The #17 Emporia State football team won a defensive struggle 19-9 over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium in Emporia. The Hornets scored two touchdowns from Landon Boss after a Brandon McCary field goal to lead 16-0 in the first quarter. The first was a 50-yard fumble recovery for a score off a Clem McCullough forced fumble and then Boss had a 1-yard carry for his first career offensive touchdown. That was the last 6-point score of the game as the teams traded field goals the rest of the way as ESU was shutout in the second half. ESU held their third-straight opponent to 20 points or less. Head coach Garin Higgins said the defense played a great game while the offense struggled.
Landon Boss had eight more tackles for the Hornets and credited the team’s practice regimen for the reason the defense has excelled.
ESU (4-0, 2-0 MIAA) is 4-0 for the third time in the last four years. Camden Crooks ran for a career-high 126 yards while linebacker Gabe Roland had a career-high 10 tackles and McCullough added eight solo stops in the Hornet secondary. ESU is on a bye next week and returns to action at home hosting Missouri Western on Saturday, October 3. The next Hornet Talk is Monday, September 28 at 627 Event Space in downtown Emporia on Mix 104.9
