August 2, 2016-After finishing second in the league three of the last four years, Emporia State has been picked to finish third in the MIAA Football Coaches Preseason Poll. It matches the highest preseason spot for the Hornets in the poll's history. The Hornets are picked to finish fourth in the Media Poll.
Emporia State is set to return 14 starters, seven on offense and seven on defense, along with all of their specialists next year. Among the returners are four players that have had at least 100 yards receiving in a game, three players that have rushed for at least 100 yards in a game, and two players that totalled over 100 tackles last season. They are ranked #23 in the Sporting News Preseason Top 25 poll and #12 in the Lindy's Preseason poll.
Mitchell Foote will lead a talented receiving corps for the Hornets. An all-region selection last season, Foote led the MIAA and was ranked 17th in the nation in touchdown receptions with 12 scoring catches.
He had 79 receptions for 877 yards in 13 games last year. He was ranked third in the MIAA in receptions and fourth in receiving yards. A total of 59 of his 79 catches on the season went for either a first down or a touchdown, with 30 of his 34 catches on third or fourth down resulting in a first down or touchdown.Â
Kole Shankie was the Hornets leading tackler last season and returns for his senior season. The linebacker had a team high 105 tackles last year with 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He had a season high 14 stops against Missouri Western with 12 against Minnesota State in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs and against Northwest Missouri in the MIAA Championship game.
Among the specialists is Lindy's and Sporting News Preseason All-American kicker Austin Morton. He made 22 of 25 field goal attempts last season to set Emporia State records for makes and accuracy and also converted a school record 56 of 59 extra points. His 22 field goals broke Justin Gray's mark of 20 made in 26 attempts in 2004 while his 56 PATs bettered Eli Kuhns mark of 54 on 56 attempts in 2013.Â
The Hornets have gone 34-14 over the last four seasons. Emporia State is 23-9 in the last six years on Jones Field at Welch Stadium with four of the losses coming to teams ranked in the top 15 at the time.
The new playing surface will be the site of five home games for Emporia State this fall. Emporia State went 6-0 on Jones Field at Welch Stadium last season on the way to an 11-3 overall mark. The Hornets have advanced to post-season play in three of the last four years, including last season's trip to the regional championship game.
Reserved season tickets are just $66, while adult general admission season tickets are $42 with season tickets for children and people over 65 years old can be picked up for just $26. Both season and single game tickets can be purchased at the ID?Office in the Emporia State Memorial Union, by calling toll free 877-341-NEST (6378) or going to www.esuhornets.com on-line for more information.Â
2016 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (10)Â Â Â 120
2. Central Missouri (1)Â Â Â 110
T3. Emporia State   87
T3. Pittsburg State (1)Â Â Â 87
5. Central Oklahoma   86
6. Fort Hays State   80
7. Missouri Western   62
8. Washburn   56
9. Northeastern State   31
10. Missouri Southern   27
11. Nebraska-Kearney   25
12. Lindenwood   21
2016 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (39)Â Â Â 468
2. Central Missouri   392
3. Pittsburg State   349
4. Emporia State   325
5. Fort Hays State   316
6. Central Oklahoma   310
7. Missouri Western   264
8. Washburn   217
9. Lindenwood   132
10. Northeastern State   117
11. Missouri Southern   84
12. Nebraska-Kearney   68
