The No. 15 Emporia State football team missed two go-ahead field goals including a game-winning attempt that missed with one second to play in a 20-19 setback to Washburn at Welch Stadium on Saturday in Emporia. The Hornets jumped out to a 12-0 lead after Eric “Tre” Stephenson knocked down an Ichabod ballcarrier in the end zone for a safety. Brandon McCary hit a field goal and Malik O’Atis caught his first touchdown of the day to give the Hornets an early first-quarter lead, but Washburn answered with 10 in the second to trail 12-10 at halftime. ESU scored on its opening possession of the third quarter as O’Atis found the end zone again to go up 19-10, and the Hornets wouldn’t score the rest of the game. Washburn found a touchdown and a fourth-quarter field goal to go in front. ESU drove and McCary missed a 39-yard field goal try with less than two minutes to play before the Hornet defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back. The Hornets marched down the field with no timeouts, but McCary’s last try was wide right from 37 yards. Head coach Garin Higgins said his team’s leaders will have to be big going into the last week of the regular season.
Landon Boss finished with 13 tackles and a sack in the game and talked about his responsibility to rally the Hornets moving forward.
Quarterback Jamison Sarver was 30 of 48 for 252 yards and two touchdowns but the Hornets were outgained on the ground 139-64. ESU (8-2, 6-2 MIAA) faces a critical regular-season finale at Fort Hays State on Saturday, November 14. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9.
