Football | 9/7/2012 12:16:00 AM
I REMEMBER YOU
Fresh off a 41-18 season opening win over Ft. Hays State, Emporia State will take their first trip to Kearney, Neb. in 23 years as the y travel to Cope Stadium to take on former CSIC rival Neb.-Kearney.
LAST TIME OUT
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. 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.
THE COACHES
Garin Higgins has compiled a career record of 71-45 as he begins his 11th season as a head coach. He has led the Hornets to within just one game of a post season berth each of the last two seasons. He is 20-36 in his sixth season at his alma mater. He had a 51-9 career record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma, including two trips to the national championship game. Higgins was a quarterback for Emporia State from 1987-90 and was on the 1989 national runners-up team. This is his first meeting with UNK as a head coach, although the Hornets were 3-1 against the Lopers while Higgins was a player.
Darrell Morris is 92-40 in his 13th season at Neb.-Kearney. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State opened the season with a 41-18 win over Ft. Hays State. It was the fourth time in the last five games dating back to last season that the Hornets have scored at least 40 points. Since starting last season 1-4, ESU has gone 5-2 and averaged 36.4 points and 471 yards per game. The five wins against MIAA teams are the second most against conference foes in regular season play behind Missouri Western, who is 7-0 in that time.
SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney opened the season and their tenure in the MIAA with a 24-14 loss at Washburn. Aric Kaiser was 23 of 34 for 203 yards and two touchdowns for the Lopers. Tommy Flanagan gained 64 yards on 12 carries and added five catches for 28 yards.
THE SERIES
This will be the 17th meeting between the two schools and the first since 1990. Neb.-Kearney leads the all-time series 11-5, but Emporia State has won four straight and five of the last six between 1985-90.
LAST TIME AGAINST UNK
Emporia State scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns to come from behind and defeat then Kearney State 28-21 in Welch Stadium on Oct. 6, 1990. The Hornets gained 311 yards on the ground as Alvester Bobby had 27 carries for 105 yards and Quincy Tillmon added 99 yards on six carries. Karl Burrell led ESU with nine tackles while Leon Lett added two sacks for Emporia State.
UP NEXT
Emporia State returns to Jones Field at Welch Stadium to take on Central Oklahoma. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.
