The Emporia State football team sprinted out to a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back in a 50-14 blowout of Missouri Western at Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph, Mo. on Saturday night. The Hornets scored first on a 13-yard pass from Ben Harris to Malik O’Atis after Nehemiah Figueroa picked off a tipped Griffon pass and returned it to the Western 35 yard line. Divante Herrig-Brittian blocked Western’s next punt and recovered it in the end zone to make it 14-0 Hornets. Quarterback Ben Harris capped off the quarter with two touchdown passes to Kingsley Bennett for ESU’s best offensive quarter of the season. The Hornets rushed three against the Griffs most of the night and got home with five sacks. Head coach Garin Higgins said the team had focused all week about having the kind of start they enjoyed against Western.
Quarterback Ben Harris tossed three touchdowns and credited the game plan with ESU’s execution in the red zone.
ESU outrushed the Griffons 123 to -6 with Camden Crooks and Max Middleton picking up rushing touchdowns. It is the first time the Hornets have held an opponent to negative rushing yards in the 21st century. Aiden Hicks had a pick six for the Hornet defense which picked up five sacks for the first time since a 14-9 loss at Northwest Missouri. Tyler Schultze led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles. The Hornets (2-3, 1-2 MIAA) return home to host Missouri Southern Saturday, October 11 at Welch Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. with coverage at noon on Mix 104.9.
