The #25 Emporia State football team held off a second-half Washburn run to win 38-23 on Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets started fast with touchdowns on both of their opening drives to lead 14-0 after the first quarter. The Hornets added 14 more points in the second and took a 28-10 lead into halftime. Washburn shutout the Hornet offense in the third while scoring twice to cut the deficit to 28-20, but ESU scored 10 in the fourth quarter to put away the Ichabods. Head coach Garin Higgins says the Hornets will be ready for a Top 25 showdown next week at Central Missouri.
Emporia State amassed 519 yards of total offense while holding Washburn to 298 and just 42 yards on the ground. Braden Gleason registered his second 400-yard game of the year passing 42-for-49 with 421 yards and four touchdowns. Tyler Kahmann had a second consecutive career high in yardage with 11 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Jaylen Varner caught 13 balls for 109 yards and a score. Tommy Zimmerman caught a touchdown pass while Kingsley Bennett ran for his first of the year. Defensively, Rylan Miller recorded career highs with 10 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He said the coaching staff harped on tackling all week with the defense.
Emporia State improves to 5-2 with the victory moving to 4-2 in the MIAA. Washburn falls to 1-6, 0-6 inside ‘The Association.’ Emporia State returns to action on the road next week for a likely Top 25 matchup with #17 Central Missouri. Kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. from Warrensburg. Pregame coverage with the RV Doc Pregame show begins at 12:30 p.m. on Mix 104.9 and online at kvoe.com/listen.
