
Senior running back Dasor Horton is tackled from both sides during the first home game against Central Missouri last Saturday. The Hornets lost, 38-45. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin
The Emporia State football team lost its home opener against 24th ranked Central Missouri last Saturday at Welch Stadium.
But Hornet fans showed great support as there was a huge turnout to watch the team. In a close, back-and-forth contest, the Hornets were edged out by a score of 38-45.
“We are beating ourselves,” said senior running back Dasor Horton. “We have to be able to finish games and have to play more soundly as a team.”
The Hornets captured the momentum early when they successfully completed an onside kick to open the game.
“We noticed that they were lining up their special teams outside of the hash marks,” said head coach Garrin Higgins. “We wanted to try it early on.”
Taking advantage of the onside kick, the Hornets drove right down the field to set up a field goal attempt. UCM blocked the attempt.
On the ensuing possession, junior defensive back Kevin Gettis once again captured the momentum for the Hornets as he intercepted a UCM pass. Then, senior running back LaDarrian Page broke a 50-yard touchdown run. The Hornets led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, junior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode, got the Hornets on the board again with a two-yard touchdown run to put the Hornets ahead 14-3. ESU continued to move the ball efficiently when Eckenrode hit junior wide receiver Shjuan Richardson on a 62-yard touchdown strike to give the Hornets the lead, 21-10.
“The coaches noticed a weakness in (UCM’s) defense,” Eckenrode said. “Shjuan ran a good route and I was able to get it to him. From there, he did the rest.”
At the end of the first half, the Hornets were ahead 21-17, allowing UCM to keep the score close. Several times in the first half, the Hornets were able to seize the momentum but could never stretch the lead.
The Hornets opened the second half impressively. They marched the length of the field on a nine play, 80-yard drive that culminated with a 20-yard touchdown run by Dasor Horton, stretching the lead to 28-17 with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.
The Hornets then held UCM to a three and out, forcing them to punt the ball. To start the next drive Eckenrode threw a 69-yard touchdown bomb to wide receiver Shjuan Richardson, putting the Hornets ahead 35-17.
It looked as if the Hornets had delivered the knockout blow, but a scrappy UCM team would not fall. UCM tied the score at 38-38 with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the game, eventually taking the lead 38-45 with about two minutes remaining. The Hornets were unable to recover turning the ball over twice on their last two possessions.
“We put it together offensively today,” Higgins said. “We need to execute better there at the end. We need to go get a win.”
The Hornets will face Langston University at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Welch Stadium.
Marcus Hix
Recent Comments