The Emporia State football team overcame its first scoreless first quarter of the year and a 10-0 deficit to start the game by scoring 32 unanswered points on the way to a 39-17 victory over Nebraska-Kearney at Welch Stadium in Emporia Saturday afternoon. The Lopers held ESU in check in the first quarter by forcing multiple three-and-outs by the ESU offense and by intercepting Hornet quarterback Braden Gleason who tossed just his third interception of the year. After scoring a field goal almost five minutes into the game, the Lopers took a 10-0 lead midway through the second. Then it was ESU’s turn to respond with 18 points in the final eight minutes of the half to lead 18-10 at the break to go along with 14 more points in the third quarter to go in front 32-10 heading into the fourth. The Lopers found one more score with 12:43 to play, but the Hornets answered back on a Tommy Zimmerman touchdown catch with just over six to go to seal up the win on a rainy afternoon.
Gleason passed for 250 yards and five touchdowns to become the all-time leader in all-purpose yardage in program history while Billy Ross Jr. unexpectedly returned from a high ankle sprain to carry eight times for 72 yards in the second half. Jaylen Varner caught 10 balls for 79 yards and a score while Trenden Collins and Tyler Kahmann also made touchdown grabs. Defensively, Lavon Jones led the Hornets with nine tackles and seven solo stops on the way to 1.5 tackles for loss including a sack. Chance Rodriguez picked up seven tackles and two sacks while Jaaron Joseph swiped two interceptions and Bo Odom picked off one Loper pass. He said that the defense wasn’t going to let last week’s loss to Central Missouri define them.
Head coach Garin Higgins said the conditions, with rain for the entire second half and temperatures in the mid 30’s, were difficult.
The Hornets improve to 6-3 on the season and 5-3 in the MIAA. Emporia State plays back-to-back home games for the first and only time this year next Saturday when they host Missouri Southern for Senior Day. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. Coverage begins with RV Doc Pregame Show at 12:00 p.m. on Mix 104.9. Listen online at kvoe.com/listen, audacy.com or via the Audacy app by searching for Mix 104.9.
