Emporia State quarterback Gunnar Gundy returned from injury with five total touchdowns and the #18 Hornets bounced back from last week’s defeat with a 48-14 romp over Northeastern State to win their Homecoming game at Welch Stadium Saturday. Gundy returned after being knocked out in the second quarter against Northwest Missouri and ripped the RiverHawk defense for three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter to put the Hornets up 21-0. NSU got on the board in the second quarter on a passing touchdown before Gundy tossed two touchdown passes to Zion Jones and Tommy Zimmerman to give each receiver his first of the season. Just before halftime, C. J. Adams forced a fumble that Sage Sieperda returned 49 yards for a score to make it 42-7 at the break and NSU never threatened in the second half. Gundy said after the game that the complete offensive performance was what the team had been looking for since the season started.
Head coach Garin Higgins said it was the best performance of the year by his team in all three phases of the game.
Gundy had a superlative offensive day finishing 40 of 56 through the air for 404 yards and two touchdowns while running 11 times and gaining 52 yards with three scores, though he was credited with 41 lost yards, most of which came on a fumble late in the first half. Tyler Schultze registered his fourth interception of the year while Kobe Holley led the defense with five solo tackles. ESU (5-1, 3-1 MIAA) returns to action inside ‘The Association’ next week travelling to Missouri Southern. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. with pregame coverage at 12:00 p.m. on the flagship of the Hornet Sports Network Mix 104.9.
