Football | 9/8/2012 6:50:00 PM
Box Score September 8, 2012-Emporia State jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a 58-35 win at Neb.-Kearney on Saturday. The Hornets have scored over 40 points in their first two games of the season for the first time in school history.
Both teams traded three and outs to start the game before ESU got on the board with 28 yard field goal by Derek Jonas. The Hornets forced another three and out on the Lopers before going on a 2 play 58 yard drive to go up 10-0. Tyler Eckenrode found Shjuan Richardson for 54 yards on first down and Jordan Tice carried the ball in from four yards out for the score.
Emporia State made it 17-0 on a 25 yard pass from Eckenrode to Richardson. After another three and out by UNK, the Hornets went 59 yards on five plays capped by a five yard pass from Eckenrode to Ray Ray Davis in the back of the end zone and a 24-0 lead with 1:21 left in the first quarter.
Neb.-Kearney got on the board with a two yard pass from Aric Kaiser to Daniel Rankin with 12:12 left in the second, but Emporia State responded with a 42 yard pass from Eckenrode to Richardson and a 45 yard field goal from Eli Kuhns to go ahead 34-7 with 7:48 left in the half.
The Lopers cut the lead to 34-15 on a two point conversion following a 24 yard pass from Kaiser to Adam Lehner with 5:33 left. After a three and out by the Hornets, Josh Taylor scooped up a fumble and scored from 35 yards out to make it 41-15. That marked the most points scored in a half by Emporia State since joining the NCAA in 1991. UNK then put together an eight play 74 yard drive to pull within 41-22 with 1:21 left in the half on a half back option pass from Tommy Flanagan to Dillon Goltl.
The Hornets upped their lead to 44-22 on a 27 yard field goal by Jonas with 6:52 left in the third quarter. On the next possession for UNK, Tyrone Weaver batted a ball in the air and pulled it in for a 32 yard interception return that gave Emporia State a 51-22 lead with 6:21 left in the third.
Flanagan scored on a 23 yard pass from Kevin Romero to cap an 11 play, 83 yard drive by the Lopers to end the third quarter. The Hornets would get their final score on a 36 yard pass from Eckenrode to Richardson following a 20 yard punt return by Kevin Gaddis to give ESU a 58-28 lead with 10:02 left in the game. Neb.-Kearney then went on a ten play, 73 yard drive and scored on another half back option, this time from Dillon Schrodt to Shad Bride for the final score in a 58-35 Hornet win.
Eckenrode ended the day 30 of 43 for 367 yards and four touchdowns and added a team high 51 yards rushing on eight carries. Richardson hauled in 15 passes for a career high 204 yards and three touchdowns. Austin Willis added four receptions for 70 yards for the Hornets while Davis had two catches for 17 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Carlson had a team high 13 tackles includihng a sack and Aaron Matthews was credited with a sack and two tackles for loss. Chris Poston joined Weaver with an interception returned 47 yards.
Derek Jonas hit two field goals while Eli Kuhns hit the second 40+ yarder of the season.
Emporia State returns to Jones Field at Welch Stadium on Sept. 15 to take on Central Oklahoma. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. with the Football Traditions event to follow after the game. The 2002 Mineral Water Bowl Champions will be recognized at the game.
NOTES:
Eckenrode became the first Hornet to throw for over 300 yards in two straight games since Tad Hatfield did it for three straight games in 2004.
Richardson became the first Hornet to have over 200 yards in a game and back to back 100 yard receiving games since JJ Richard in 2005.
Eckenrode became the first Hornet with four touchdowns in a game since Justin Whitworth threw four against Pittsburg State in four overtimes in 2006.
Richardson became the first Hornet with three touchdown receptions in a game since Ryan Hulings did it in the four overtime game against Pittsburg State in 2006.
The 58 points were the most scored by Emporia State in a game since a 63-17 win over Missouri Southern in 1998.
