The #21 Emporia State football team scored 17 unanswered points in the first half and held on in the second for a 24-21 win over #4 Pittsburg State at Carnie Smith Stadium in Pittsburg, Kan. Saturday night. After trading punts early, Pitt State took the lead on a 19-yard pass from Chad Dodson Jr. to Kuron Parchmon midway through the first quarter. After Caden Dodson knocked in a field goal later that period, ESU took the lead on an 8-play 80 yard drive capped off on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Gunnar Gundy to Tyler Kahmann to make it 10-7 Hornets early in the second. After a PSU three-and-out, ESU turned it over on downs before Kobe Holley picked off Dodson Jr. and ESU turned that into an eight-yard six-point score from Gundy back to Kahmann to make it 17-7 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Pitt State ended their scoring drought early in the fourth with a one-yard run by Noah Hernandez to get within 17-14. ESU’s next drive stalled at the Pitt State 12 on downs, but Cade Stephenson picked off Dodson and Gundy ran it in from 16 yards out on the next play to make it 24-14 Hornets. PSU (2-1, 1-1 MIAA) responded with an eight-play 75-yard drive to close to 24-21 late in the fourth quarter. ESU couldn’t gain a first down on their next drive but stopped the Gorillas without allowing a yard on their final drive of the game. ESU converted a third and 12 with a 16-yard run by Billy Ross Junior to ice the game with less than a minute to go.
Gundy finished 26 of 40 for 217 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 36 yards and another score. Kahmann caught eight passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns, his 11th straight game with a receiving touchdown. Stephenson had two interceptions for the ESU defense while Kobe Holley and Sage Sieperda each led the Hornets with nine tackles. Stephenson spoke after the game about his coverage on his second pickoff of the night.
Head coach Garin Higgins said this team was ready for the moment.
ESU (3-0, 2-0 MIAA) returns home next week to host Missouri Western. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. with pregame coverage at 12:00 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network.
