the University of Nebraska-Kearney in Week 10 of 2006.

The play gave Haynes his 90 yards, the highest receiving yards since John Snyder collected 117 in Week 6 of 2006 -- and capped off a night started by some pregame jitters.