Hornets linebacker Kamrhan Jones attempts to tackle a Lions ball carrier Sunday afternoon at Welch stadium. ESU defeated Langston with a final score of 35-7. Chris Franklin/The Bulletin

Marking their first win of the season, the Hornets beat the Langston, Okla. Lions by a score of 35-7 at Welch Stadium last Saturday. Emporia State jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

“It’s long overdue,” said junior quarterback Tyler Eckenrode. “It feels great to come out on top today.”

Early on, the defense stepped up and forced a fumble on the Langston 13 yard line. But the offense was only able to get three points as freshman kicker Zane Guadagnolo connected on a field goal from 31 yards away. The defense proved stout en route to forcing six turnovers. With the Lions trapped on their own one-yard line, the defense forced a safety, which stretched the lead to 5-0, and gave the Hornets the ball.

“Our defense did a great job, for the first time, being opportunistic,” said Garin Higgins, head coach. “They made the best of their opportunities.”

The defense continued its dominance when they came up with a crucial stop against Langston on a fake punt attempt to take over possession at the opponents’ 22 yard line. This eventually led to a nine-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Shjuan Richardson, stretching the lead to 18-0. The defense finished off the second quarter with a string of three excellent defensive interceptions that culminated three more points.

“I was very disappointed in how we executed (offensively) in the red zone,” Higgins said. “We had some dropped balls, had some missed throws and had some protection break down. We have to improve on that.”

At the beginning of the second half, Langston marched down the field, threatening to score when senior linebacker Ben Carlson came up with an interception to swing the momentum back to the Hornets.

“(The interception) really was huge,” Carlson said. “They were driving and looking like they were going to score. Coach called some great pass coverage and we just executed it.”

The Hornets took advantage of the interception driving 55 yards and scoring a touchdown. Eckenrode hit Lion senior running back LeDarrian Page on a 21 yard touchdown strike that pushed the lead to 28-0. The Hornets put the game out of reach.

In the fourth quarter, after a long drive by Langston, the defense held strong on a fourth and goal to keep the Lions out of the end zone. The Hornets got a sack and a forced fumble as time expired.

“Today was a good day,” said defensive coordinator Bryce Saia. “We need to keep building… and from here on out, be a consistent defense like I know we can.”

The Hornets’ next opponent is the eighth ranked Washburn Ichabods in the Turnpike Tussle. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. this Saturday at Welch Stadium.

Marcus Hix

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Courtesy photo from ESU athletic department.

The Hornets football team will see many familiar faces this season, including junior quarterback and team captain, Tyler Eckenrode.

Eckenrode said his passion came from his first year of tackle football in the fifth grade, and his love for the game has evolved ever since.

“I played my first year of tackle football in the fifth grade, and have been involved ever since,” Eckenrode said. “I grew up watching my Uncle play football for Southwest Baptist, and since then I knew I wanted to play football.”

Eckenrode is originally from Houston, Texas, where he began playing football. He competed in both football and baseball in high school and achieved success in earning honorable mention, academic all-state honors while leading his team to the thirteenth consecutive Texas 5A playoffs. He threw for 1,580 yards and 11 touchdowns his senior year.

“We finally have a guy who is steady,” said head coach Garin Higgins. “He knows how to prepare for the game and does everything we ask of him. I can trust him.”

Last season, Eckenrode had an impressive year in which he threw for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns, including a solid outing against Northwest Missouri State. He totaled 207 yards passing with 2 touchdown passes, while he added another touchdown on the ground.

“He’s a smart, calm and composed quarterback,” said senior offensive lineman Ben McKaig. “He is such a good decision maker and is really good at getting the ball to our playmakers.”

Eckenrode believes this season will have many successes due to the camaraderie of the football team, and said the team is clicking on all cylinders.

“We have a good solid group of returning players this season,” Eckenrode said. “Both the offense and defense are playing well together. We have some talent and can’t wait to get out there and compete this season.”

Marcus Hix

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A heartbreaking 37-34 homecoming defeat to Truman last Saturday drops the Hornets to 5-4 on the season. The loss left the Hornets with a 4-1 home record on the year in what was also Senior Day for 12 players.

“No doubt we had our chances to win today as we left a lot on the field today,” said Head Coach Garin Higgins. “It’s very disappointing, but we still have some football left before the season is over.”

Kevin Smart scored the game’s first touchdown with 3:20 left in the first quarter. TSU responded by recovering a Tyler Eckenrode fumble at the ESU four yard line and running in for a touchdown to tie the game.

ESU retook the lead after David Harris blocked a punt that Taylor Beitler would run in for a touchdown to make the score 14-7. A three yard touchdown run with 55 seconds left in the half by Truman would tie the game at 14.

After halftime and a Truman field goal, ESU sophomore Derwin Hall scored two touchdowns in a two and a half minute span, one of which was a career long 65 yard touchdown run to help the Hornets take a 27-17 advantage.

“I was thankful to have the opportunity to show my speed today,” Hall said after the game. “It was a tough loss today, but we are going to bounce back in the face of adversity.”

Truman would cut into the Hornet lead before the end of the third quarter with a 20 yard touchdown run to make the score 27-24 at the end of three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, an unblemished home record seemed imminent after a touchdown run by Adrian Abner and an interception by Michael Luthi on the Bulldog’s following possession. However, the Hornets were unable to add to the lead before giving the ball back.

Truman would score a touchdown after driving the ball 71 yards in less than two minutes. With only about four minutes in the game, Abner would fumble at the ESU 20 yard line resulting in a TSU touchdown run with two minutes left in the game. ESU would block the PAT to keep it at 37-34, but would turn the ball over on downs to end the game.

“It’s very frustrating to end our season at home that way as we had a lot of missed opportunities,” Higgins said. “We are going to have to bounce back from this loss, and move on to next week.”

The Hornets travel Saturday to St. Joseph, MO to take on Missouri Western as they look to bounce back from the loss.

Chris Hopkins

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Two fourth quarter interceptions sealed the Hornet football team’s fate last Saturday as they lost at Northwest Missouri 42-28. The Hornets went into the fourth quarter with a 28-28 tie with the #6 Bearcats in Maryville. However, quarterback Tyler Eckenrode was intercepted twice in which both picks resulted in a touchdown. The loss drops the Hornets record to 5-3 on the season with three games left to play.

With two more victories, the team would qualify for a postseason bowl game. If the team were to win out their remaining games, the Hornets would qualify for the playoffs for the first time under Coach Garrin Higgins.

The Hornets are back at home Saturday for ESU’s homecoming game when they take on Truman set to be broadcast as the MIAA Network Game of the Week. Kick-off is set for 2:20 p.m. at Welch Stadium.

The Bulletin

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The Emporia State football team overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Pittsburgh State 17-14 last Saturday. Big plays on both sides of the ball in the second half led to a Zachary King field goal with 1:07 left in the game to put ESU up for good.

“I aged about five to seven years today,” said Head Coach Garin Higgins. “What a great win for these kids, especially these upperclassmen that have been in the program for a few years now. We really showed a lot of character today.”

After the worst loss of the season last week, it looked like it could be another long afternoon with the Hornets trailing 14-0. The win was the first against the Gorillas since 2003 and has ESU off to one of its best start at 5-2.

Pittsburgh State got on the board first after the Hornets were pinned deep in their own territory which led to a safety. After two quick touchdowns by PSU and a stagnant Hornet offense, ESU went into the half down 14-0.

“I told the guys that they still had an opportunity to win this game,” Higgins said during halftime. “I told the offense that we needed to have some people step up and make some big plays to get us back in the ballgame.”

The Hornets responded with two touchdown passes by Tyler Eckenrode to Shjuan Richardson and Charleston Johnson to tie the score at 14. The second occurred on a broken play in which Eckenrode eluded a pass rush, scrambled right and threw about 50 yards for the tying touchdown.

With only 2:30 left in the game, defensive back Wayne Burgess made one of the biggest plays of the day on an intercepted pass at the PSU 28-yard line. King would make his 38 yard field goal to give the Hornets the lead 17-14 with 1:07 left in the game.

“For my kick, it was a big kick that I am just glad it went through,” King said. “You have to go into the kick with the mentality that it’s just another kick.”

The special teams for the Hornets came through as Julian Dozier blocked the potential 57-yard game tying field goal.

King wasn’t as nervous when PSU kicker Jake Craig took the field, even admitting that he was yelling as loud as he could during the kick.

“I just told him he wasn’t going to make two game-winning/game-tying kicks two weeks in a row,” King said. “It was in good fun, but I am just glad we got this must-win game. This is a real confidence booster.”

ESU travels to #6 Northwest Missouri next week. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

Chris Hopkins

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Big plays last Saturday were the difference in a 42-17 Emporia State loss to the University of Nebraska-Omaha. UNO started the game with the ball and took an early 7-0 lead on an 11-yard run. ESU responded with a field goal by Zak King to start the second quarter down 7-3.

On the ensuing drive, the Mavericks extended their lead by a touchdown through the air. With a chance to get back in the game, quarterback Tyler Eckenrode was intercepted in the red zone. UNO took advantage of the mistake by a 10 play, 96-yard drive to go up 21-3 with about a minute left in the first half.

The lead was extended to 35-3 after a blocked punt returned 27 yards and a reverse play ended in a touchdown for UNO. After a touchdown pass by Eckenrode and pair of touchdowns by each team, the final score would be 42-17 in what was the Hornets’ worst loss of the season.

ESU falls to 4-2 on the year and is back at home this Saturday when they return to Welch Stadium to take on Pittsburg State. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.

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Defensive Lineman Harold Ayodele takes a Fort Hays State University runner Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. Ashley Wells/ The Bulletin

The Emporia State football team is 4-1 for the first time since 2002 after defeating conference opponent Fort Hays State last Saturday 19-6. With a 9-6 game, the Hornets used 10 unanswered points and a 1:20 rain delay to get the win.

“No doubt we had many things that worked out in our favor,” defensive end Daniel Webb said. “Our offense controlled the clock which gave us time to breathe. When the defense was out there, the defensive backs did a nice job with coverage that allowed us extra time to apply pressure.”

The Tigers came into the game second in the conference in total yardage, and averaging over 40 points per game. However, the defense of the Hornets held the Tigers to 200 yards of total offense and a mere six points.

Perhaps the biggest group contributor on defense for the Hornets was the ESU offense. Controlling the line of scrimmage on Saturday helped the offense keep possession for well over half the game. Quarterback Tyler Eckenrode was 15-24 for 184 yards and had one touchdown for the game. ESU had three scoring drives over 70 yards the contest.

Late in the first quarter, Emporia State put together a 12 play, 80-yard drive with Kevin Smart scoring a touchdown. On the next drive, ESU ate up more clock with another long drive, but would have to settle for a field goal to take the lead 9-0.

After two field goals by Fort Hays and a 1:20 rain delay, the Hornets added a field goal right before the half to take a 12-6 lead at the break.

“It was very difficult for them to gain momentum, especially after having such a long, weather delay,” Webb said.

The score held until wide receiver Shjuan Richardson scored a touchdown on a 67-yard pass play from Eckenrode in the fourth quarter. The Hornets would hold up the 19-6 lead thanks to an interception by safety Derek Lohmann with five minutes left in the ballgame. His five interceptions on the year (three in the last two games) lead all MIAA players.

“For the first time all year, we put a complete game together against a very good Fort Hays team,” said Head Coach Garrin Higgins. “I am really proud of the way our kids played today.”

The Hornets travel to the University of Nebraska-Omaha for a tough, conference showdown this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Caniglia Field.

Chris Hopkins

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Running Back Adrian Abner breaks up field against the Missouri Southern defense Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. Jon Coffey/The Bulletin.

Last Saturday the Hornet football team got back on the winning track with a 30-27 victory over MIAA opponent Missouri Southern. The win moves their record to 3-1 on the season and 1-1 in the conference.

After a quick score in the first quarter by Missouri Southern, ESU responded with two touchdown passes by quarterback Tyler Eckenrode and a Zackary King field goal to take a 16-7 lead with only 3:01 left in the half. However, Missouri Southern would respond just before the half with a touchdown of their own, closing the margin to 16-14.

ESU started the second half off with a bang after an onside kick recovered by cornerback Chris Woods and a 49-yard touchdown run by running back Adrian Abner on the next play to put the Hornets up 23-14.

“We knew pretty early in the week that we wanted to try on onside kick. I told the guys at halftime that we were going to start the second half with an onside kick. We really needed that big play,” Head Coach Garrin Higgins said.

Missouri Southern would score two touchdowns, one of which was a 96-yard touchdown run, to take a 27-23 advantage.

The lead would hold for about the length of a quarter until linebacker Michael Luthi intercepted a pass from Missouri Southern quarterback Collin Howard and ran it back for what would be the game-winning touchdown.

“The play happened because our defensive line got pressure on the quarterback. Danny Webb put a good hit on him as he was throwing, and the ball just came to me,” Luthi said.

The player of the game was sophomore safety Derek Lohmann. Lohmann had two red zone interceptions in the second half that helped seal the victory. The first was a sideline catch in the end zone that stopped a drive by Missouri Southern with them still having the lead 27-23 late in the game. Lohmann then made a one handed interception for his second one on Missouri Southern’s last drive of the game, sealing the win.

“We really needed some big stops on defense at the end, and fortunately for us we made several big plays at the end to be able to run out the clock at the end,” Lohmann said. “This is a huge win for our team and our confidence.”

The Hornets finish up their two game home stretch this Saturday with opponent Fort Hays State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Welch Stadium.

Chris Hopkins

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Quarterback Tyler Eckenrode looks to pass Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets beat Missouri S&T 23-7 bring their record to 2-0. Alissa Miller/ The Bulletin

The Hornets won their home opener against the Missouri Science & Technology Miners 23-7 last Saturday, improving their record to 2-0 on the year. With the victory, Head Coach Garin Higgins remains unbeaten in non-conference play.

For the second straight week, the strength of the Hornets was the defense, which created four turnovers on Saturday leading to all 23 points.

Back-to-back interceptions in the first quarter led to touchdowns by running back Kevin Smart and quarterback Tyler Eckenrode. The Hornets settled for a field goal off another turnover making the score 17-0 at halftime.

The second half saw several missed opportunities due to penalties, and the Hornets increased the lead by only six points on an Eckenrode touchdown pass late in the third.

The offense had a day in which it was 4-14 on third downs but 4-4 in the red zone. Smart rushed for over 100 yards on the game alleviating what was a tough day through the air.

Senior Linebacker Nathan Linsey, among the leading tacklers of the day, had a couple tipped passes, a fumble recovery and a hit on the quarterback, which helped create the first turnover of the game.

“It was just important to get this non-conference win so that we can hopefully build some momentum,” Linsey said. “I just felt we played pretty smart again this week, and guys were really stepping up.”

While the coach thought there were positive things to take from the game, he still had some concerns after the game.

“We just need to finish drives,” Higgins said. “We had a couple of opportunities there in the second half to put something together offensively, and because of penalties and moving backwards, we weren’t able to punch it in.”

Higgins believes effort is what separates this year’s team from teams of the past. This competitiveness is what will make the team get better and be ready for a new game each week.

“In years past we maybe had some guys here that really liked winning. Now we have a bunch of men that absolutely hate to lose, and that is what is going to be the difference. These guys are really buying into the system,” Higgins said.

The Hornets travel to Warrensburg, Mo., next Saturday to take on Central Missouri in what will be the first game of the MIAA Broadcasting Network TV Package. Game time has been moved to 2:20 p.m. to accommodate the telecast.

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Illness and injury set back the already struggling Emporia State Hornets as they fell to the #5 ranking Northwest Missouri State Bearcats, 45-12. Freshman quarterback and business major Tyler Eckenrode and junior running back and physical education major La’Darrian Page were absent from the game due to a shoulder injury and a hamstring injury, respectively.

Quarterback Sheldon Smith breaks for the side line Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets lost to the No. 5 ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats 12-45. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin

With the absence of Eckenrode, senior quarterback and communication major Andre Sloan-El got the starting nod from head coach Garrin Higgins. Higgins said he was fairly pleased with Sloan-El’s performance.

“I thought (Sloan-El) did okay…he was told he was going to be the starter about an hour before game time,” Higgins said.

The game started off well enough for the Hornets, as they received the kickoff and methodically drove down the field and scored on a 16-yard touchdown pass from Sloan-El to senior wide receiver and social science major Danny McEvoy.

“We had some guys step up and make some plays…it was good,” Higgins said. “It was good for our morale, and I always say that for us, right now, there’s good things that have to happen early and that was a good thing that happened early that got us through that first half.”

Quarterback Andre Sloan-El looks down field for an open receiver Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets lost to the No. 5 ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats 12-45. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

Northwest answered and, subsequently, never looked back.

The only bright spot early on for the Hornets, save for the opening drive touchdown, as a 23-yard interception return by senior linebacker and business major Blake Ringwall. Unfortunately for the Hornets, the turnover was not capitalized.

“Whenever we get an opportunity, especially against a team like Northwest, there’s no room for error, no margin for error,” Higgins said. “They tightened up defensively…we had a tough time moving the football on them today, we really did.”

Northwest would almost double the offensive output of the Hornets, 514-268. Katrel Larkins, senior linebacker and business major, thought that the defense should have been able to minimize some of those yards and the big plays. He also emphasized that the team will earn another W soon.

“We prepared for them,” Larkins said. “We knew everything they were running, but they’re the type of team that they don’t care if we know what the plays are that they’re running, they’re just going to come at us. It was just us. We couldn’t make the plays…that’s what always happens – we always give up the big plays… we’re going to win us a game before the season is over.”

Wide Receiver Danny McEvoy sprints for the end zone Saturday afternoon at Welch Stadium. The Hornets lost to the No. 5 ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats 12-45. Kellen Jenkins/The Bulletin.

The last thing on Sloan-El’s mind was the difficulty of playing a nationally ranked powerhouse like Northwest.

“They put their pads on just like us, so you have to come out here and execute,” Sloan-El said. “They did some things that were unexpected, but that’s part of the game.”

McEvoy thought that the Hornets had every chance in the world to defeat the Bearcats at the start of the game, given the right circumstances.

“When we’re all healthy, we’ve got the talent to (play with Northwest),” McEvoy said. “We didn’t have any depth, we have guys sick, we have guys hurt – I saw surgical masks on three players. A lot of injuries, especially this past week just in practice. Yeah, we felt like we could play with them, it’s just they’re a good team; you can’t make any mistakes, ever. We made a few mistakes early and that kind of helped them build their momentum.”

McEvoy had a career game, gaining 142 yards on six receptions, along with two touchdowns. Big plays early helped the Hornets keep the game somewhat even, for the time being.

“We just outplayed them, I guess, those two plays,” McEvoy said. “We didn’t outplay them too much throughout the game…they kind of gave us something we liked, and Dre (Sloan-El) hit me.”

Higgins believes that the Hornets’ fortunes will turn around sooner rather than later.

“The football gods, they’ll turn around and smile on us here sometime,” Higgins said.

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