September 24, 2016-Emporia State got 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Antonio Brown and Braxton Marstall tossed two touchdown passes as the Hornets upset #13 Central Missouri 37-31 in double overtime on Saturday afternoon in Warrensburg, Mo.
EARLY GOING
For the first time this year the Hornets lost the coin toss and had the ball to start the game. Emporia State drove down to the Mules 26 yard line before Marstall was picked off. But like the first four games, the Hornet defense forced a punt on the Mules opening drive. Emporia State took over and drove 57 yards in ten plays as Antonio Brown capped the drive with his first touchdown from eight yards out with 8:46 left in the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
The Mules used a 21 yard punt return to set themselves up at the Hornets 36 yard line with 12:14 left in the half. Four plays later UCM tied the score on a Marquel McNac 12 yard run. After the teams traded the next four possessions, Emporia State retook the lead on a 32 yard field goal from Austin Morton with 1:52 left in the half. The Mules would drive down to the Hornet 23 but Gary Woods II ended the threat with an interception at the two yard line.
REGULAR HALF TIME
Last year's game between the two featured the longest halftime in college football history as a thunderstorm postponed the second half from a Thursday night to a Saturday afternoon. After a regular 20 minute half this year, the Hornets forced the Mules into a three and out. Emporia State put together a 13 play, 62 yard drive after the punt and Marstall found Landon Nault for 12 yard touchdown pass and a 17-7 Hornet lead with 9:57 left in the third.
FOURTH QUARTER EXCITEMENT
The Hornets had the ball to start the final quarter when Monteze Latimore intercepted Marstall and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown that pulled the Mules within 17-14. After a three and out by the Hornets, Jaylen Zachery returned the punt 38 yards down to the Hornet 45 yard line. Garrett Fugate connected with Zachery for a four yard touchdown pass that gave the Mules their first lead of the game at 21-17 with 9:28 left. The Hornets were forced to punt with 6:56 left and the Mules took over at their own 36 yard line, looking to use up the clock.
FINAL THREE MINUTES
Central Missouri drove down to the Hornet four yard line and were facing third and two when Fugate was intercepted by Kole Schankie. He returned his third interception in three games to the Hornet 49 yard line. Emporia State started with 2:46 left and only one time out needing to score a touchdown. Instead of passing the ball, the Hornets ran it on six of seven plays with Marstall picking up 20 yards on second and nine form the 21 with 39 seconds left. Antonio Brown bulled his way in from one yard out on the next play to give the Hornets a 24-21 lead with :36 remaining. McNac returned the squib kick 28 yards to the UCM 38 yard line where the Mules started with 29 seconds left. Fugate threw three straight completions to bring the Mules down to the Hornet 17 yard line. With no timeouts left, the Mules elected to kick the field goal and Billy Greco connected from 34 yards out to tie the score with seven seconds left.
FREE FOOTBALL
The Hornets had the ball first in the overtime and eight plays to go the 25 yards for the score. Marstall converted a fourth and one with his legs from the 16 yard line and then found Jordan Jackson for 14 yards on a third and 11. He then scored on a two yard rush to give the Hornets a 31-24 lead. While it took the Hornets eight plays to score, Fugate found Seth Hebert for 25 yards on the first play for the Mules to send the teams to a second overtime tied at 31.
The Mules had the fall first in the second extra frame. They drove down to the Hornet eight when Fugate's pass was tipped by Tre Dickerson and intercepted in the endzone by MJ Mathis. Only needing a field goal to win, Landon Nault gained five yards on first down and then Marstall found Mitchell Foote across the middle for a 20 yard touchdown that gave Emporia State their first win in Warrensburg since 1998.
THE NUMBERS
Antonio Brown had 99 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Marstall was 27 of 39 for 233 yards and two touchdowns and added 49 yards on 14 rushes. Eight different receivers caught a pass with Justin Brown hauling in eight for 30 yards and Jordan Reed catching three for a team high 52 yards.
Defensively Kole Schankie, DeAndre Glover and JP Lohrentz all had seven tackles. Schankie, Woods and Mathis each had an interception while Brandon Goodman forced a fumble that was recovered by Te'Vaun Ammons.
As a team the Hornets had 443 yards on 97 plays while UCM had 486 yards on 84 plays. Emporia State again won the turnover battle with four takeaways to three turnovers.
ODDS AND ENDS
This was the first overtime game for Emporia State since a 42-35 win in double overtime at Northeastern State in 2014. It was just the second overtime game between the Hornets and Mules and the first since a 40-34 UCM win in two overtimes in 2001.
UP NEXT
The Hornets return to Jones Field at Welch Stadium on October 1 to take on Central Oklahoma. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
