#18 EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL TRAVELS TO TAHLEQUAH, OKLA.

Game #6
#18 Emporia State Hornets (4-1, 4-1 MIAA)
at Northeastern  State RiverHawks (1-4, 1-4 MIAA)
 Saturday, Oct. 8 • 2:00 p.m. • Doc Wadley Stadium (8,500) • Tahlequah, Okla.
Series Record: Series Tied 5-5 Current Streak: ESU 4 wins
Last Meeting: at ESU 55, NSU 14 (Sept. 26, 2015)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 1:00 p.m. TV: None
Internet (Audio): www.kvoe.com Internet (Video): portal.stretchinternet.com/esu
Complete Notes in pdf Live Stats
Officials: Announced on Game day
Up Next: vs. Lindenwood • Saturday, Oct. 15 • 2:00 p.m.
Jones Field at Welch Stadium (7,000) • Emporia, Kan.
 
DOWN BY THE RIVER  
The #18 Hornets travel to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on the Northeastern State RiverHawks.
 
LAST TIME OUT 
The #23 Hornets used career highs from Mitchell Foote and Braxton Marstall to post a 35-21 win over Central Oklahoma. For the fifth straight game the Hornet defense held their opponent to a punt on their opening series. The Hornets then marched 56 yards on six plays before Justin Brown hauled in a diving, one handed catch from Marstall in the end zone for a 20 yard touchdown and 7-0 lead. ESU went up 14-0 on a 30 yard pass from Marstall to Foote on the first play of the second quarter to cap a 12 play, 93 yard drive.  Emporia State ended the half with a 14 play, 97 yard drive that culminated with a 12 yard touchdown from Marstall to Foote with :16 left. Marstall and Foote would connect again with 4:19 left in the third period, this time on a 17 yard pass to give Emporia State a 28-3 lead.  The Bronchos would close to within 28-21 with 5:52 left but Marstall found Foote for the fourth time with 1:53 left and Tre Dickerson got an interception with 1:01 left to seal the win. Marstall was 29 of 41 for 354 yards and five touchdowns through the air and added 56 yards on ten rushes. Foote finished with 11 catches for 167 yards and four touchdowns while Justin Brown caught ten passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.  Antonio Brown had 79 yards rushing on 12 carries. Defensively Kole Schankie had 13 tackles with two for a loss while DeAndre Glover had six tackles and two TFL. 
 
THE?COACHES
Garin Higgins has compiled a career record of 108-60 in his 15th season as a head coach. He is 57-51 in his tenth season at his alma mater and is 47-27 since the start of the 2010 season. He led the Hornets to the Kanza Bowl in 2012, the NCAA playoffs in 2013 & the national quarterfinals in 2015. 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. He is 4-0 against Northeastern State and was the offensive coordinator for the RiverHawks in 2006.
Rob Robinson is 4-23 in his third year at Northeastern St. He is 0-2 against Emporia State.
 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 4-1 on the season and ranked #18 in the nation. The Hornets have forced their opponent to punt on their first drive in all five games this season. They are ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring defense at 24.2 points per game and scoring offense at 33.8 points per game. Braxton Marstall is leading the MIAA with 13 touchdown passes, is third in passing efficiency and fourth in total offense. Kole Schankie leads the MIAA in interceptions and is the leading tackler for Emporia State at 7.6 stops per game. The Hornets are +8 in turnover margin on the season to rank eighth in the nation.
 
SCOUTING?THE RIVERHAWKS
Northeastern State is 1-4 on the season.  Quarterback Dimonic McKinzy is averaging 232.2 yards passing per game and is sixth in the MIAA in total offense at 249.0 yards per game.
 
THE SERIES
This will be the 11th meeting between the two schools with the series tied at 5-5. The Hornets have won the last four meetings, all since the RiverHawks joined  the MIAA in 2013, and five of the last six.
 
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST NSU
Emporia State scored on nine of 11 possessions on the way to a 55-14 win over Northeastern State on Jones Field at Welch Stadium. The Hornets jumped out to a 42-7 lead in the first half. Brent Wilson was 12 of 18 for 285 yards and five touchdowns in the first half.  Morris Williams II was the big weapon with four catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Nine Hornets caught a pass of at least 15 yards.  Ty Reasnor played the second half and went five of seven for 50 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. Defensively the Hornets had 11.0 tackles for loss led by Donovan Walker's three TFL for 15 yards. Emporia State had 26 players make at least one tackle.  Gabe Cleveland and Kole Schankie each had seven stops to lead the Hornets.  Donovan Walker had five tackles and 3.0 TFL along with a solo sack.
 
UP NEXT
Emporia State returns to Jones Field at Welch Stadium on October 15 to take on Lindenwood. Kick-off for the Hornets Homecoming is set for 2:00 p.m.
 
YOU HAVE TO SCORE TO WIN
The Hornets are 45-8 under coach Higgins when scoring 28 or more points with a 40-3 record in their last 43 games in which they have scored at least 28 points.  Emporia State has averaged 41.2 points per game in their 31 wins and 18.9 points in their 14 losses since the Hornets last posted a shutout - a 13-0 win over Lindenwood in 2012.
 
RIDING SCHOOL
Quarterback Braxton Marstall (So./Emporia, Kan.) leads the MIAA in touchdown passes, points responsible for, and completions. He is second in the MIAA and ranked 15th in the nation in completion percentage. He went 29 of 41 for 354 yards with five touchdowns passing and added 56 yards on ten rushes against Central Oklahoma on his way to MIAA Offensive Player of the Week honors. He was 27 of 39 for 233 yards with two touchdowns and added 14 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown on the ground at Central Missouri and led the Hornets to a fourth quarter comeback for the first time in six starts. He went 19 of 24 for 209 yards with three touchdowns in the first half on the way to a 26 of 33 day with 279 yards and three scores against Missouri Southern. He was 24 of 42 for 272 yards and two touchdowns through the air and added a team high 73 yards on ten carries on the ground at Neb.-Kearney. He went eight of 16 for 63 yards with a touchdown and added a team high 31 rushing yards against Northwest Missouri. 
He redshirted last season after being thrown into the fire his true freshman year in 2014. He got his first start at Missouri Western in 2014 and was 24 of 38 for 233 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Hornets to a 30-10 road win. He led the Hornets to 21 second half points against Ft. Hays State as he was 10 for 19 for 102 yards after the break.
He only played two games as a senior at Emporia HS due to a collarbone injury.
 
DOUBLE DIP
Quarterback Jaylen Lowe (Jr./Owasso, Okla.) had one catch for eight yards against Central Okla.. He was five for eight for 55 yards passing, had four receptions for 38 yards and carried the ball three times with a long rush of three yards against Mo. Southern. He went two of four for 21 yards passing, had six carries for 15 yards and caught a pass for one yard at Neb.-Kearney. He is the first Hornet with a rush, a catch and a pass completion in back to back games in the 21st century. He was four of five for 35 yards and added 19 yards on seven carries with a touchdown against Northwest Missouri.
He was a contender for the quarterback spot following his red-shirt season at Division I Tulsa before opting to play basketball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He averaged 13 points and four assists per game as a point guard for the Golden Norse. He will play both sports for the Hornets.
He was a first-team Tulsa World All-Metro selection in both football and basketball as a senior at Owasso HS and was the first player since 2006-07 to earn the honor in both by the Tulsa World.
 
MR. WALLACE
Quarterback T'Quan Wallace (Fr.-RS/Oklahoma City, Okla.) was impressive during the Hornets spring game. He completed 52 of 99 passes for 1,146 yards and 14 touchdowns in six games before suffering a season ending injury his senior season after being a three year starter at Casady Prep.
 
BIG FOOTE
Mitchell Foote (Sr./Enid, Okla.) leads the MIAA and is ranked sixth in the nation in touchdown catches. He had 11 catches for 167 yards and four touchdowns against Central Oklahoma. He had three catches for 35 yards including the game winning touchdown reception at Central Mo. He had five receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns against Mo. Southern. He had eight catches for 89 yards at Neb.-Kearney. He had two catches for 30 yards against Northwest Missouri.
He was a first-team All-MIAA and CCA/CoSIDA All-Super Region3 pick. He led the MIAA with 12 touchdown receptions last season and finished the year with 79 catches for 877 yards.  He was second in the MIAA in receptions per game. He was 17th in the nation in receiving touchdowns and was second in the nation with two punt return touchdowns. A total of 30 of his 34 catches on third or fourth down resulted in a first down or touchdown.
He had four receptions for 40 yards in the regional title game at Northwest Missouri. He had eight catches for 116 yards at Minnesota State. He had 67 yards on four catches at Northwest Missouri. He had six receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns against Washburn. He caught six passes for 69 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Missouri Western. He had a career high 12 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns at Ft. Hays State and had a 66 yard punt return for a TD that gave the Hornets a fourth quarter lead. He had six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburg State. He had 11 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns at Lindenwood. He caught nine passes for 78 yards at Central Oklahoma. He had eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown against Central Missouri. He had three catches for 50 yards and set a school record with an 88 yard punt return for a touchdown at Missouri Southern. 
He had 35 receptions for 378 yards in ten games with four touchdowns as a sophomore. He had five catches for 93 yards including a career long 40 yarder at Northeastern State.
As a freshman he caught five passes for 61 yards against Washburn. He had two catches for 43 yards against Northwest Missouri in 2013. He had four receptions for 82 yards against Southwest Baptist. He snagged a five yard touchdown pass the first time he set foot on the field for the Hornets as a freshman against Neb.-Kearney. 
He has 169 receptions for 1,955 yards and 25 touchdowns in 38 career games.
 
JUST IN CASE
Receiver Justin Brown (So./El Reno, Okla.) is ranked fourth in the MIAA in touchdown receptions and is fifth in catches per game. He had ten catches for 109 yards against Central Oklahoma. He caught eight passes for 30 yards at Central Missouri. He had three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown against Missouri Southern. He has caught a touchdown pass in seven straight games dating back to his freshman year. He caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown at Neb.-Kearney. He had four catches for 16 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive against Northwest Missouri.
He was still 15th in the MIAA in touchdown catches despite missing ten games last year. He had four touchdowns and averaged 89.0 yards per game over the first three games last season. He had seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in Edmond before he was lost for the season when he broke his leg on a 12 yard reception down to the Bronchos two yard line on third down. He had seven receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns against Central Missouri.  He started the season with five catches for 61 yards at Missouri Southern.
As a true freshman last year he had four of his 14 catches go for touchdowns. He had a breakout game with a career high six catches for 77 yards and three touchdowns at Neb.-Kearney. He had a 29 yard reception against Northwest Missouri. He had a 17 yard run against Washburn. He caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown and added a two point conversion against Ft. Hays State. He averaged 15.5 yards in the 23 times he touched the ball as a freshman. 
 
THE TIME
Receiver Morris Williams II (Jr./Nashville, Tenn.) hauled in a 16 yard reception against Central Oklahoma. He had five catches for 43 yards at Central Missouri. He had six receptions for 69 yards and added a 13 yard touchdown run against Missouri Southern. It was his first rushing touchdown as a Hornet. He had four catches for 32 yards at Neb.-Kearney.
He exploded on the scene last year, averaging 118.3 receiving yards in the playoffs. On the year he was third in the MIAA in receiving touchdowns, fifth in total receiving yards and 20th in yards per catch. He had four touchdown catches of over 50 yards last year - a 68 yarder at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs, a 73 yarder at Minnesota State, a 51 yarder against Neb.-Kearney and an 80 yarder against Northeastern State.
He had a season high 191 yards on ten catches at Northwest Missouri in the regional final. He had a career high eight catches for 159 yards and a touchdown at Minnesota State. He had four catches for 67 yards with a touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. He had three receptions for 48 yards at Northwest Missouri. He had four catches for 45 yards against Washburn. He had five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown at Lindenwood. He had a break out game with four catches for 147 yards, all in the first half, against Northeastern State.  His 80 yard touchdown reception against the RiverHawks was the fourth longest in the MIAA last season and the longest by a Hornet receiver since 2012. He had 28 yards on four receptions at Central Oklahoma. He had a 14 yard touchdown against Central Missouri. He had a 39 yard reception at Missouri Southern.
He transferred to Emporia State from Kilgore College. He had 30 receptions for 509 yards and five touchdowns for the Rangers as a freshman in 2013. His 17.0 yards per catch ranked 19th in the NJCAA in 2013. He had six catches for 152 yards and two scores against Southeast Prep Academy and eight catches for 149 yards and a TD against Cisco.
 
OVER THE MIDDLE
Receiver Jordan Reed (So./Edmond, Okla.) had 52 yards on three receptions at Central Missouri. He had five receptions for 60 yards against Missouri Southern.
He had a 56 yard touchdown against Pittsburg State and ended with two catches for 64 yards and one five yard rush against the Gorillas last year. He had two catches for 12 yards at Lindenwood. He took off his redshirt and had a 16 yard reception against Northeastern State in his first game with the Hornets.
He was an all-city and all-league wide receiver for Edmond Memorial HS where he had 35 catches for 954 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He ran a 21.78 in the 200m to place third at Oklahoma Class 6A State Championships as a junior.
 
SIMPLE AS A-B-C 1-2-3
Receiver Jordan Jackson (So./Bonner Springs, Kan.) caught passes for 41 yards and had a nine yard rush at Central Missouri. He had one reception for three yards against Missouri Southern. He caught one pass for four yards against Northwest Missouri.
He had three catches for 40 yards with a 24 yard touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. Two of his five catches last year went for touchdowns. He saw his first action of the year against Northeastern State and caught two passes for 25 yards, including a 21 yard touchdown on his first play from scrimmage.
He was a first-team All-Kaw Valley League quarterback at Bonner Springs HS as he threw for 4,230 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career while gaining 1,468 yards and running for 15 touchdowns on the ground.
 
LEANER
Receiver Anthony Buffalomeat (Sr./Lawrence, Kan.) had three catches for a team high 31 yards against Northwest Missouri.
He had a career high 99 yards on three receptions against Neb.-Kearney last year. His 65 yard touchdown against the Lopers was tied for the 17th longest reception in the MIAA last season.  He had two catches for 17 yards against Washburn. He had two receptions for 21 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had two catches for 15 yards against Pittsburg State. He had a career high nine catches for 55 yards at Lindenwood. He made his first career start against Northeastern State and caught two passes for 22 yards with a five yard touchdown catch. He had a 14 yard reception at Missouri Southern.
His first career reception came as a sophomore against Northwest Missouri for ten yards.
 
THE DAILEY SHOW
Receiver Louis Dailey (Jr./Grand Prairie, Texas) had three catches for 20 yards against Missouri Southern. He joined a select group of Hornets who have caught a touchdown pass on their first career reception when he hauled in a 49 yarder at Neb.-Kearney.  He had 36 receptions for 502 yards with six touchdowns in 2014 for Kilgore CC.
 
BROWN AND SERVE
Running back Antonio Brown (Sr./St. Louis, Mo.) is seventh in the MIAA in total rushing yards. He had 12 carries for 79 yards against Central Oklhoma. He had 99 yards on 16 carries with two touchdowns at Central Missouri. He had seven carries for 38 yards and a touchdown against Missouri Southern. He gained 58 yards on seven carries with a touchdown at Neb.-Kearney. He had 43 all-purpose yards against Northwest Missouri with 31 kick return yards, seven receiving yards and five rushing yards.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection at running back last season. He was 12th in the MIAA in rushing with 674 yards and his five touchdowns rank 13th in the league. He had 82 all purpose yards against the Bearcats in the regional championship game. He had 59 yards on ten carries at Henderson State. He had a 13 yard touchdown catch on a shovel pass at Minnesota State. He had nine carries for 36 yards and a touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. He had a season long 41 yard kick off return at Northwest Missouri. He had nine carries for 43 yards against Washburn and added 33 yards on three receptions. He had 60 yards on 15 carries against Pittsburg State with a touchdown. He had 16 carries for 75 yards at Lindenwood. He had 11 carries for 50 yards against Northeastern State. He gained 54 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown at Central Oklahoma. He had 88 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown against Central Missouri. He had 80 yards on 17 carries at Missouri Southern.
He was tenth in the MIAA in rushing at 61.8 yards per game as a sophomore. He had 64 yards on 12 carries at Missouri Western. He became the first Hornet since Seville Ko in 2006 to have back to back 100 yard rushing days when he had a career high 134 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown at Pittsburg State following a 104 yard effort with a touchdown on 17 carries against Lindenwood. He had 76 yards on 17 carries at Northeastern State with a touchdown. He had 51 rushing yards on 16 carries against Central Oklahoma. He had 103 yards from scrimmage against Central Missouri with 21 carries for 60 yards with a rushing touchdown and a career high 12 receptions for 43 yards. He had 77 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown against Missouri Southern.
He was the Offensive Freshman of the Year in the MIAA and was named honorable mention All-MIAA in 2013. He had 536 rushing yards last year with 463 coming in the final seven games of the year. His nine touchdowns were the most by a Hornet freshman since joining the MIAA. He rushed for 66 yards against Washburn last year with 60 of them coming on ten carries in the fourth quarter. He had 13 carries for 68 yards against Northwest Missouri. He had 109 yards on 14 carries at Missouri Western.  He gained 76 yards on 16 carries with a pair of touchdowns against Lindenwood. He had a career high four rushing touchdowns on 16 carries with 102 yards at Lincoln. 
He has rushed for 2,169 yards and 24 touchdowns with 62 catches for 377 yards and a score in 41 career games.
 
STRONG ENOUGH
Running back Denzel Strong (So./Independence, Mo.) had four rushes for nine yards and added 42 yards on four receptions against Central Oklahoma. He had six carries for 25 yards against Missouri Southern. He ran for 27 yards on eight carries with a touchdown and added three receptions for 23 yards at Neb.-Kearney. He had 29 yards on just four carries against Northwest Missouri.
He was 16th in the MIAA in yards per carry among players with at least 50 rushes on the season. He was 21st in the league in total rushing with 406 yards last season.  He had 13 carries for 41 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He averaged 3.8 yards per carry against Northwest Missouri in the regular season. He had 12 carries for 51 yards against Washburn. He had 88 yards on 15 carries with a long rush of 41 yards against Missouri Western. He had four carries for 19 yards against Pittsburg State. He 42 yards on 11 rushes against Northeastern State. He had a team high 80 yards on seven carries at Central Oklahoma thanks to a season long 70 yard rush. It is the longest run from scrimmage by a Hornet since 2005. He had two carries against Central Missouri on back to back plays that gave the Hornets a key first down on the way to the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
He came to Emporia State after redshirting at Hutchinson CC. He had over 1300 yards at Van Horn HS.
 
LONG HILL
Running back Landon Nault (So./Kingfisher, Okla.) gained 46 yards on nine carries against Central Oklahoma. He had 20 rushes for 64 yards and added two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown at Central Missouri. He gained 75 yards on 12 carries with a pair of touchdowns against Missouri Southern. He had a team high 14 carries at Neb.-Kearney for 33 yards. He had just one carry for four yards against Northwest Missouri. He also punted twice with a long of 43 yards against the Bearcats.
He was ranked tenth in the MIAA in rushing with 727 yards and was tied for 20th with four rushing touchdowns. He finished with 179 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown at Henderson State.  It was the most rushing yards by a Hornet since La'Darian Page had 201 against Southwest Baptist in 2011 and the most by a freshman running back for the Hornets since Brian Shay gained 210 against Washburn in 1995. It is also the most yards gained by a Hornet in an NCAA Playoff game and the most in a post season game of any type since Tyler Paul had 224 yards in Emporia State's 34-27 overtime win against Winona State in the 2002 Mineral Water Bowl. He had 69 yards on 14 carries against Neb.-Kearney. He was the leading rusher for the Hornets with 21 yards on six carries at Northwest Missouri. He gained 49 yards on 14 rushes at Ft. Hays State. He had a game high 88 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown against Northeastern State. He got his first start and had 69 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries at Central Oklahoma. He had a 44 yard gain against Central Missouri and finished with nine carries for 75 yards against the Mules. 
He was the Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Year after gaining 2,199 yards and 45 touchdowns on 249 carries as a senior. He also had 72 receiving yards and a touchdown on 11 catches. He was a Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalist.
 
TRIUMPHANT
Running back Kai Callins (So./Guthrie, Okla.) is out for the year. He had 15 yards on seven carries before getting injured at Neb.-Kearney. He had one reception for ten yards against Northwest Missouri.
He had 346 rushing yards, had three touchdowns, averaged 4.4 yards per carry and had a pair of 100 yard games as a true freshman in 2014. He had ten carries for 29 yards against Northwest Missouri as a freshman. He had 58 yard on ten rushes at Washburn. He gained 40 yards on 12 carries at Missouri Western. He had 101 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown against Ft. Hays State. He led Emporia State with 107 yards on 11 carries including a 57 yard touchdown run against Missouri Southern. 
He was the MVP of the Oklahoma Class 5A state championship game after rushing for 245 yards and four touchdowns. He was named VYPE Magazine Mr. Football in Oklahoma his senior year.
 
REESE'S PIECES
S-back Reese Richards (Sr./Azle, Texas) had a 12 yard reception against Central Oklahoma. He had two catches, both for a first down, for 15 yards at Central Missouri. He had two catches for 22 yards against Missouri Southern.
He returns for his senior year after missing 12 games last season with a neck injury. He had three catches for 15 yards in the first half against Central Missouri before suffering the season ending neck injury. He had three catches for 49 yards at Missouri Southern.
He missed the final three games in 2014 but still earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors at tight end. He was named to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American watch list last year. He finished the season with 14 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown last year. He caught three passes for 45 yards at Pittsburg State. He had three receptions for 33 yards against Lindenwood. He had a career high 104 yards receiving on six catches with a touchdown at Central Missouri.
He had his first career start against Northwest Missouri as a freshman. He had two catches for 31 yards against Southwest Baptist in 2013. He caught a 37 yard touchdown pass at Lincoln.  He had five catches for 93 yards, an average of 18.6 yards per catch, as a freshman.
 
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
Tight end Trenton Ball (So./Midwest City, Okla.) had one reception for two yards at Henderson State last year in the playoffs. He had an 18 yard reception against Missouri Western. He got his first reception as a Hornet against Pittsburg State, going for four yards.
He was rated a three star recruit by ESPN.com and listed as the #21 tight end prospect in the country coming out of Carl Albert HS. He was the 14th rated player overall in the state of Oklahoma.
 
NICK OF TIME
Tight end Nick Oliver (So./Overland Park, Kan.) had a career long 18 yard reception at Henderson State last year. He had three receptions for 34 yards on the season.
He was All-Sunflower League pick at tight end for Shawnee Mission South HS and had 330 yards with seven touchdowns on 24 receptions.
 
OFF THE ICE
Guard Jarrett Stastny (Sr./Sanger, Texas) earned the Squarehead Award as the top offensive lineman for the Hornets against Central Oklahoma.
He was a third-team All-MIAA selection last year. He earned his third Squarehead Award of the year as the Hornets top offensive lineman against Pittsburg State when he had a season high 11 knockdowns. He also earned the honor against Northeastern State and in the opener against Missouri Southern. He is a two-time All-MIAA performer after earning third-team honors last season. He was named to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American watch list this year.
He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Northeastern State and Missouri Southern as a sophomore as well. He was a consensus preseason All-American, earning D2Football.com, Lindy's, BSN, and USA College Football honors as a junior.
In 2013 he was named First-Team All-MIAA on the offensive line and was the only freshman tabbed First-Team. He was a second-team Daktronics All-Region pick and earned third-team all-region honors from Hansen's Football Gazette. He earned the Squarehead Award three times as a freshman. His first Squarehead honor was against Neb.-Kearney and he won the award in the Hornets wins over nationally ranked Missouri Western and Washburn.
 
HOOSIER DADDY
Guard DeAndre Herron (Sr./Avon, Ind) moved to guard against Central Missouri after starting the first three games at tackle. He earned the Squarehead Award against Missouri Southern.
He is a graduate transfer from the University of Indiana. He played in IU's win at Maryland in his only action with the Hoosiers.  He was a first-team all-conference performer at Iowa Western CC. He was an all-state performer and his team's Most Valuable Player at Avon (Ind.) HS.
 
BUILDING BRICKS
Center Jake Warehime (Jr./Choctaw, Okla.) was named the Squarehead Award winner against Northwest Missouri to start this season. He started all 14 games at center last season. He was the Squarehead Award winner at Northwest Missouri in the regular season. He was first  named the Squarehead Award winner against Ft. Hays State. He went from not on the depth chart to the starting position in the space of a week heading into the Missouri Southern game last year. 
 
SPIDERMAN
Tackle Estevan Arana (Fr.-RS/Enid, Okla.) was named the Squarehead Award winner at Central Missouri. He saw his first action for the Hornets against Northwest Missouri after redshirting last season. He was a three-year letterwinner for Enid HS and earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors on the offensive line.
 
GREAT DANE
Tackle Dane Riley (Jr./Azle, Texas) was named the Squarehead Award winner against Neb.-Kearney. He got to start against Northeastern State as a freshman and saw considerable action over the final four games of the season. He was a first-team All-District pick at left tackle for Azle HS. He was credited with 14 pancake blocks as a senior.
 
BOYS IN THE HALL
Guard Dylan Hall (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) missed two games with a back injury but returned to action at Central Missouri. He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Washburn last season. He got his first career start against Missouri Western. He is in his third year with the Hornets and is working at both center and guard. He was an All-Centennial League first-team pick, helping Seaman HS reach the 5A playoffs as a senior.
 
IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Center Joe Pomatto (Jr./Paola, Kan) has seen action in all four games this year. He missed the first four games last year with an injury. He returned to action against Lindenwood. He is in his fourth year with the Hornets after being the first lineman in history to be named Tri-County Spotlight Football Offensive Player of the Year his senior season at Paola HS.
 
THE WEIRDNESS
Guard Thomas O'Grady (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) missed the last two games with an ankle injury and is questionable for Northeastern State. He saw action in all 14 games last year. He played at Butler CC as a freshman after redshirting at Emporia State in 2013.  He was a first-team All-Topeka pick and second-team All-Centennial League selection for Hayden HS.
 
TWIN TACKLES
Tackles Andrew Lillich (So.//Basehor, Kan.) and Austin Unterreiner (Fr./O'Fallon, Mo.) have moved into the offensive line rotation for Emporia State.  Lillich redshirted at Butler CC in 2014 before transferring to Emporia State. He was a first-team All-Kaw Valley League pick at Basehor-Linbwood HS. Unterreiner was a first-team all-conference and second-team all-district performer for Francis Howell HS.
 
ON THE DEFENSE
Emporia State is ranked fourth in the MIAA in scoring defense at 24.2 points per game. The Hornets have given up just three points in the first quarter this year and have forced a punt on their opponents opening drive of all five games. They had two interceptions in the red-zone at Central Missouri. The Hornets forced three three and outs and a turnover in the first four possessions against Missouri Southern. Emporia State held Neb.-Kearney to 41 yards of total offense in the first half and just 251 yards for the game. The Hornets forced the Lopers into nine drives that were three and outs or ended with a turnover in less than three plays. Three of Northwest Missouri's seven scoring drives covered less than 50 yards and the Hornets twice forced field goals, including once when NWMSU had first and goal from the three. On the season eight of Emporia State's opponents 18 scoring drives have covered 50 yards or less. The Hornets have allowed only 12 scores, seven touchdowns and five field goals, on 57 drives that have started on their opponents side of midfield.
 
VICTORY OF THE PEOPLE
Linebacker Kole Schankie (Sr./Madison, Kan.) leads the MIAA with three interceptions is ranked 15th in the nation in interceptions per game. He had 13 tackles with two for a loss against Central Oklahoma. He was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording a team high seven tackles with a key 47 yard interception return in the fourth quarter at Central Missouri. He had four solo tackles, an interception, a pass break up, a forced fumble and recovery against Missouri Southern. He was credited with five tackles and had an interception at Neb.-Kearney. He had a team high nine tackles against Northwest Missouri with eight of them solo.
He was named third-team All-MIAA. He was tenth in the MIAA in total tackles, 11th in tackles for loss, and 20th in sacks last season. He had seven tackles against Northwest Missouri in the NCAA Quarterfinals. He had six tackles and forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage at Henderson State. He recorded 12 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack at Minnesota State. He had three tackles and an interception that led to Emporia State's first score against Neb.-Kearney. He had a game high 12 tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss at Northwest Missouri. He had five tackles with a TFL that included a forced fumble and recovery against Washburn. He was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career high 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovery against Missouri Western. He was credited with eight tackles, 2.5 for a loss, two pass break ups and a sack at Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles against Pittsburg State. He was credited with nine tackles at Lindenwood. He had seven tackles and 1.5 TFL against Northeastern State. He was credited with three tackles at Central Oklahoma. He had ten tackles including a sack against Central Missouri.
He had been a key contributor on special teams during his first two years with the Hornets and had eight solo tackles as a sophomore.
 
REVOLUTIONARY
Nickel Josh Monteagudo (Sr./Cape Coral, Fla.) was knocked out of the game by a targeting on Central Missouri's second offensive drive of the game. He missed the Central Oklahoma game and is questionable for Northeastern State. He was credited with three tackles against Missouri Southern. He had five tackles with a strip sack at Neb.-Kearney. He had five unassisted tackles and six total stops against Northwest Missouri.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick. He was 12th in the MIAA in tackles and 21st in tackles for loss last season. He had five tackles with two pass break ups at Northwest Missouri in the regional final. He was credited with four tackles, two for a loss, at Henderson State. He had ten stops at Minnesota State. He had five tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with five tackles, four of them solo, at Northwest Missouri. He had five tackles and a pass break up against Washburn.  He had 14 stops against Missouri Western. He was credited with ten total tackles, seven of them unassisted, at Ft. Hays State. He had four solo tackles and five total stops against Pittsburg State. He recorded 11 tackles at Lindenwood. He was credited with eight tackles at Central Oklahoma with 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break up. He had eight tackles with a sack against Central Missouri. He had seven tackles and an interception return of 14 yards at Missouri Southern. He has moved to linebacker after playing at safety his first two years at Emporia State.
He was credited with 11 tackles and a forced fumble at Pittsburg State as a sophomore. He recorded nine tackles at Northeastern State. He had ten tackles with nine of them unassisted against Central Oklahoma. He was credited with seven tackles and an interception at Central Missouri. He had four tackles against Missouri Southern.
He came on strong at the end of his freshman year with 46 of his 52 tackles in the final seven games of the year. He had eight tackles at Minn.-Duluth in the playoffs. He was credited with eight solo tackles including two for a loss against Northwest Missouri in 2013. He had a career high 12 tackles, nine of them solo, and an interception at Missouri Western.  He had seven solo stops, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble at Lincoln.  He is a transfer from Hutchinson CC where he redshirted as a freshman after originally committing to Ole Miss.
He has 215 total tackles, 135 of them solo, in 39 career games and has averaged 6.8 tackles in four career playoff games.
 
CLEVELAND ROCKS
Linebacker Gabe Cleveland (Jr./Eudora, Kan.) had five tackles and a quarterback hurry against Central Oklahoma. He had four tackles, half of them for a loss and added a quarterback hurry at Central Missouri. He returned to action against Missouri Southern after he missed Neb.-Kearney with a hamstring injury. He had five tackles and the Hornets lone sack against Northwest Missouri.
Last year he had three tackles at Henderson State in the playoffs. He was credited with five tackles against Washburn, three of them solo. He had a fumble recovery on special teams for the Hornets against Pittsburg State. He had three tackles at Lindenwood. He had seven tackles and a sack for a loss of ten yards against  Northeastern State. He had a tackle for loss inside the Hornets five yard late in the fourth quarter that helped hold Central Missouri to a field goal with 5:35 left.
 
STARE DOWN
Linebacker Jarron Ogles (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) had two solo stops against Central Oklahoma. He played most of the game at nickel linebacker in place of injured Josh Monteagudo and had six tackles with four of them solo at Central Missouri. He was credited with three unassisted tackles against Missouri Southern. He had three solo stops at Neb.-Kearney. He recorded two tackles against Northwest Missouri.
He had a solo tackle against Neb.-Kearney last year. He had two tackles against Missouri Southern. He is in his third year with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC. He played in five games for the Grizzlies in 2013. He was a state qualifier in wrestling and an all-city performer in track & field for Highland Park HS.
 
REMINGTON STEELE
Linebacker Remington Whitley (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) led Emporia State with nine tackles against Missouri Southern. He got his first career start at middle linebacker and recorded four tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He had a tackle for loss against Northwest Missouri in the season opener.
He missed three games late with a leg injury, but did see time against Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had two tackles against the Bearcats in the regular season. He was credited with two tackles against Northeastern State. He had two tackles at Central Oklahoma.
He recorded four tackles at Pittsburg State as a freshman. He began the season with four stops against Missouri Southern.
He was named First-Team All-Sunflower League, earned Sunflower League Football Blog Defensive Player of the Year honors and was an honorable mention all-state pick as a senior for Olathe South HS.
 
A GOOD MAN
Linebacker Brandon Goodman (Sr./Paola, Kan.) had a sack and a strip among his three tackles at Central Missouri. He was credited with seven tackles including one for a loss against Missouri Southern. He had two assists at Neb.-Kearney and a solo tackle against Northwest Missouri.
He was credited with five tackles at Henderson State in last year's playoffs. He had three tackles at Northwest Missouri in the regular season. He had two tackles against Northeastern State.
As a sophomore he had two solo stops against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles with one for a loss at Pittsburg State. He was credited with two tackles at Northeastern State. He had five tackles against Missouri Southern.
 
LOGAN'S RUN
Linebacker Logan Thompson (Jr.-TR/Sedgwick, Kan.) returned to action against Central Oklahoma after he missed the previous two games with an ankle injury. He had a solo tackle at Neb.-Kearney. He is in his first year with the Hornets. He played in five games for Kansas State before transferring to Emporia State in the spring.
He was named a First Team All-Kansas 4A linebacker by VarsityKansas.com as he helped Sedgwick HS earn back-to-back league, district and bi-district championships. He recorded over 2,900 total yards and 36 total touchdowns in 12 games as a senior. He was a 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl selection.
 
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT
Linebacker Curtis Shorts (Sr./Ft. Worth, Texas) missed the Central Oklahoma game with concussion like symptoms and is questionable for Northeastern State. He had four tackles against Missouri Southern. He recorded two tackles at Neb.-Kearney.
He had three tackles and a quarterback hurry at Henderson State in last year's playoff game.  He had two tackles and forced a fumble against Northeastern State. He sat out 2014 with an injury. He worked with the practice squad in 2013 after transferring from Abilene Christian. He was a unanimous first team all-district selection with 115 tackles at safety for Lake Worth HS in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
CLEANHEAD
Defensive lineman Eddie Vinson (Sr./Omaha, Neb.) is ranked sixth in the MIAA in tackles for loss  with 6.5 on the season and is eighth in sacks with 2.0 on the year. He had sacks on two of the first three plays against Central Oklahoma. He recorded six tackles, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage against Central Missouri. He had two tackles and half of a tackle for loss against Missouri Southern. He had his first career interception at Neb.-Kearney and added a tackle for loss. He had four tackles, including one for a loss against Northwest Missouri and was named the defensive player of the game by the Hornet coaching staff.
He was named third-team All-MIAA last year. He was tied for 20th in the MIAA in sacks and 35th in tackles for loss last season. He had three tackles and half a sack at Northwest Missouri in the regional championship game. He scored his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery at Henderson State. He had seven tackles, forced the first fumble of the game and later recovered a fumble at Minnesota State. He recorded three tackles and half a tackle for loss against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles at Northwest Missouri. He forced a fumble on a sack against Washburn. He was credited with four tackles at Ft. Hays State. He had five tackles and a sack against Pittsburg State.  He had three tackles, 1.5 TFL with half a sack at Lindenwood. He was credited with two quarterback hurries against Northeastern State. He had seven tackles with half a sack at Central Oklahoma after being held to one tackle against Central Missouri. He had eight tackles, 2.0 TFL and half a sack at Missouri Southern. He was named to the USA College Football NCAA D-II Preseason All-American watch list in 2015.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick as a sophomore. He recorded six tackles, five of them solo, at Neb.-Kearney. He had four tackles against Northwest Missouri. He recorded seven tackles against Missouri Western. He had eight tackles, 2.5 TFL, a sack and a pass break up against Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss at Pitt State. He had four solo tackles against Central Oklahoma. He had six tackles, five of them solo, at Central Missouri. He had five tackles and a sack in his Hornet debut against Missouri Southern. He had 32 tackles and eight tackles for loss for Iowa Western CC as a freshman. 
He has 118 total tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks in 30 career games.
 
LETHAL WEAPON
Defensive linemen DeAndre Glover (Sr./Hempstead, Texas) is ranked third in the MIAA in tackles for loss with 7.0 in five games. He had six tackles with two tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry against Central Oklahoma.  He had seven tackles, including three tackles for loss and an sack at Central Missouri. He had a solo tackle against Missouri Southern. He was credited with a solo stop at Neb.-Kearney. He had five solo tackles, two of them for a loss against Northwest Missouri.
He had a solo tackle and a quarterback hurry at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs and recorded four tackles there during the regular season. He was credited with two tackles against Missouri Western. He had a pair of solo tackles against Pittsburg State. He was credited with two tackles at Lindenwood. He had two tackles and half a sack at Central Oklahoma. He had a sack against Central Missouri. He had 38 tackles with a sack at Kilgore College as a sophomore.
 
THE FIRST DAY
Defensive end Tre'Vaun Ammons (Fr.-RS/Omaha, Neb.) is tied for eighth in the MIAA with two sacks in his first five games. He was credited with three tackles, a quarterback hurry and batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage against Central Oklahoma.  He had three tackles and recovered a fumble at Central Missouri. Both of his tackles against Missouri Southern were for a loss with one being a sack. He had three tackles including a sack for a loss of ten yards at Neb.-Kearney. He had two unassisted tackles and a quarterback hurry in his Hornet debut against Northwest Missouri.
He was a second-team All-Metro selection for Omaha North HS and had 93 total tackles as a senior.
 
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER
Defensive lineman Donovan Walker (Jr./Cottleville, Mo.) is tied for fourth in the MIAA with 2.5 sacks on the season. He had six tackles with a sack against Central Oklahoma. He had two tackles with one of them being a sack at Central Missouri. He had two assisted tackles against Missouri Southern with one on a sack and was also credited with a quarterback hurry. He was credited with a pair of solo stops against Northwest Missouri.
He had three tackles and a 16 yard fumble recovery at Minnesota State. He had four tackles and a solo sack for a loss of nine yards at Lindenwood. He had five solo tackles with three of them for a loss including a sack of ten yards against Northeastern State. He was credited with three tackles and half a TFL at Missouri Southern.
He had three tackles at Neb.-Kearney as a freshman. He was credited with two solo stops against Northwest Missouri. He had six tackles at Washburn and five tackles at Pitt State.
 
BASSMASTER
Defensive lineman Parker Bass (So./Emporia, Kan) had two unassisted tackles against Central Okla.. He recorded two solo tackles at Central Missouri. He assisted on a sack against Mo. Southern. He had two tackles against Northwest Missouri in his first action after taking last year off from football.
He was a second-team Top 11 pick as a senior for Emporia HS and was the Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Centennial League as a senior.
 
THE HERD
Defensive lineman Colin Frickey (Jr./Clearwater, Kan) had one unassisted tackle at Central Missouri. He was credited with a solo stop against Missouri Southern. He had two tackles, a forced fumble and a sack at Neb.-Kearney.
He played in six games for the Racers at Murray State and played one year at Butler CC. He had 44 tackles in ten games for the Grizzlies. He was a three-time AVCTL selection at tight end for Clearwater HS including and a two-time selection at defensive end, with a first team nod in 2013.
 
YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT
Defensive lineman Ugonna Nwarie (Jr./Arlington, Texas) recorded one solo tackle against Central Oklahoma. He had two tackles, one for a loss of three yards, against Missouri Southern.  He missed the Neb.-Kearney game with a hand injury. He had four tackles with three of them unassisted against Northwest Missouri.
He played in 21 games in two years at Trinity Valley CC and had 33 tackles with five sacks and two forced fumbles. He played at Mansfield Timberview HS in Arlington, Texas.
 
A TON OF ABS
Defensive lineman Larenz Abston (Sr./Des Moines, Iowa) has missed the first five games with an abdominal injury and is doubtful for this week.
He had two tackles at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had four assisted tackles, half a sack and two assisted tackles for loss with a forced fumble at Henderson State. He was credited with three tackles at Northwest Missouri. He had four tackles and 0.5 TFL against Washburn. He had four tackles at Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles with 1.5 sacks and a pass break up at Lindenwood. He had three tackles, two of them for a loss against Northeastern State. He forced a fumble at the Hornets one yard line that was recovered in the endzone against Central Missouri.
He had 35 tackles and an interception at Ellsworth CC in 2014.
 
SPEEDY
Cornerback A.J. West (Jr./Yukon, Okla.) had six unassisted tackles against Central Oklahoma. He returned the opening kick-off 56 yards and then had three solo tackles at Central Missouri. He recorded two solo stops at Neb.-Kearney. He had six tackles against Northwest Missouri with five of them solo.
He earned third-team All-MIAA honors last year when he tied for 21st in the MIAA in interceptions and had a total of four take aways on the season. He had five tackles at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had five tackles and a pass break up at Henderson State. He had four tackles at Minnesota State. He had a career high nine tackles with two pass break ups and two tackles for loss against Neb.-Kearney. He was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception 59 yards for a score and adding a ten yard fumble recovery against Washburn. He had five tackles against Pittsburg State. He was credited with seven tackles, six of them solo, with a tackle for loss at Lindenwood. He had three tackles and an interception against Northeastern State. He had seven tackles and a pass break up at Central Oklahoma. He recorded five tackles and a fumble recovery in the endzone against Central Missouri. He had five tackles at Missouri Southern.
As a freshman he intercepted a pass in the endzone at Missouri Western. He had six tackles with two pass break ups at Northeastern State. He had a 17 yard kick return and a tackle against Central Oklahoma. He had a 20 yard kick return against Central Missouri.
He earned All-American honors as a true freshman on Emporia State's men's 4x400m relay team that placed eighth in the nation in 2014.
 
TRE BIEN
Cornerback Tre Dickerson (Sr./Corinth, Texas) recorded three tackles, two pass break ups and an interception against Central Oklahoma. He had five tackles and two pass break ups at Central Missouri. It is not credited as a pass break up but he also deflected a pass in the end zone in overtime that was eventually intercepted by MJ Mathis. He had an interception and a pass break up against Missouri Southern. He was credited with a team high seven tackles at Neb.-Kearney with a pass break up. He had three solo stops against Northwest Missouri in the opener.
He earned honorable mention All-MIAA status last year. He was tied for second in the MIAA in passes defended and tied for sixth with four interceptions.  He had nine stops at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs with a pair of pass break ups. He had three pass break ups and two tackles at Henderson State. He had seven tackles at Minnesota State. He had five tackles and an interception against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles, two pass break ups and returned a fumble 23 yards at Northwest Missouri. He had four tackles, an interception and a pass break up against Washburn. He had six tackles and a pass break up at Ft. Hays State. He had two interceptions, two tackles and a pass break up against Pittsburg State. He had a career and team high 12 tackles at Lindenwood. He had six tackles at Central Oklahoma, five of them solo. 
He had three tackles and a pass break up against Lindenwood as a sophomore. He had four tackles and an interception at Northeastern State.
He earned a provisional NCAA qualifying mark and was eighth in the MIAA in the triple jump in the spring for the Hornet track and field team. He was the 13th best football player in the triple jump across all three NCAA Divisions last year.
 
JET ENGINE
Cornerback M.J. Mathis (Sr./Crosby, Texas) had a solo tackle and an interception in overtime at Central Missouri. He was credited with two solo tackles and had an interception against Missouri Southern. He had a 33 yard kick return at Neb.-Kearney. He had four tackles and two kick returns for a total of 46 yards against Northwest Missouri.
He had two tackles and an interception in the endzone that kept Henderson State from scoring a touchdown in last year's playoffs. He had a season's best 68 yard kick-off return against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles at Northwest Missouri. He had three solo tackles against Washburn. He was credited with two tackles including half a tackle for loss against Missouri Western.
He had four interceptions for Kilgore College as a sophomore to go with 22 tackles.
 
1ST RECON BATTALION
Cornerback Ferrando Joseph (Jr.-TR/Corrinth, Texas) had two two tackles against Central Oklahoma. He had four tackles and a pass breakup at Central Missouri. He was credited with seven solo tackles against Missouri Southern. He had a solo tackle at Neb.-Kearney.
He played in 19 games over two years with 17 total tackles at Louisiana-Monroe. He earned first team all-district and second team all-area honors as a wide receiver during his senior season for Lake Dallas HS and had 20 tackles and two interceptions at cornerback.
 
BIDING TIME
Safety J.P. Lohrentz (Sr./Buhler, Kan.) had four tackles against Central Oklahoma. He was credited with seven tackles and a pass break up at Central Missouri. He had one tackle against Missouri Southern. He had three tackles and forced a fumble against Northwest Missouri.
He was tied for second in the MIAA in interceptions and was 13th in the MIAA in passes defended with 11 total. Four of his five interceptions came in the playoffs. He had 11 tackles at Northwest Missouri and averaged nine tackles per game in the playoffs last year. He was credited with four tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception at Henderson State. He had a career high 12 tackles and three interceptions with a fumble recovery for a score at Minnesota State.  He had seven tackles and a forced fumble at Northwest Missouri. He recorded seven tackles with an interception and a pass break up against Mo. Western. He was credited with six tackles, five of them unassisted at Ft. Hays State. He had six solo tackles and three pass break ups against Pittsburg State. He had ten tackles against Central Missouri. He had six tackles and a forced fumble at Mo. Southern.
He is in his fifth year with the Hornets and has found a home at safety after bouncing back and forth between receiver and the defensive secondary for his first three years. He had four tackles against Northwest Missouri as a sophomore.
 
SAFETY IN NUMBERS
Safety Gary Woods II (Fr.-RS/Oklahoma City, Okla.) recorded six tackles against Central Oklahoma. He had three tackles and an interception at the end of the half that allowed the Hornets to hold onto the lead at Central Missouri. He had five takles, one tackle for loss and a pass break up against Missouri Southern. He had two solo stops at Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles against Northwest Missouri in his Hornet debut.
He was a two-time all-Southwest Prep Conference (includes schools from Oklahoma and Texas) selection at Casady Prep and named second-team Little All-City by the Daily Oklahoman. He has three uncles that played in the NFL Rashaun Woods, D'Juan Woods and Donovan Woods.
 
TOP DESIGN
Safety Marcus Houghton (Jr./McPherson, Kan) missed the Central Oklahoma game iwth an ankle injury and is questionable for Northeastern State. He recorded four solo tackles at Central Missouri. He had three unassisted tackles against Missouri Southern. He had five solo tackles and a forced fumble with the recovery at Neb.-Kearney. He forced the fumble on a Loper receiver at the one yard line and returned it 49 yards to midfield.
He had 20 tackles while playing in all 14 games last year. He had five tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He recovered fumbles against Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State in back to back weeks.
He had a career high eight tackles with a tackle for loss at Washburn as a freshman. He had three tackles at Missouri Western. He got his first career start against Lindenwood and had three solo tackles, including one for a loss.
He was a first-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League performer for McPherson HS.
 
WHAT'S COOKING
Safety Drew Cook (So./Oklahoma City, Okla.) had two tackles against Central Oklahoma. He was credited with an assisted tackle against Missouri Southern. He had five solo tackles against Northwest Missouri in the season opener.
He was credited with two tackles against Washburn. He recorded three tackles against Northeastern State.
He was an all-conference performer at Casady Prep who had 32 receptions for 495 yards and four touchdowns as a senior receiver before moving to the defensive side of the ball for the Hornets.
 
SALTY
Kicker Austin Morton (Jr./Rockwall, Texas) is a perfect 22 of 22 on PAT attempts this season and has hit 44 straight dating back to a block against Washburn last year. He was five for five against Central Oklahoma.  He went four for four on PATs and hit a 32 yard field goal at Central Missouri. He was seven for seven on PAT's against Missouri Southern and missed a 47 yard field goal attempt. He was two for three on field goal attempts and hit all four PAT attempts at Neb.-Kearney. He hit both PAT attempts against Northwest Missouri in the opener.
He was an AP Little All-American last season and has been named a preseason All-American by Lindy's and the Sporting News despite being just honorable mention All-MIAA. He led the MIAA and ranked fifth in the nation in field goal accuracy and was second in the nation in total field goals made. He was ranked second in the MIAA in kick scoring and third in overall scoring with 122 points after going 56 of 59 on PATs and 22 of 25 on field goals to set Emporia State records last year.
He set the Emporia State single game record with five made field goals in the rain at Henderson State with two of them from over 40 yards out. He broke the single game record of four shared by three players - Eli Kuhns in 2012 against Lincoln, Matt Perry against Missouri Southern in 2008 and Justin Gray at Missouri Western in 2004. He was perfect against Minnesota State going six of six on PATs and three of three on field goals, including a game winning 33 yarder as time expired. It is the first time Emporia State has kicked a field goal to win a game as time expired in 25 years as a member of the NCAA. He was two for two on field goals against Washburn and had a 14 yard reception for a first down on a fake field goal. He was two for two on field goals against Pittsburg State. He was the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week after going seven of seven on PAT and two for two on field goals against Northeastern State. 
As a freshman he led the MIAA and was 26th in the nation in field goal percentage and was 45th in the country in field goals per game. He was MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week after going three for three on field goals at Missouri Western. He went 35 of 38 on PATs and ten of 13 on field goals with a long of 43 yards.
He is ranked second at Emporia State in career field goals made with 35 makes behind Justin Gray's 58 makes from 2001-04. He holds the Emporia State single game and season records for most field goals made and is one of two Hornets with multiple seasons of ten plus made field goals. He is 35 of 43 in his career on field goals at Emporia State and has made 113 of 119 PAT attempts. He ranks third in made PATs for the Hornets behind Justin Gray with 135 from 2001-04 and Adam Hunt with 119 from 1991-94. He is ninth in total field goals made among active D-II players and is the third ranked junior in total field goals made among active D-II players.
 
MARCHING ON
Kicker/punter Justin Marcha (Jr./Edmond, Okla.) averaged 58.8 yards on six kickoffs and 39.2 yards on five punts against Central Oklahoma. He averaged 61.4 yards per kickoff at Central Missouri. He had two touchbacks and the Mules average field position after kick-offs was their own 22.4 yard line. He also averaged 38.7 yards per punt with a long of 48 yards and one inside the 20 yard line. He averaged 60.2 yards with just one touchback in eight kick-offs against Missouri Southern. He averaged 41.2 yards on six punts at Neb.-Kearney. He also averaged 57.1 yards on seven kick-offs with one touchback. He averaged 35.0 yards on five punts against Northwest Missouri.  He averaged 56 yards on three kickoffs against the Bearcats.
He was an honorable mention selection at punter. He was sixth in the MIAA in punting average at 38.8 yards per punt. As a team the Hornets were third in the MIAA in net punting at 35.0 net yards per punt. Four of his 55 punts went at least 50 yards with long of 64 yards at Central Oklahoma and he forced 12 fair catches. He also kicked off for the Hornets and averaged 58.1 yards per kick with 19 touchbacks on 87 kick offs.
All three of his kick-offs at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs were good for touchbacks. He punted twice at Henderson State for an average of 37.5 yards. He averaged 41.5 yards on six punts at Minnesota State with on blocked. He averaged 39.1 yards on eight punts at Northwest Missouri, forcing three fair catches, and had one blocked. He averaged 39.7 yards on three punts against Missouri Western. All five of his kick-offs went into the endzone at Ft. Hays State. He had a 50 yard punt against Pittsburg State and averaged 37.8 yards on five punts. He averaged 49.0 yards per punt at Central Oklahoma with a career long of 64 yards. His lone touchback against the Bronchos was muffed inside the five yard line before UCO recovered it in the end zone.  He averaged 44.5 yards per punt with a long of 56 yards against Central Missouri. He averaged 43.8 yards on four punts at Missouri Southern and also hit a PAT against the Lions.
As a freshman he averaged 56.2 yards with nine touchbacks on 49 kick-offs. He successfully executed two on-side kicks against Neb.-Kearney and another one against Northwest Missouri. He averaged 36.7 yards per punt on 46 punts. He placed 15 punts inside the 20 with only one touchback while forcing eight fair catches.
 
INJURY REPORT
Linebacker Ty McKenzie (knee), defensive back Jarrett Strode (knee) and running back Kai Callins are out for the season. Defensive lineman Larenz Abston (abdominal) is doubtful. Linebackers Josh Monteagudo  and Curtis Shorts (concussion-like symptions), safety Marcus Houghton (ankle), and offensive lineman Thomas O'Grady (ankle) are questionable.
 
THE POLLS SAY
The MIAA has two teams ranked in the top 25 and three others receiving votes in the AFCA national poll and four team in the Top 25 of the D2Football.com poll. The Hornets are ranked #11 in the D2Football.com poll this week and are #18 in the AFCA poll.  Northwest Missouri is the #1 team in both the AFCA and D2Football.com polls. Emporia State is 6-7 against teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 over the last four years, with a 6-2 record against teams other than Northwest Missouri.
 
HEAD?COACH?GARIN?HIGGINS
Former Hornet Garin Higgins is the 21st head football coach at Emporia State and is the first to lead the Hornets to ten wins in two different seasons. He completed his ninth season by taking his alma mater deeper into the NCAA Division II playoffs than ever before last season. He  ranks third in wins behind Emporia State legends Fran Welch and Larry Kramer. In 2013 he became just the second coach to take the Hornets to the NCAA Playoffs and is one of just six Emporia State coaches to take the Hornets to a post season game of any type. He is 108-60 as a head coach with a 57-51 record at his alma mater. He is 41-17 over the last 58 games. He compiled a 51-9 record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University before becoming the co-offensive coordinator at Minnesota State in 2005. He was the offensive coordinator at Northeastern State in 2006. 
He orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in Emporia State history. The Hornets have gone 38-15 in the last five years after going 19-36 in his first five seasons.  The 19 wins in 2012-13 were the most in back to back seasons since going 19-5 in 1988-89, while Higgins was a quarterback for Emporia State.
With five more wins in 2012 than 2011, he led the Hornets to the biggest improvement in wins from one season to the next in Emporia State history.  He had led the Hornets to within just one game of a post season berth in 2010 and 2011 before winning the Kanza Bowl in 2012. He is one of six Hornet coaches to win at least five games in four straight years.
While at NWOSU, he was named the Central State Football League Coach of the Year five straight years from 2000 through 2004. The Rangers won 31 consecutive games from 1998 through 2000 and were 15-3 against NCAA Division II schools under Higgins.
A native of Blackwell, Okla., Higgins graduated from Emporia State in 1992. He was a four-year letterman for the Hornets and helped lead the team to a national runner-up finish in 1989. He has been involved with four teams that have played for or won national championships as a player, coordinator or head coach. Higgins and his wife Heather, a 1995 graduate of ESU, are the parents of three children - son Halen and daughters Harlee and Gracyn.
 
THE?NFL EXPERIENCE
The Hornets have had 14 players play in one of the major professional football leagues.  Two Hornets have won Super Bowl rings - Kelly Goodburn with the Washington Redskins and Leon Lett with the Dallas Cowboys. Adam Schiltz was on the Tennessee Titans practice squad in 2013 and was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad last year. Schiltz saw action in exhibition games with the Chiefs last year while Austin Willis played in exhibition action for the Buffalo Bills. Harold Ayodele was a part of the Kansas City Chiefs during training camp and saw action in exhibition games in 2011. Garin Higgins has coached three players that have gone on to play in the NFL regular season - Lynn Scott with the Dallas Cowboys, Sam Breeden with the Green Bay Packers, and Patrick Crayton with the Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.
 
DID YOU CATCH IT
The Emporia State football game at Northwest Missouri on Saturday, November 7, 2015 was selected for the DII Football Showcase on the American Sports Network, giving the Hornets three televised games last season. For the sixth year in a row, the Hornets had a home game featured on the MIAA Television Network in their 45-34 win over Central Missouri in the home opener last year. It was the first of two scheduled appearances on television for Emporia State as they later defeated Lindenwood 20-13 on October 3 on MIAA TV as well. The Hornets are third behind Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri for the most appearances on live television over the last five years. The Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012 game against Missouri Western was the first televised match-up of nationally ranked teams from Jones Field at Welch Stadium. The Hornets have played 21 games on live television since 1997 with nine of the games coming from Welch Stadium.
 
LISTEN & WATCH LIVE
Video webcasts for all of Emporia State's regular season games are available on a pay per view basis from Stretch Internet as part of the conference wide webcast agreement. Each MIAA school receives credit for the games accessed through their portal.
Audio of all Emporia State games are available on KFFX 104.9FM and at www.kvoe.com with Greg Rahe and Ron Thomas providing the call. KFFX is in their 29th straight year as the radio home of Hornet Athletics, the longest active streak between a commercial station and an MIAA school.
 
OUTSIDE?THE?CONFERENCE
The Hornets have gone 12-2 in non-conference games under Garin Higgins and are 23-7 outside the MIAA in the 21st century. Since joining the MIAA, ESU is 32-12 in non-conference games and has lost only three games to unranked non-conference D-II opponents since 1996.  The MIAA?has sent eight different schools to the NCAA?playoffs in the last eight years and has had a team in the national championship game eight of the last 11 seasons. 
 
MIAA IN THE POSTSEASON
Since the MIAA first expanded in 1989 and the new teams became eligible for post season play in 1990, the MIAA has won seven national championships and had a representative in 14 of 25 national championship games.  The MIAA has been represented in nine of the last 12 national championship games.  In that time the MIAA is 38-14 in the NCAA Playoffs and 11-6 in bowl games for a combined post season record of 49-20 against non-conference opponents. Emporia State became the sixth MIAA team to win an NCAA Playoff game. The Hornets join Northwest Missouri (2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996) Pittsburg State (2011, 2005, 2004, 2001, 1995, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989), Missouri Western (2012), and Central Missouri (2010) as MIAA teams that have reached the quarterfinals.  Last year was the first all MIAA regional final since 2011 and the fifth of all-time. 
All MIAA NCAA Divison II Quarterfinals
2015 at Northwest Missouri 38, Emporia State 17
2011 at Pittsburg State 41, Northwest Missouri 16
2010 at Northwest Missouri 37, Central Missouri 20
2005 Northwest Missouri 21, at Pittsburg State 10
2004 at Pittsburg State 50, Northwest Missouri 36
 
CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are senior linebacker Kole Schankie and senior defensive lineman Eddie Vinson on defense, senior wide receiver Mitchell Foote and sophomore running back Landon Nault on offense and sophomore linebacker Ty McKenzie on special teams.
 
A Hornet win would...
•make Emporia State 5-1 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 6-5 all-time against Northeastern State;
•be the Hornets fifth straight win against the RiverHawks;
•make Coach Higgins 58-51 at Emporia State and 109-60 overall.
 
A Hornet loss would...
•make Emporia State 4-2 overall, 4-2 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 5-6 all-time against Northeastern State;
•snap a four game winning streak in the series by Emporia State;
•be Emporia State's first loss in Tahlequah since 1956;
•make Coach Higgins 57-52 at Emporia State?and 108-61 overall.
 
WORKING?OVERTIME
• The Hornets are 5-8 in overtime games with wins in five of their last seven after dropping their first four extra period contests.
• Emporia State is 3-1 in overtime games under Garin Higgins with wins in the last three games.
• The quadruple overtime game in 2006 between Emporia State and Pittsburg State?was the first MIAA?regular season game to go to four overtimes and the first involving an MIAA?team since Northwest Missouri's 4 OT?win against Carson Newman in the 1999 National Championship Game.
• The 18 point deficit (28-10) in the second quarter at Minnesota State is the largest deficit Emporia State has overcome to win a game as an NCAA school.
• Emporia State's 17 point deficit at the half against Missouri Southern in 2011 was the largest half-time spread the Hornets have overcome for a win since joining the MIAA.
• Emporia State came from 17-0 down at the end of the first quarter to defeat Ft. Hays State 24-17 to open the 1992 season.