HORNET COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT

ESU fails to recover onside kick

Football | 12/16/2011 1:53:00 PM

October 15, 2011-For the second straight week Emporia State found themselves down 17 points at the half but this week could not comeback as they fell to Missouri Western on Saturday on Jones Field at Welch Stadium. The Hornets had a chance to recover an onside kick with 1:06 left failed to get on the loose ball and the Griffons ran out the clock for a 22-16 victory.

Mo. Western got on the board first with an eight yard touchdown pass from Travis Partridge to Michael Hill. Greg Zeurlein’s PAT made it 7-0 with 7:19 left in the first quarter. The Griffons would score again when Partridge found Reggie Jordan from ten yards out with 1:36 left in the quarter. Zeurlein missed the PAT for the first time this season to keep the score at 13-0.

ESU would go three and out on the ensuing possession and MWSU took advantage with a nine play, 61 yard drive capped by Partridge’s third touchdown pass of the game. He connected with Tarrell Downing for a 13 yard strike but the pass attempt for the two point conversion failed leaving the score 19-0 with 11:06 left in the half.

The Hornets would make it to their own 46 before their next drive stalled and they were forced to punt. Tyler Chilson’s punt went 53 yards and was downed at the Griffon one yard line. Partridge completed a pass to David Fowler, but Dakota Hagler tackled him in the end zone for a safety to put ESU on the board. After the free kick ESU drove to the MWSU 27 yard line but failed to convert on fourth down. Both teams traded punts on the final two possessions of the half to go the locker rooms with MWSU leading 19-2.

ESU’s Stephaun Raines forced a Michael Hill fumble on MWSU’s opening drive of the second half, but could not convert it into points. Then with 5:00 left in the quarter, Jeremy Weston picked off a deflected pass from Eckenrode to set the Griffons up at their own 37 yard line. Western would drive to the ESU 22 yard line before settling for a 39 yard field goal from Zeurlein to go up 22-2 with 1:30 left in the third quarter.

After a three and out by the Hornets, MWSU drove to the ESU 34 yard line and set up for a 51 yard field goal attempt with 11:50 left in the game. The snap from center was off and holder Adam Clausen’s pass attempt fell incomplete, giving the Hornets the ball. Derwin Hall gained 16 yards to midfield on first down and then Eckenrode found LaDarrian Page on the right side for a 50 yard touchdown pass. Zak King’s PAT made it 22-9 with 11:16 left in the game.

The Hornets would get the ball back with 8:49 left and drove to the Griffons 32 yard line before turning the ball over on downs. ESU had two dropped passes after making it into MWSU territory. Hill gained 11 yards on the first play for Western after they took over but the Hornet defense stiffened and forced a punt with 3:09 left in the game.

After getting sacked for a loss of five on first down, Eckenrode went six of six for 40 yards and added two rushes for 30 yards to drive ESU down the field. He hit Ray Ray Davis from three yards out for a touchdown and King’s PAT made it 22-16 with 1:08 remaining in the game.

Western was flagged for a personal foul on the PAT which let ESU kick off from the 45 yard line. King’s onside attempt bounced off a Western player before a Griffon fell on it to preserve the win.

Eckenrode went 27 of 40 for 275 yards and two touchdowns with the one interception and added 36 yards on 11 carries to lead the Hornet offense. Davis caught a career high nine passes for 81 yards and a touchdown while Page hauled in four receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown. Page also added 30 rushing yards on six carries.

Partridge was 19 of 30 for a career high 238 yards and three touchdowns and had 42 rushing yards on 13 carries for MWSU. Hill had 20 carries for 112 yards and caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Downing was the leading receiver for MWSU with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Carlson led the ESU defense with 12 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack. Kennedy Ezimako had three tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack and two pass break ups.

Tom Madget was credited with 12 tackles and a forced fumble for MWSU while Ben Pister had two sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss.

After five straight home games, ESU will hit the road next week to take on Lincoln. It will be the Hornets first trip to Jefferson City for a football game in over 50 years.

NOTES:
Eckenrode passed Bob Leahy (1,698 yards in 1968) and Curtis West (1,715 yards in 1992) to move into ninth place in single season passing yards at ESU with 1,753 yards through seven games.
Eckenrode moved past Andre Sloan El (3,461 yards from 2007-09) for fifth in career passing yards at ESU with 3,462 yards.
Page went over the 2,000 yard mark in career rushing at four year schools and now has 2,005 yards.
After going 55 games between safeties, the Hornets have record two safeties in their last four games.

###HORNETS###

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