Redshirt senior quarterback Chase Ricke finished a career-high 37-for-46 with a personal best 485 yards and a career high 3 touchdowns while rushing for one more touchdown and the #18 Emporia State football team fended off Missouri Southern 49-30 Saturday at Fred Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Mo. ESU built a 21-3 lead in the first half before the Lions scored with less than a minute to go in the second period aided by a Hornet 15-yard penalty that came after the defense had secured a third-down stop to make it 21-10 E-State at the intermission. ESU built the lead to 42-16 with just under 9 minutes to go before Southern had back-to-back scores to cut the deficit to 12 with just over three minutes to play. Billy Ross Jr. ran it in from 11-yards out for his career-high third rushing touchdown to make it 49-30 with just over a minute to go. Ricke said getting the opening drive down the field for a touchdown was a big confidence boost.
Wide receiver Tyler Kahmann had seven receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns for his 12th career 100-yard receiving game and was ecstatic to see Ricke’s success.
Running back Billy Ross Jr ran 22 times for 77 yds while matching a career high with seven catches and 56 yds credited his big game with a great game plan.
Head coach Garin Higgins says the team’s toughness is what he’s built the program’s success on.
ESU (6-1, 5-1 MIAA) is off in Week 7 with a bye and returns to face Nebraska-Kearney on the road October 26th. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. with pregame at 1:00 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network. The next Hornet Talk is Monday, October 21 at Bruff’s Sports Bar & Grill beginning at 12:15 p.m. on the flagship of the HSN, Mix 104.9.
