Football | 11/25/2012 7:00:00 PM
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November 25, 2012-Tyler Eckenrode threw a school record five touchdowns as #24 Emporia State defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville 45-38 in the fourth annual Kanza Bowl. The Hornets finished the season 10-2, their first ten win season since 1989.
The game started sluggishly for both teams as they combined for eight punts and an interception in the first quarter. TAMU-Kingsville broke through with 13:19 left in the second quarter on a 31 yard run by Anthony Johnson. The Hornets answered with the first of Eckenrode's five touchdown passes when he found Adam Schiltz for a 23 yard score. The play came after Chris Poston forced a fumble by the Javelinas' Joseph Vela that Jarett Strode returned to the TAMU-K 47 yard line.
On the next possession, the Hornets had forced a three and out when the Javelinas tried a fake punt from their own 28 yard line. Brandon Gentz broke up the pass from punter Angel Millan to Jeremy Aguilar to give Emporia State the ball at the Kingsville 28 yard line. On a third and one from the TAMUK seven yard line, Ray Ray Davis lined up in the wildcat formation and hit Schiltz in the back of the endzone to give Emporia State a 14-7 lead with 4:44 left in the half.
Kingsville would mount its best drive of the first half on the ensuing possession. They drove 76 yards on ten plays to the Hornet nine yard line when Kevin Gaddis picked off Bryan Erlich in the endzone to end the scoring threat and send Emporia State to the locker room with a 14-7 lead.
The Hornets opened the second half with an onside kick that kicker Eli Kuhns executed well, but just missed on the recovery. Emporia State's defense stepped up and forced a Kingsville punt on a three and out. Three plays later Eckenrode found Shjuan Richardson behind the Javelina defense and the track All-American outran the defense for a 77 yard touchdown and 21-7 lead for the Hornets.
TAMUK was quick to answer, scoring on a 31 yard pass from Ehrlich to Jake Willingham to cap a four play, 72 yard drive. Jeff Richards took the kick-off and returned it 78 yards to the Javelina 21 yard line. Two plays later Eckenrode connected with Davis in the corner of the endzone to push the Emporia State lead back to 14 at 28-14 with 10:19 left in the third quarter. Not to be outdone, Kingsville drove 66 yards on four plays capped by a six yard touchdown run by Randall Toney to cut the Hornet lead to 28-21 with 8:12 left in the quarter. After combining for 21 points and 244 combined yards in the first half, the two teams scored 28 points and gained 245 yards in the first 6:48 of the third quarter.
After a three and out by the Hornets, the Javelinas drove to the Emporia State 15 yard line with a chance to tie the game. After a one yard gain on first down and two incomplete passes, TAMUK had to settle for a 31 yard field goal and Emporia State maintained the lead at 28-24 with 2:11 left in the quarter.
The Hornets were held to another three and out to give the Javelinas the ball back at their own 38 yard line. With TAMUK threatening to retake the lead, Poston intercepted Ehrlich and returned it 41 yards to the Javelina 16 yard line. Seven plays later Eckenrode hit Schiltz for another touchdown, this one from six yards out, to give Emporia State a 35-24 lead with 12:24 left in the game.
Kingsville would then drive to the Hornet 17 yard line before the Emporia State defense held again on fourth down to preserve the 11 point lead. The Hornets again went three and out, forcing Derek Jonas to punt for the ninth time in the game. The Javelinas converted two third downs on a 13 play, 58 yard drive capped by Ehrlich's six yard touchdown pass to Johnson. After Kingsville kicked the PAT, they trailed 35-31 with 4:37 left in the game. Emporia State was assessed a personal foul on the touchdown pass so Kingsville kicked-off from the 50 yard line and out it out of the endzone for a touchback.
After an incomplete pass, Richardson again got behind the Javelina defense and hauled in a 75 yard touchdown pass from Eckenrode to put Emporia State up 42-31 with 4:23 left in the game. On the next possession for TAMU-Kingsville, Jordan Sanders intercepted Ehrlich's third down pass and returned it six yards to the Javelina 25 yard line. Eckenrode was sacked on first down and could only gain seven yards on the next two plays to give Emporia State a fourth and 12 from the 27 yard line. Jonas then hit a career long 44 yard field goal to return the Hornet lead to two touchdowns at 45-31 with 2:59 remaining.
Ehrlich then engineered an eight play, 78 yard touchdown drive and pulled Kingsville within 45-38 on a 38 yard touchdown pass to CJ Griggs with 1:34 left in the game. After using all their timeouts on defense, TAMUK was forced to try and onside kick and Kavaski Ervin went high to grab it at the 47 yard line. The Hornets then went to victory formation for three snaps as the captured their tenth win of the season.
Eckenrode was named MVP for the Hornets after going 25 of 32 for 303 yards and a school record five touchdowns. Richardson had six catches for 193 yards and two touchdowns while Schiltz caught eight passes for 65 yards and three scores.
Sanders had a game high 15 tackles with an interception while Poston added 11 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble for the Hornets. Gaddis had nine tackles and three pass break ups while Richards picked off the other interception for Emporia State.
Ehrlich was 36 of 65 for 418 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions for TAMUK. Robert Armstrong caught ten passes for 109 yards and was held out of the endzone. Johnson had 72 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown for TAMU-Kingsville. Jeremy Aguilar had nine tackles and a Kanza Bowl record 4.5 tackles for loss for the Javelinas.
With the win Emporia State finishes the season 10-2, winning ten games for the first time as members of NCAA Division II and the first time since 1989 overall.
NOTES:
Eckenrode finishes his career 637 of 1078 for 8,031 yards and 60 touchdowns and was 276 of 430 for 3,742 yards and 29 touchdowns this season - all Emporia State records.
Eckenrode's five touchdown passes broke Dane Simoneau of Washburn's 2010 Kanza Bowl record and tied the Emporia State school record shared by Tad Hatfield (2004 vs. MSSU), Pete Jelovic (1997 vs. FHSU), Bob Leahy (1969 vs. UCM), and Bob Janesko (1969 vs. Peru State).
Eckenrode ended the season ranked ninth in MIAA history in single season passing, touchdown passes, and total offense.
Eckenrode ends his career ranked seventh in the MIAA in career passing and tenth in total offense.
Shjuan Richardson finished his career with 169 receptions for 2,842 yards and 28 touchdowns to rank second in Emporia State history in receiving yards and fifth in receptions.
Richardson caught 84 passes for 1,375 yards and 13 touchdowns this season to rank second in single season receiving yards, and fourth in receptions and touchdown receptions.
Richardson ends the year ranked sixth in MIAA history in single season receiving yards.
Emporia State's 45 points tied the Kanza Bowl record set by Washburn in 2010 against Midwestern State.
The 4300 announced attendance broke the Kanza Bowl record of 3500 set in 2010 between Washburn and Midwestern State.
