The Emporia State football team rolled up a program record 795 yards of total offense on the way to a 63-28 victory over Missouri Southern at Welch Stadium on Saturday. The Hornets started the game with touchdown drives on each of their first six possessions to lead 42-7 at the half and never looked back. It was the first time in program history the Hornets had two players with over 100 receiving yards and two players with at least 100 rushing yards in the same game. After a Lion touchdown with just over six minutes to play in the first quarter made it 14-7 Hornets, ESU scored 28 unanswered points going into halftime and the teams traded scores the rest of the way. Quarterback Braden Gleason finished 42-for-46 with 482 yards passing and four touchdowns while accounting for 512 yards of total offense. Jaylen Varner caught 11 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown while Tyler Kahmann had nine receptions for 174 yards and two touchdowns. DeAndre Thomas set new career highs with 23 carries for 150 yards and five touchdowns while Billy Ross Jr. ran for 101 yards on 23 carries. Gleason now has 103 career passing touchdowns which is second all-time in MIAA history. Thomas’ five rushing scores were the most by a Hornet since Brian Shay set the school record against Missouri-Rolla in 1997 with seven scores. Head coach Garin Higgins was impressed with the ESU running game.
Gleason says the team is motivated to make a bowl game by beating Fort Hays State next week.
The Hornets improve to 7-3 on the season and are 6-3 inside ‘The Association’. Emporia State ends the regular season against the 7-3 Fort Hays State football team on the Tigers’ Senior Day next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. Coverage begins with the RV Doc Pregame Show at 12:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9. Listen online at kvoe.com/listen or via the Audacy app.
