HORNET EARN COMEBACK WIN

ESU defeats MSSU 31-24

Football | 12/16/2011 1:51:00 PM

October 8, 2011-Tyler Eckenrode went 19 of 30 for 261 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to lead Emporia State to a 31-24 come from behind victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday at Welch Stadium. Eckenrode ended the game 26 of 43 for 317 yards with the three touchdowns and no interceptions. The Hornets trailed the Lions 17-0 at the half, making this the biggest second half comeback since ESU joined the MIAA.

MSSU took the opening kick-off and marched 74 yards in nine plays to take a 7-0 lead with 10:41 left in the opening quarter. Anthony Westfield scored from one yard out to cap a drive that was helped along by a facemask penalty on ESU after stopping the Lions for a one yard gain on a third and six play. Later in the quarter Derek Lohmann, who intercepted two passes against the MSSU last season, picked off a Collin Howard pass in the endzone to thwart a Lion scoring drive.

MSSU went up 10-0 with 12:50 left in the half on a 34 yard field goal by Eric Murdock. Kennedy Ezimako forced the Lions into the field goal when he stopped Kyle Webster for a four yard loss on third and three from the ESU 13 yard line.

ESU had a chance to get on the board with 6:22 left in the half but Zak King’s 25 yard field goal attempt went wide left at the end of a 15 play, 71 yard drive that took 6:28 off the clock. MSSU responded with a 16 play, 80 yard drive that ate up 6:06 before Steven Sumpter scored from a yard out to make it 17-0 Lions with seven seconds left in the half. The Lions converted four third downs on the drive.
ESU gave the ball up on downs on their first two possessions of the second half, both around midfield. MSSU had a chance to go up 20-0 with 6:32 left in the third quarter, but Murdock’s 46 yard field goal attempt missed wide left.

The Hornets then got on the board with an 11 play, 71 yard drive capped by Derwin Hall’s five yard touchdown run. To begin the drive ESU was one of eight on third downs in the game and had only converted two of their previous 21 attempts, but hit on three third down tries on the drive. The big conversion was a 36 yard pass from Eckenrode to Shjuan Richardson on third and 11 that took ESU to the MSSU ten yard line.

With the scored 17-7, the Hornet defense stiffened and forced a three and out on the Lions next possession. Eckenrode went six of eight for 57 yards on the ensuing drive for ESU and made the score 17-14 with 12:52 left in the game on a nine yard pass to Richardson.
Southern went back up by ten points on Westfield’s second touchdown run of the day to cap a six play, 70 yard drive and make the score 24-14 with 10:29 remaining. After Dallas Herndon’s kick-off went out of bounds, Eckenrode and Richardson hooked up again for a 60 yard touchdown pass to pull the Hornets within 24-21 with 10:20 left. It was the seventh reception of 60 yards or more for Richardson over the last 13 games and the sixth to go for a touchdown.

The two teams traded punts until Kamrhan Jones recovered a fumble by the Lions Kyle Webster at the Southern 35 yard line with 5:22 remaining in the game. ESU made it to the MSSU five yard line when King connected on a 22 yard field goal to tie the game at 24 with 2:25 left.

The Hornet defense forced a three and out by the Lions and took over at their own 16 yard line with 1:57 remaining in the game. Eckenrode hit Benji Love for a four yard gain on first down and Dasor Horton gained 12 yards on second down to get the Hornets to the 32 yard line. Eckenrode then gained 12 yards on a keeper out the 44 yard line. He then hit Love for three yard gain before scrambling eight yards to the Southern 45 yard line. He then hit Love for a 38 yard pass play down to the Lion seven with 39 seconds left. Horton gained one yard to the six when MSSU called timeout with 33 seconds remaining. Eckenrode found Ray Ray Davis on the left side for a six yard touchdown pass to put the Hornets up 31-24 with 29.4 seconds.

Southern drove to the ESU 31 yard line but Howard’s last two passes were incomplete as ESU completed their largest second half comeback as a member of the MIAA.

ESU outgained MSSU 482 yards to 385 with 369 yards coming for the Hornets in the second half. Eckenrode finished the game 26 of 43 for 317 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, his second 300 yard passing game of the year, and led the Hornets with 51 yards on 13 carries. Richardson had six receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns while Davis had eight catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Sumpter had 101 yards rushing on 22 carries with a touchdown for Southern. Howard was 17 of 31 for 153 yards with an interception.
Brian Rodgers had a game high 16 tackles to lead MSSU. Wayne Burgess led ESU with ten solo tackles, including one for a loss.
Kennedy Ezimako had five tackles, all solo, and two sacks. Lohmann had four tackles to go with his 26 yard interception return.

The Hornets are back in action next Saturday when they play host to Missouri Western. It will be the final game of a five game home stand for ESU and Homecoming for the Hornets. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m. from Jones Field at Welch Stadium.

NOTES:
This was the second straight year ESU has rallied from fourth quarter deficit against MSSU in Welch Stadium to win.
This was the first time Eckenrode has led ESU to a win with a drive in the last two minutes of a game.
Eckenrode has now thrown 79 passes without an interception over his last three games with six touchdowns.
Eckenrode connected with ten different players in the game, including a completion of a loss of two yards to center Lance Uhles in which MSSU declined the illegal touching penalty.
ESU had a season high three sacks against MSSU with Kennedy Ezimako getting two of them.

###HORNETS###

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