A Missouri Western play action throwback pass fluttered through the fingers of an open Griffon running back and #13 Emporia State survived with a 30-27 victory in overtime at Welch Stadium in Emporia Saturday. The Hornets scored their first first-quarter touchdown of the season to lead 10-0 after the first quarter, but two big plays totaling over 130 yards allowed the Griffons to score 20 unanswered points in the final 5:02 of the first half on the way to a 20-0 halftime lead. ESU tallied a field goal in the third quarter before two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter from quarterback Gunnar Gundy to wide receiver Tyler Kahmann tied up the score at 27-all. The Griffons missed a game-winning 55-yard field goal as time expired to win the game. ESU knocked through a field goal from Caden Dodson to take a 3-point lead on their first possession of overtime. After converting a first down, the Griffons had fourth and inches at the five and had a running back open in the end zone who dropped the ball to allow the Hornets to escape with the victory. The ESU defense had three interceptions in the game but managed just one field goal while missing two field goals. Head coach Garin Higgins said the Hornets need to be more efficient offensively.
Gundy finished 49-for-74 for 454 yards and three touchdowns while being sacked five times in the game and set ESU records for completions and attempts in a game as well as total plays in a game. He called the Hornets resilient.
Defensive lineman C. J. Adams had two solo tackles for loss and had the same thing to say about the E-State defense.
Kahmann had his 12th straight game with a touchdown setting career highs with 13 catches for 178 yards and two scores while Zion Jones had a career high 11 receptions for 82 yards. Trenden Collins caught seven balls for 85 yards and a score. Tyler Schultze, Jaaron Joseph, and Arich Ainsley each had interceptions for ESU while Joseph led the defense with seven tackles.
ESU (4-0, 3-0 MIAA) returns to the road to face Northwest Missouri next week. Coverage begins at 12:30P with kickoff at 1:30P on the Hornet Sports Network. The game will be carried on Mix 104.9 in Emporia and also online at kvoe.com/listen or via the Audacy app.
Edit: Article updated to correct that it was Kahmann’s 12th game with a receiving TD, not his 11th.
