The No. 9 Emporia State football team matched the 2015 team’s 6-0 start with a 35-21 win over Missouri Southern to spoil the Lions’ homecoming at Fred G. Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Mo. on Saturday. After ESU turned the ball over on downs and MSSU went three and out, ESU scored first on a 14-yard pass from Jamison Sarver to Malik O’Atis to make it 7-0 Hornets. The Lions seized the momentum back by returning the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. Trenden Collins put the Hornets back in front on an 8-yard catch early in the second before Landon Boss picked up a strip-sack-scoop-and-score touchdown on a 31-yard fumble recovery to put E-State up 21-7 at the half. Southern scored early in the second half before Sarver found Ethan Schultze on a 15-yard pass to make it 28-14 Hornets. The Lions answered late in the third but couldn’t score again and Schultze found the end zone again late with less than 5 minutes to play to put the game away. Schultze had a career high 11 catches for 78 yards and a personal best two touchdowns. Head coach Garin Higgins said his work ethic put him in position to help the team.
Schultze gave credit to his teammates.
Quarterback Jamison Sarver finished 38-for-44 for 312 yards passing and four touchdowns. Chance Clements led the defense with a personal-best nine tackles. ESU (6-0, 4-0 MIAA) is alone in first place in the MIAA standings and return home to host Central Oklahoma on Saturday, October 17. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. with coverage on Mix 104.9.
