The #14 Emporia State football team survived three interceptions and a game with nine lead changes in a 42-35 victory over Nebraska-Kearney at Cope Stadium in Kearney, Neb. on Saturday. ESU turned it over on the first play of the game on a tipped pass the Lopers turned into seven points. ESU then sent on three straight scoring drives in the second that all ended on touchdown catches by Tyler Kahmann to make it 20-14 E-State at the half as the Lopers blocked an extra point.. The lead continued to see-saw in the third quarter with neither team earning consecutive scores after ESU got two in a row in the second quarter. After UNK had earned the lead and ESU had turned it over with a third interception, the Hornets recovered a Loper fumble on the ensuing drive and scored three plays later on a three-yard run by Gunnar Gundy who later found Kahmann on a two-point conversion to put the Hornets up by the final margin. ESU got two defensive stops in the final five minutes to clinch the win.
ESU was led by Kahmann who caught 19 passes for an ESU record 296 yards and five touchdowns. The 296 yards tied the record of Bruce Cerone set against Washburn in 1968. Kahmann’s five receiving touchdowns matched the ESU single-game mark of Ray Ray Davis who caught five against Central Oklahoma in 2013. The 19 receptions were two shy of Jarrett Vito’s record of 21 receptions set in 1995. In the game, Kahmann became the all-time leader in receiving scores in MIAA history. He was quick to mention that it he couldn’t have got there without some great quarterbacks.
Head coach Garin Higgins says it is hard to put what TK is doing into perspective.
Gunnar Gundy finished 48-for-68 for 564 yards passing with five touchdowns, all to Kahmann, and three interceptions and scored one rushing touchdown. Gundy set the ESU single-game passing record passing Brent Wilson’s 522 against UCO in 2013 and is just the second 500-yard effort in ESU history. Kahmann registered the ninth 200-yard receiving game in school history. Caleb Mondi had a career high 11 tackles and Tyler Schultze had a personal best nine stops.
ESU (7-1, 5-1 MIAA) is off to its best start since 2016 and will return to Welch Stadium to face Fort Hays State next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at noon on the Hornet Sports Network. Coverage can be heard on the flagship Mix 104.9 and online at kvoe.com/listen.