Football | 8/30/2012 11:53:00 PM
Box Score
Flickr Photo Album from University Photography
Aug. 30, 2012-Tyler Eckenrode threw for a career high 414 yards on 23 of 37 passing with two touchdowns as Emporia State opened the season with a 41-18 win over Ft. Hays State at Welch Stadium. The win avenged a loss to the Tigers last season in Hays and marked the seventh straight win by the home team in the series.
The Hornets took the opening drive and went 80 yards in 13 plays capped by a nine yard pass from Eckenrode to Jordan Tice. Eckenrode was six for six on the drive for 68 yards on the drive. On the ensuing drive Emporia State stuffed a fourth down attempt at midfield by Ft. Hays State to take over on downs. Five plays later Eckenrode ran in from nine yards out to give the Hornets at 14-0 lead.
The Tigers would get on the board thanks to a 47 yard field goal by Drew O'Brien with 5:51 left in the half. The Hornets got the ball at their own 37 with 2:01 left and executed the two minute drill and got a 41 yard field goal from freshman Eli Kuhns with 25.6 seconds left to go up 17-3. Emporia State held Ft. Hays State to just 125 yards in the first half while piling up 263 of their own.
The second half opened with Emporia State forcing a three and out on the first Ft. Hays State possession. After a pair of completions from Eckenrode to Austin will for 11 and 14 yards, the Hornets went to the ground for the next six plays and gained 40 yards before settling for a 22 yard field goal from Derek Jonas and a 20-3 lead.
The Tigers got their first touchdown of the night on the next possession following a 47 yard kick return by Kedron Paul. They went 45 yards on nine plays and scored ona six yard pass from Tarean Austin to Grant Brown with 7:56 left in the third. Jeff Richards blocked the PAT attempt as Emporia State led 20-9.
The Tigers pulled to within a single score at 20-12 on a 34 yard field goal from O'Brien with 4:59 left in the third. The Hornets answered with a nine play, 79 yard drive capped by Dozie Iwuagwa's one yard touchdown run to go up 27-12 after three quarters.
Emporia State forced another three and out to open the fourth quarter and took the ball 72 yards in seven plays for a 34-12 lead. Eckenrode hit Shjuan Richardson for 39 yards on second down to jump start the drive and Derwin Hall ended it with a seven yard touchdown run.
The Hornets put the game away with the next two possessions, starting with a three and out on the defensive side and then going 60 yards on seven plays to take a 41-12 lead with 8:08 left in the game. Eckenrode ended his night with a 23 yard strike to Ray Ray Davis for the final Hornet points. The Tigers would tack on a score with 5.6 seconds left on a two yard run by Austin. Ryan Louia blocked the extra point to make the final score 41-18 Hornets.
Eckenrode became the first Hornet to throw for over 400 yards in a game since Tad Hatfield went for 460 yards against Missouri Southern in 2004. Richardson was his favorite target with six receptions for 148 yards as eight different Hornets caught a pass. Davis added 84 yards and a touchdown on four catches while Tice had 37 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Tice was the leading rusher for the Hornets with 51 yards on 14 carries while Hall added 49 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Anthony Sheppard and Tarean Austin split time at quarterback for Ft. Hays State and combined to go 16 of 31 for 183 yards an interception and a touchdown. Edward Smith gained 46 yards on 17 carries to lead the ground attack for the Tigers.
Defensively Julian Dozier had a team high seven tackles and a forced fumble for the Hornets. A.J. Woodall led all defenders with 11 stops and a forced fumble for Ft. Hays State.
The Hornets are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Nebraska-Kearney. Kick-off from Cope Stadium in Kearney, Neb. is set for 2 p.m.
NOTES:
Eli Kuhns became the first Hornet to make a field goal of over 40 yards since Jeff Edwards hit a 45 yarder against Truman on Oct. 14, 2006.
Richardson had his fourth 100 yard receiving day as a Hornet.
