The Emporia State football team used a strong running game and a good kicking game to hang on for a 36-30 victory over Minot State and Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, N. D. on Thursday in the 2026 season opener. The teams both came up empty on their opening drives of the game before Minot State scored first on a 4-play drive to take the lead, but missed the PAT following a low snap. ESU answered with a 14-play 76-yard drive capped with a nine-yard touchdown run from quarterback Ben Harris to take a 7-6 lead to the second. The Beavers sacked Harris early in the second and forced a fumble turning that into points to make it 12-7 MSU but missing another extra point. E-State put together a 75-yard touchdown drive capped off by a touchdown catch by Trenden Collins and a two-point conversion by Clem McCullough to make in 15-12 Hornets at halftime.
Victor Chionuma, making his Hornet debut, ran in a 2-yard score early in the third before an 11-play 82-yard drive ended with a two-yard rushing score from Charles Morgan to make it 29-12 ESU, but the Beavers scored back-to-back touchdowns to cut the lead to five. Then Harris found Ethan Schultze on a short pass before he broke a tackle and raced into the end zone for a 75-yard score to put E-State back on top. Minot State trimmed the gap to the final deficit with under two minutes to go but the Hornets held on. Head coach Garin Higgins said the team earned the win, but has plenty to work on.
The Hornets gave up 353 yards rushing to the Minot State flexbone but held their own on the ground rushing 40 times for 191 yards with Camden Crooks having a career day rushing 18 times for 103 yards. He said the offensive line paved the way.
Chionuma carried three times for 53 yards and a score. Harris finished 25-for-41 for 237 yards an two scores with a tipped-ball interception. Landon Boss had a career-high 17 tackles with four solo stops and two tackles for loss with a forced fumble while Aiden Hicks added 11 stops. In total, Minot State went 0-for-3 on PATs and missed a field goal while Brandon McCary hit all four of his points after. ESU is back to work on Saturday, September 5 when they head to Pittsburg State. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. with coverage at 6:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
