EMPORIA STATE TO HOST MISSOURI WESTERN ON HOMECOMING

Game #10
Emporia State Hornets (4-5, 4-5 MIAA)
vs. Missouri Western Griffons (4-5, 4-5 MIAA)
 Saturday, Nov. 4 at 2:00 p.m. • Jones Field at Welch Stadium  • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: MWSU leads 24-15 Current Streak: ESU 4 wins
Last Meeting: ESU 27, at MWSU 14 (Nov. 5, 2016)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 1:00 p.m. TV: None
Internet (Audio): www.kvoe.com Internet (Video): themiaanetwork.com
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Officials: Announced on Game Day
Up Next: vs. Washburn • Saturday, November 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Jones Field at Welch Stadium • Emporia, Kan.

NOVEMBER HOMECOMING  
Emporia State returns to Jones Field at Welch Stadium for their final two games, starting with a Homecoming match-up with Missouri Western.

LAST TIME OUT
Playing without starting quarterback Braxton Marstall, Emporia State was held to 223 yards of offense in a 34-7 loss to #7 Ft. Hays State on Saturday at Lewis Field Stadium.
The Tigers forced a three and out on the Hornets first series.  Ten plays later Jacob Mezera connected with J.J. Lewis for an eight yard touchdown pass and 7-0 Tiger lead. The Tigers were able to get a 41 yard field goal from Brandon Brown to go up 10-0 with 8:37 left in the half.  The Tigers went 76 yards in 12 plays before the Hornet defense forced another 32 yard field goal from Brown to make it 13-0 FHSU at the break.
The Tigers took just three plays to go up 20-0 on a 68 yard pass from Mezera to Tyler Bacon with 13:41 left in the third quarter. FHSU then went on a four play, 93 yard drive and took a 27-0 lead with 10:33 left on Mezera's 25 yard pass to Kenneth Iheme. Charles Tigner scored on a two yard run with 11:47 left in the game to cap an 11 play, 99 yard drive that took 5:49 off the clock. Emporia State got on the board when Kai Callins scored on a one yard run with 5:24 left for the final score.
T'Quan Wallace was 15 of 28 for 118 yards and an interception.  Justin Brown had a team high five receptions for 66 yards. Tre'Vaun Ammons had nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks to lead the Hornet defense while Gabe Cleveland had a team high 11 tackles.

THE COACHES
Garin Higgins has a career record of 119-66 in his 16th season as a head coach. He is 68-57 in his 11th season at his alma mater and is 59-33 since the start of the 2010 season. He led the Hornets to the NCAA Playoffs in three of the last four years with a national semifinal appearance 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 4-6 against Missouri Western.
Matt Williamson is 4-5 in his first year at Missouri Western. This is his first meeting with Emporia State.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 4-5 overall. The Hornets are third in the MIAA in passing offense and are fourth in total offense. Braxton Marstall, who is expected back after missing the Ft. Hays State game with an injury, is ranked fifth in the nation in total offense and ninth in passing offense. Gabe Cleveland is averaging 11.8 tackles per game to lead the MIAA and rank seventh in the nation. Tre'Vaun Ammons leads the MIAA with 15.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the season.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is 4-5 on the season. They are leading the MIAA and ranked 20th in the nation in rushing offense, although their leading rusher Josh Caldwell was dismissed from the team last week. They are 12th in the MIAA in passing and have used three quarterbacks this season. Darrian Bass is tied with Ammons for the MIAA lead in sacks with 6.5 on the year. Nate Iloilo is second in the nation with three blocked kicks.

THE SERIES
This is the 40th meeting between the schools with Missouri Western holding a 24-15 advantage. The Hornets have won four straight since the two teams met in a regionally televised, Thursday night top 25 match up from Jones Field at Welch Stadium in 2012.

LAST TIME OUT VS. MO. WESTERN
Braxton Marstall led #9 Emporia State to another fourth quarter win as Emporia State defeated Missouri Western 27-14 in St. Joseph, Mo.
Missouri Western took a 14-3 lead with 12:49 left in the half before Emporia State scored 24 straight points.
Marstall was 33 of 52 for 359 yards with three touchdowns for the Hornets. Mitchell Foote had ten catches for 118 yards and a touchdown while Justin Brown had 102 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions.  

UP NEXT
The Hornets will wrap up the regular season on November 11 against Washburn. It will be Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day from Jones Field at Welch Stadium. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m.

CONNECTIONS
The Hornets and Griffons have several connections beyond sharing black and gold as their school colors. The Hornet baseball team and Lady Hornet basketball team each won national championships in St. Joseph, Mo. during tournaments hosted by Missouri Western. Missouri Western offensive coordinator Chet Pobolish graduated from Emporia State in 2000 and is fourth on Emporia State's career receptions and all-purpose yardage list. He served as an assistant coach with the Hornets from 1999-2006. Griffon athletic trainer Blaise Kriley is a 2009 Emporia State graduate and served as head athletic trainer for the Hornets from 2010-13. Nate Gray is the Director of Athletic Bands at Missouri Western after serving in the same capacity at Emporia State.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
The Hornets are 3-4 in their seven NCAA playoff games over four trips to the Division II playoffs and have won three of their last five playoff games. Emporia State and Northwest Missouri are the only MIAA teams to have won playoff games in back to back years since Pittsburg State did it in 2004 and 2005.

BEST IN THE STATE  
Emporia State was named the Best College Football Team in the state of Kansas over the last five years by HeroSports. The survey took winning percentage, playoff appearances, conference championships, bowl games and national player and coach of the year awards.  The Hornets have a .738 winning percentage and three playoff appearances, highlighted by a Regional Championship game in 2015. ESU has finished second in the MIAA in four of the last five years to Northwest Missouri, the top team in Missouri, however only conference championships count in the Hero Sports scoring.

FIRST FIVE YEARS VS. LAST FIVE YEARS
Emporia State was 15-34 under head coach Garin Higgins and trailing Missouri Southern 17-0 at the midway point of the 2011 season. Emporia State came back to win 31-24 and have gone 53-22 since then. Of the 22 losses, 12 have been to teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 at the time with eight of the losses to Northwest Missouri. In Emporia State's first 50 games under Coach Higgins, the Hornets averaged 19.46 points per game while giving up 29.46 points per game. In the 72 games since then Emporia State is averaging 34.18 points while giving up just 24.49 points per game.

OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE
The Hornets have gone 13-2 in non-conference games under Garin Higgins and are 24-7 outside the MIAA in the 21st century. Since joining the MIAA, ESU is 33-12 in non-conference games and has lost only three games to unranked non-conference D-II opponents since 1996.  

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 eight national championships and had a representative in 15 of 26 national championship games.  The MIAA has been represented in ten of the last 13 national championship games.  In that time the MIAA is 42-15 in the NCAA Playoffs and 12-7 in bowl games for a combined post season record of 54-22 against non-conference opponents. Emporia State is the sixth MIAA team to win multiple NCAA Playoff games. The Hornets join Northwest Missouri (1996-99, 2002, 2004-11, 2013, 2015-16), Pittsburg State (1989-92, 1995, 2001, 2004-05, 2011), Missouri Western (2012), and Central Missouri (2010) as MIAA teams that have reached the quarterfinals.  Emporia State's game at Northwest Missouri was the first all MIAA regional final since 2011 and the fifth of all-time.  Six different MIAA schools have advanced to the NCAA Playoffs and won a game since 2010 while seven current member institutions have represented the league in the NCAA Playoffs.  Counting their time in other conferences ten of the current 12 MIAA football playing schools have been NCAA Division II Playoff participants.
All MIAA NCAA Divison II Quarterfinals
2015    at Northwest Mo. 38, Emporia State 17    
2011    at Pittsburg State 41, Northwest Mo. 16
2010    at Northwest Mo. 37, Central Mo. 20    
2005    Northwest Mo. 21, at Pittsburg State 10
2004    at Pittsburg State 50, Northwest Mo. 36

YOU HAVE TO SCORE TO WIN
The Hornets are 54-10 under coach Higgins when scoring 28 or more points with a 49-5 record in their last 54 games in which they have scored at least 28 points. Emporia State has won 18 games when allowing their opponents 28 or more points under coach Higgins, but the Hornets have only won 14 games when they have scored less than 28 points. The Hornets have averaged 40.6 points per game in their 38 wins and 19.4 points in their 19 losses since Emporia State last posted a shutout - a 13-0 win over Lindenwood in 2012. The 53-52 loss at Central Oklahoma is the first time in school history the Hornets have scored 50 points in regulation and lost a game.  Emporia State fell 59-57 in four overtimes to Pittsburg State in 2006.

RIDING SCHOOL
Quarterback Braxton Marstall (Jr./Emporia, Kan.) was named a preseason All-American by Lindy's and Street & Smith's Magazines and was named the Preseason National Offensive Player of the Year by Street & Smith's. He is 16-7 as a starter for the Hornets in his career.
He leads the MIAA in completions per game, is second in passing touchdowns and passing yards per game, third in passing efficiency, total passing yards, total offense, points responsible for and completion percentage, and is fifth in yards per completion. He is ranked fifth in the nation in total offense, sixth in completions per game, ninth in passing yards per game, 13th in total passing yards, 16th in touchdown passes, 27th in completion percentage, 31st in points responsible for, and 32nd in passing efficiency, .
He is probable for the MWSU game after missing the Ft. Hays State game. He was 17 of 28 for 128 yards with a touchdown and had a career high 79 rushing yards on 15 carries against Pittsburg State. He earned his second MIAA Offensive Player of the Week award when he went 36 of 61 for 421 yards and three touchdown at Lindenwood along with 50 rushing yards. He became the first Hornet ever to have three 400 yard passing games in a season. It was his sixth straight multiple touchdown game and fifth 300+ yard passing game of the season. He went 21 of 30 for 315 yards and three touchdowns against Northeastern State. He was 27 of 42 for 429 yards with five touchdown passes and added 37 rushing yards at Central Oklahoma.  He went 28 of 39 for 344 yards with two touchdowns against Central Missouri and added 29 rushing yards. He was 24 of 39 for 235 yards with two touchdowns and added 50 rushing yards at Missouri Southern. He was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week after going 30 of 36 for 435 yards with four touchdowns against Neb.-Kearney. He was 13 of 28 for 135 yards passing and added 26 rushing yards on ten carries at Northwest Missouri.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection last season. He was ranked sixth in the nation in total passing yards, eighth in completions per game and completion percentage, ninth in points responsible for, 11th in total offense and 13th in passing touchdowns. He led the MIAA in completions and total offense yards, was second in passing touchdowns and completion percentage, third in total passing yards, and fourth in passing efficiency. He was the only player in the MIAA with at least 3000 passing yards and at least 500 rushing yards.
His 327 passing yards at Northwest Missouri in the NCAA Playoffs were the most passing yards allowed by the Bearcats since 2014. He had the fifth best passing day in MIAA history in the first round against Minn.-Duluth with 481 yards on 26 of 39 passing with five touchdowns. He was 16 of 28 for 180 yards with three touchdowns and added a team high 50 yards rushing at Washburn. He was named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week after passing for 359 yards on 33 of 52 passing with three touchdowns at Missouri Western. He was 16 of 26 for 202 yards with three touchdowns passing and added 49 yards on 13 rushes against Ft. Hays State. He was 28 of 37 for 321 yards with a touchdown and had 18 carries for 73 yards and two rushing touchdowns at Pittsburg State. He was the first Hornet quarterback to have back to back games with multiple rushing touchdowns since Mike Burch in 1989. He led the Hornets to a fourth quarter win for the second time in four games against Lindenwood.  He had a career high 39 completions against the Lions for 317 yards and a touchdown.  He added 49 yards rushing and two scores on the ground. He was 22 of 31 for 211 yards at Northeastern State and added 64 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 14 carries. 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 the fourth quarter comeback. He was 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 redshirted in 2015 after playing as a 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 is second in single season total offense at Emporia State with 4,120 yards, and ranks third in passing with 3,599 yards and touchdown passes for the Hornets with 31 last year and is currently eighth on the single season list this year with 2,442 yards. He is third on the Emporia State career list with 54 touchdown passes and ranks fourth at Emporia State with 6,418 career passing yards and third with 7,189 yards of career total offense. He is ranked fourth among active D2 players in total offensive plays per game, fifth in career completion percentage, sixth in completions per game, ninth in total offense per game and passing yards per game, and 22nd in total touchdown passes.
He only played two games as a senior at Emporia HS due to a collarbone injury, yet still earned All-Centennial League honors after being named honorable mention All-State as a junior. He threw for over 4,000 yards with 43 touchdowns and only nine interceptions in his career with the Spartans.

MR. WALLACE
Quarterback T'Quan Wallace (So./Oklahoma City, Okla.) went 15 of 28 for 118 yards in relief against Ft. Hays State. He was four for four for 32 yards when forced into action against Pitt State in the fourth quarter. He had an 18 yard rush against Northeastern State and went one for four for minus two yards.
He saw his first regular season action in the fourth quarter last year at Northeastern State.
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.

LEGACY
Running back Ricky Van Weezel (So./Burleson, Texas) has not played the last three games, but did suit up for Ft. Hays State and is probable for Missouri Western. He had 32 yards on six rushes with his first career touchdown against Northeastern State. He gained 29 yards on six carries at Missouri Southern. He had ten carries for 15 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He had 35 yards on five carries with a career high 32 yard gain at Northwest Missouri.
He saw his first action for the Hornets against Missouri Southern last season. He red-shirted at Memphis in 2015 after gaining 1,276 yards on 156 carries with eight touchdowns as a senior for Centennial HS. His father Rick Van Weezel was a running back/kicker for the Hornets from 1987-90.

THE LOHR OF THE LAND
Dillon Lohr (So./Midwest City, Okla.) is in his third year with the Hornets and has played multiple positions. He had one carry for four yards and two punt returns for a total of 30 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had six carries for 30 yards and scored his first career touchdown at Lindenwood. He moved to running back prior to the Northeastern State game. He had three rushes for two yards as a running back against Northeastern State. He moved from defensive back to receiver against Central Missouri and was targeted once against the Mules. He had one tackle at Northwest Missouri.
He had three kick returns with a long of 27 yards against Minn.-Duluth last year. He had a pass break up at Washburn. He had a career high four tackles against Ft. Hays State. He had a 17 yard kickoff return at Pittsburg State. He had a kickoff return of 21 yards against Lindenwood. He was credited with one tackle at Northeastern State.
He was an all-state and all-city performer and district offensive player of the year for Carl Albert HS. He had 172 carries for 1,299 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior but was a two star recruit by scout.com at defensive back and started his Hornet career on defense.

JUST IN CASE
Receiver Justin Brown (Jr./El Reno, Okla.) is ranked second in the MIAA in receptions, is third in receiving yards and fifth in touchdown receptions. He is eighth in the nation in receptions per game and 23rd in receiving yards.
He caught five passes for 66 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had 110 yards on nine catches against Pittsburg State. He became the first Hornet since Austin Willis in 2013 to have three straight 100 yard receiving games. He had a career high 16 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown at Lindenwood. He caught six passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns against Northeastern State. He had six receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown at Northeastern State with five of the six catches resulting in either a first down or touchdown. He had a career high 14 catches for 152 yards against Central Missouri with a touchdown. He caught three passes for 22 yards at Missouri Southern. He had eight catches for 92 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He had three catches for 16 yards at Northwest Missouri in the season opener.
He was named second-team All-MIAA last season. He was second in the MIAA in receptions per game, sixth in touchdown receptions and ninth in total receiving yards last year. He had eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He caught four passes for 70 yards against Minn.-Duluth in the first round of the playoffs. He had two catches for 35 yards with a touchdown at Washburn. He had 102 yards and two touchdowns on nine catches at Missouri Western. He had three catches for 47 yards with a long of 35 yards against Ft. Hays State. He had five catches for 40 yards at Pittsburg State. He had his second straight ten catch day with ten receptions for 75 yards against Lindenwood. 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 caught seven passes for 89 yards and a touchdown at Nebraska-Kearney.
He had four touchdowns and averaged 89.0 yards per game over the first three games of 2015. He had seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown at Central Oklahoma before he was lost for the season when he broke his leg and was awarded a medical redshirt. 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 he had four of his 14 catches go for touchdowns. He had a then 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.
He has 1,967 yards and 22 touchdowns on 176 receptions in his 34 career games.
He was an All-State wide receiver and defensive back for El Reno HS. He scored a total of 22 touchdowns by receiving, rushing, kickoff return, punt return and interception return his senior year.

THE DAILEY SHOW
Receiver Louis Dailey (Sr./Grand Prairie, Texas) is fourth in the MIAA and 37th in the nation with seven touchdown receptions. He is ninth in the league in receiving yards per game and 11th in receptions per game.
He did not catch a pass at Ft. Hays State. He had three catches for 15 yards with a touchdown against Pittsburg State. He had five catches for 103 yards including a 72 yarder on the first play of the game at Lindenwood. He missed the Northeastern State game due to a death in his family. He had career highs of ten catches for 176 yards and three touchdowns at Central Oklahoma, including a career best 75 yard touchdown catch. He caught three passes for 57 yards against Central Missouri. He had three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown at Missouri Southern. He scored on a 61 yard touchdown on the second play of the game on his way to a six catch, 119 yard, two touchdown performance against Neb.-Kearney. He had one catch for 14 yards at Northwest Missouri.
He caught three passes for 61 yards and a touchdown against Northwest Missouri in the NCAA Playoffs. He had a career high 135 yards on six receptions with two touchdowns against Minn.-Duluth. He now has four receptions of over 45 yards on the year. He caught four passes for 42 yards at Washburn. He had three catches for 20 yards at Missouri Western. He caught two passes including a ten yard touchdown against Ft. Hays State. He had a then career high seven catches for 75 yards at Pittsburg State. He had four receptions for 53 yards at Northeastern State. He had three catches for 20 yards against Missouri Southern. His first reception as a Hornet was a 49 yard touchdown pass at Neb.-Kearney.  
He had 36 receptions for 502 yards with six touchdowns in 2014 for Kilgore CC.

THE TIME
Receiver Morris Williams II (Sr./Nashville, Tenn.) had two catches for 15 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had a rush of 33 yards against Pittsburg State. He had four catches for 23 yards against Northeastern State. He had two rushes for 22 yards and one catch for ten yards at Central Oklahoma. He returned to the lineup against Central Missouri after missing the first three games with a shoulder injury. He had one catch for four yards against the Mules.
He had two receptions for 28 yards at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had 134 yards on four catches with two touchdowns against Minn.-Duluth in the first round. He had five catches for 50 yards with a 38 yard touchdown grab against Ft. Hays State. He had three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown and added 51 yards on four rushes with a touchdown at Pitt State. He had four catches for 13 yards against Lindenwood after missing the Northeastern State game with an injury. He hauled in a 16 yard reception against Central Okla. 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 Mo. Southern.
He was third in the MIAA in receiving touchdowns, fifth in total receiving yards and 20th in yards per catch in 2015 and averaged 118.3 receiving yards in the playoffs. He had four touchdown catches of over 50 yards as a sophomore - 68 yards at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs, 73 yards at Minnesota State, 51 yards against Neb.-Kearney and 80 yards against Northeastern State.  He had a season high 191 yards on ten catches at Northwest Missouri in the regional final. He had 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 four catches for 45 yards against Washburn. He had five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown at Lindenwood. He had four catches for 147 yards against Northeastern State. His 80 yard touchdown reception against the RiverHawks was the fourth longest in the MIAA that season and the longest by a Hornet receiver since 2012. He had 28 yards on four receptions at Central Oklahoma. He had a 39 yard reception at Missouri Southern.
He has 97 catches for 1,322 yards and 12 touchdowns in 32 career games for the Hornets.

OVER THE MIDDLE
Receiver Jordan Reed (Jr./Edmond, Okla.) had three catches for 18 yards against Pittsburg State. He caught four passes for 76 yards and added a 27 yard rush at Lindenwood. He had four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown against Northeastern State. He had five catches for 77 yards with a touchdown at Missouri Southern. He had three receptions for 13 yards against Neb.-Kearney.
He had 52 yards on three receptions at Central Missouri last year. 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 in 2015. He took off his redshirt and had a 16 yard reception against Northeastern State in his first game.
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. He is also a member of the Hornet track & field team and was a national qualifier as a member of the outdoor 4x100m relay.

SIMPLE AS A-B-C 1-2-3
Receiver Jordan Jackson (Jr./Bonner Springs, Kan.) caught two passes for 16 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had three receptions for 15 yards against Pittsburg State. He caught two passes for 20 yards against Northeatern State. He had two catches for 31 yards against Central Mo. He had two catches for 53 yards with a 34 yard touchdown against Neb.-Kearney.
He had six catches for 60 yards at Northeastern State last year. He caught passes for 41 yards at Central Missouri. He caught one pass for four yards against Northwest Missouri in the season opener.
Two of his five catches in 2015 went for touchdowns. He had three catches for 40 yards with a 24 yard touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. 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.

PROFITABLE
Receiver Carson Proffitt (Jr./Lewisville, Texas) had one reception for 18 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had an 11 yard catch at Lindenwood. He had two catches for 11 yards at Central Oklahoma. He caught two passes for 22 yards against Central Missouri. He had three catches for 61 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He had a career best 31 yard reception on a one handed catch along the sideline at Northwest Missouri.
He had a 12 yard catch against Minn.-Duluth and pulled in a 17 yard pass at Northeastern State last year. He is averaging 14.2 yards per catch in 26 career games with the Hornets.
He was a two-time All-District pick at quarterback for Hebron HS.

DEEP IMPACT
Receiver Tyler Harris (Jr.-TR/Andover, Kan.) had two catches for 26 yards at Lindenwood. He had a 19 yard reception against Northeastern State. He had a 25 yard reception against Central Missouri. He had two catches for 21 yards and ran for a six yard touchdown at Missouri Southern. He caught two passes for 22 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He had two catches for 33 yards including a 26 yarder on the first play of the game at Northwest Missouri.
He had 17 catches for 234 yards and a touchdown last season at Hutchinson CC. He was an all-state performer for Andover Central HS in 2014 after getting 37 receptions for 980 yards and 12 touchdowns.   

ON THE SURFACE
Receiver Seth Surface (So./Perry, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets. He was a first-team All-Big 7 Conference performer at quarterback for Perry -Lecompton HS. He had over 2100 yards of total offense and 26 total touchdowns as a senior.   

STRONG ENOUGH
S-back Denzel Strong (Jr./Independence, Mo.) had two catches for 12 yards and a touchdown at Lindenwood. He had a career best 81 yard catch and run at Central Oklahoma. He had two catches for 22 yards against Central Missouri. He had 61 yards on five receptions at Missouri Southern. He had three catches for 28 yards against Neb.-Kearney.
He was 22nd in the MIAA in yards per carry among players with at least 50 rushes last season.  He had a 16 yard catch at Missouri Western. He had 11 carries for 39 yards against Ft. Hays State. He gained 62 yards on eight carries with a touchdown against Lindenwood. He had 42 yards on four receptions against Central Oklahoma. He ran for 27 yards on eight carries with a touchdown and added three catches for 23 yards at Neb.-Kearney.
He was 21st in the league in total rushing with 406 yards as a freshman in 2015.  He had 13 carries for 41 yards against Neb.-Kearney. 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 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.
He redshirted one season at Hutchinson CC. He had over 1300 yards at Van Horn HS.

DRAGON HUNTER
Receiver Jaylon Raydel (Jr./Gardner, Kan.) has moved to S-Back for the FHSU game. He caught two passes for 19 yards against Northeastern State. He had one catch for nine yards against Neb.-Kearney. He sat out last season with an injury. He played in 11 games as a red-shirt freshman in 2014 with five catches for 19 yards.
He was a first-team All-State selection for Gardner-Edgerton HS and was a two-time All-Eastern Kansas League pick.

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
Tight end Trenton Ball (Jr./Midwest City, Okla.) had a five yard reception on a fake field goal at Northwest Missouri to open the season.
He had one reception for two yards at Henderson State in the 2015 playoffs. He had an 18 yard reception against Missouri Western.
He was rated a three star recruit by ESPN.com and listed as the #21 tight end prospect in the country at Carl Albert HS.

NICK OF TIME
Tight end Nick Oliver (Jr./Overland Park, Kan.) missed the Ft. Hays State with a shoulder injury and is questionable for Missouri Western. He had a 14 yard reception at Lindenwood. He has played in four games this season.
He had his first reception last season against Lindenwood, a five yarder that was good for a first down. He had a career long 18 yard reception at Henderson State in the 2015 playoffs. 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.

SPIDERMAN
Tackle Estevan Arana (So./Enid, Okla.) earned his second straight Squarehead Award against Pittsburg State and his third of the season He was also the Squarehead winner at Lindenwood. He was named the Squarehead Award winner at Missouri Southern.
He was named honorable mention All-MIAA last year. He missed two games with an ankle injury before returning to the starting lineup against Washburn. He was named the Squarehead Award winner at Central Missouri. He saw his first action for the Hornets against Northwest Missouri after redshirting in 2015.
He was a three-year letterwinner for Enid HS and earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors on the offensive line.

BUILDING BRICKS
Center Jake Warehime (Sr./Choctaw, Okla.) had started 35 straight games at center before missing the Ft. Hays State with an ankle injury. He is doubtful for Missouri Western. He was the Squarehead Award winner against Northeastern State.
He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Northwest Missouri to start 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 in 2015.  
He was an All-District selection for Del City HS with over 300 knockdowns in his career.

THE WEIRDNESS
Guard Thomas O'Grady (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) was named Squarehead Award winner against Northwest Missouri.
He played in ten games as a junior last season. He missed three games with an ankle injury before returning to action against Lindenwood. He saw action in all 14 games as a sophomore.
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.

GREAT DANE
Tackle Dane Riley (Sr./Azle, Texas) was named the Squarehead Award winner in back to back weeks - at Central Oklahoma and against Central Missouri.
He earned Squarehead Award honors against Washburn last season. He 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.
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 (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) returned to the lineup against Central Missouri after missing the Missouri Southern game with a knee injury.
He missed two games early with a back injury but returned to action at Central Missouri last year.
He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Washburn in 2015. He got his first career start against Missouri Western.
He was a first-team All-Centennial League pick, helping Seaman HS reach the 5A playoffs as a senior.

BIG STEVE
Tackle Steve Williams (So./St. Louis, Mo.) earned the Squarehead Award winner against Ft. Hays State. He was named the Squarehead Award winner for the Neb.-Kearney game in his first start of the season.
He returned to Emporia State after sitting out last season. He played in 12 games with seven starts as a true freshman for the Hornets in 2015.
He was a first-team all-conference performer on the O-line for Clayton HS and a four-year letter winner.

PLAY RIGHT AWAY
Guard Austin Unterreiner (So./O'Fallon, Mo.) got his first career start at Missouri Southern this year.
He moved into the offensive line rotation as a true freshman last year.  He played much of the second half at Pittsburg State at right tackle.
He was a first-team all-conference and second-team all-district performer for Francis Howell HS.

LILLICH OF THE FIELD
Tackle Andrew Lillich (Jr./Basehor, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets. He transferred to Emporia State after redshirting at Butler CC.  He was a first-team All-Kaw Valley League pick for Basehor-Linwood HS.

IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Center Joe Pomatto (Sr./Paola, Kan) got his first career start at Ft. Hays State. He was in on the final series against Pittsburg State. He played most of the fourth quarter at Missouri Southern this year.
He saw action in eight games last year. He missed the first four games of 2015 with an injury. He returned to action against Lindenwood.
He is in his fifth 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.

INTO THE VALLEY
Guard Braden Janzen (Jr./Valley Center, Kan) is in his fourth year with the Hornets.
He was a first-team All-ArkValley/Chisholm Trail League performer for Valley Center HS.

ON THE DEFENSE
Since 2012, the Hornets are the only team in the country to force at least 25 turnovers each season but had just three take aways in the first five games this season before getting two interceptions against Northeastern State. They had two interceptions against Pittsburg State and are currently ranked 85th in the nation in turnover margin after finishing fifth nationally last year.

CLEVELAND ROCKS
Linebacker Gabe Cleveland (Sr./Eudora, Kan.) leads the MIAA and is ranked seventh in the nation with 11.8 total tackles per game, is fourth in the nation with 7.3 solo tackles per game and ranks eighth in the MIAA with 1.0 tackles for loss per game.
He had 11 tackles, nine of them solo, at Ft. Hays State. He had two interceptions and 11 tackles against Pittsburg State along with a tackle for loss. He had 12 stops at Lindenwood and was credited with half a sack. He had five tackles in three quarters against Northeastern State. He was credited with 12 tackles at Central Oklahoma, his fifth straight game with double figure tackles dating back to last season. He had 13 total tackles, six of them solo against Central Missouri. He missed the Missouri Southern game with a hand injury. He was credited with 13 total tackles, 12 of them unassisted against Neb.-Kearney. He had five solo and 14 assists at Northwest Missouri and averages 12.3 tackles per game against the Bearcats.
He had 66 tackles last season, including a career high 13 stops at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He averaged 9.0 tackles per game over the final five games of the season. He had six tackles, an interception and a pass break up against Minn.-Duluth. He was credited with 11 tackles, two for a loss, 1.5 sacks, forced and recovered a fumble against Washburn. He had a team high nine tackles and 1.5 TFL at Missouri Western. He had six solo tackles against Ft. Hays State. He had five tackles, including an assist behind the line of scrimmage against Lindenwood. He 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.
He had three tackles at Henderson State in the 2015 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.
He was a first-team All-Class 4A selection for Eudora HS and a two-time first-team All-Frontier League pick.

BRING THE WOOD
Gary Woods II (So./Oklahoma City, Okla.) had eight tackles with a six yard tackle for loss at Ft. Hays State. He was credited with five tackles against Pittsburg State. He had six tackles with a sack part of a tackle for loss against Northeastern State. He recorded eight tackles at Central Oklahoma, in his first start at nickel backer after beginning season at safety. He had eight tackles, including one for a loss against Central Missouri from his safety position. He was credited with seven tackles, a forced fumble and a pass break up at Missouri Southern. He had five tackles and a pass break up against Neb.-Kearney. He recorded five tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He was tied for 21st in the MIAA in interceptions last season. He had five tackles with an assisted tackle for loss at Pittsburg State. He had six tackles against Lindenwood. He had an interception at Northeastern State. He 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 tackles, one tackle for loss and a pass break up against Missouri Southern.
He was a two-time all-Southwest Prep Conference (includes schools from Oklahoma and Texas) selection at Casady Prep School 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.

MEYER-BRIGGS
Linebacker Luke Meyer (Jr./Wellsville, Kan.) had eight tackles at Ft. Hays State. He is averaging 7.4 tackles per game over the last five games. He was credited with a career high 12 tackles, ten of them solo against Pittsburg State. He had a career high eight tackles, a fumble recovery, a pass break up and a quarterback hurry at Lindenwood. He had three tackles with one for a loss against Northeastern State. He had six tackles at Central Oklahoma. He started against Central Missouri and had three tackles with an assisted tackle for loss. He had two assists at Missouri Southern. He was credited with two tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He was a three year starter at linebacker for Wellsville HS and had 96 tackles with three forced fumbles and 7.5 tackles for loss as a senior in 2013.

LOGAN'S RUN
Linebacker Logan Thompson (Jr./Sedgwick, Kan.) had three tackles at Ft. Hays State. He was credited with four tackles, a pass break up and a quarterback hurry against Northeastern State. He had four tackles and a pass break up against Central Missouri. He was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after his interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference at Missouri Southern. He finished with nine tackles against the Lions. He was awarded the Big Stick in the first two games. He had five tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with seven tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He was credited with seven tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery that he took 15 yards before pitching it to AJ West who went the final 35 yards for a touchdown against Minn.-Duluth. He had an assisted tackle behind the line of scrimmage on fourth and one at Washburn. He had five tackles at Missouri Western. He tied his career high with seven tackles and added a pass break up and quarterback hurry against Ft. Hays State. He had a then career high seven tackles and forced a fumble at Pittsburg State. He had one solo tackle against Lindenwood. He had a tackle for loss at Northeastern State. He returned to action against Central Okla. after he missed the previous two games with an ankle injury. He had a solo tackle at Neb.-Kearney.
He played in five games for Kansas State before transferring to Emporia State in the spring of 2016.
He was named a First Team All-Kansas 4A linebacker as he helped Sedgwick HS earn back-to-back league 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.

THREE SHEETS
Linebacker Orlando Sheets (Jr./Oklahoma City, Okla.) had a pass break up against Northeastern State. He was credited with one tackle at Central Oklahoma. He had seven tackles against Central Missouri. He was credited with a solo and assisted tackle at Missouri Southern, both behind the line of scrimmage. He had six tackles and a fumble recovery against Neb.-Kearney. He recorded five tackles and had a solo sack  that led to a punt at Northwest Missouri.
He played in ten games last season for the Hornets, recording three tackles on special teams.  
He was a Class 5A Oklahoma All-Star Team linebacker for Del City HS. He had 78 tackles including six sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior.

REMINGTON STEELE
Linebacker Remington Whitley (Sr./Olathe, Kan.) had two solo tackles against Northeastern State. He recorded five tackles against Central Missouri. He started and had seven tackles with a pass break up and quarterback hurry at Missouri Southern. He had three stops against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with five tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He had three tackles against Minn.-Duluth. He was credited with four tackles at Northeastern State. He led Emporia State with nine tackles against Mo. 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 opener.
He had two tackles against Northwest Missouri in the 2015 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 and had four stops against Mo. Southern.
He was named First-Team All-Sunflower League, earned Sunflower League Football Defensive Player of the Year honors and was honorable mention all-state as a senior for Olathe South HS.

IMMANUEL CAN
Linebacker Immanuel Cason (Jr./Junction City, Kan.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets. He was credited with a solo tackle and a quarterback hurry against Central Missouri. He had a solo tackle at Missouri Southern. He had two tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He played in ten games last season and was a key contributor on special teams.
He was an All-Class 6A performer for Junction City HS as a senior.

GET DOWN
Linebacker Jace McDown (Fr.-RS/Columbus, Kan.) was credited with one tackle at Central Oklahoma. He had one tackle at Missouri Southern. He had a solo tackle against Neb.-Kearney.  
He was a Kansas Top 11 pick and Offensive Player of the Year in Class 4A-II with 2,667 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns as he led Columbus HS to the Class 4A-II semifinals and an 11-1 record. He had 121 tackles as a senior and recorded 401 tackles on defense in his career.

THE FIRST DAY
Defensive end Tre'Vaun Ammons (So./Omaha, Neb.) is leading the MIAA in total sacks and tackles for loss and ranks 15th nationally at 1.7 TFL per game.
He had a career high nine tackles with 3.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks at Ft. Hays State. He was credited with six tackles, 2.5 TFL and a pass break up at Lindenwood. He had four tackles, 3.0 TFL and a sack against Northeastern State. He recorded three tackles at Central Oklahoma. He had four tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass break up against Central Missouri. He recorded six tackles, two quarterback hurries, a sack and forced fumble at Missouri Southern. He had four tackles, two for a loss and a sack against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles and a quarterback hurry at Northwest Missouri.
He was fourth in the MIAA with 7.0 sacks last season as a freshman. He was credited with five tackles and three pass break ups in the playoff game at Northwest Missouri. He had six tackles, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and blocked a punt against Minn.-Duluth. He was credited with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass break up and two quarterback hurries at Missouri Western. He had a sack and forced fumble against Ft. Hays State. He had five tackles including one for a loss at Pittsburg State. He had four tackles, half a sack and two quarterback hurries against Lindenwood. He had a sack and strip in the end zone at Northeastern State that resulted in a Hornet defensive touchdown. 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. 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 (Sr./Cottleville, Mo.) recorded two tackles and was credited with half a sack at Lindenwood. He had two quarterback hurries and a tackle against Northeastern State. He was credited with five tackles and a sack at Central Oklahoma. He had six tackles against Central Missouri. He recorded five tackles, two for a loss with a sack and a quarterback hurry at Missouri Southern. He recorded five tackles at Northwest Missouri in the season opener.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection and was tied for eighth in the MIAA with six sacks last season. He had four tackles at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He recorded five tackles with two of them being sacks against Minn.-Duluth. He had three tackles at Missouri Western with an assist behind the line of scrimmage. He had three tackles with one for a loss against Ft. Hays State. His one tackle at Pitt State was for a loss of four yards. He had three tackles, 1.5 sacks and a quarterback hurry against Lindenwood.  He had three tackles and recovered a fumble in the end zone at Northeastern State. 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 three tackles and a 16 yard fumble recovery at Minnesota State as a sophomore. 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) was credited with four tackles, including two assisted tackles for loss at Ft. Hays State. He had four tackles and two quarterback hurries against Pittsburg State. He recorded three tackles with an assisted tackle for loss at Lindenwood. He had three tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack and a quarterback hurry against Northeastern State. He recorded four tackles at Central Oklahoma. He had four tackles including an assisted tackle for loss against Central Missouri. He missed two games with a leg injury. .
He was credited with three tackles at Pittsburg State last season. He recorded three tackles at Northeastern State. He had two unassisted tackles against Central Oklahoma. He recorded two solo tackles at Central Missouri. He had two tackles against Northwest Missouri.
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.

ROCKY HORROR
Defensive lineman John Denton (Sr./Perry, Kan.) has played on both offense and defense in each of the last six games. He had two solo tackles at Ft. Hays State. He had three tackles against Pittsburg State in his first career start. He caught a 20 yard touchdown pass against Central Missouri in addition to playing a down lineman. He recorded a solo tackle against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles in his Hornet debut at Northwest Missouri.
He played tight end for UMass in 2014 before sitting out the last two seasons. He began his college career at Coffeyville CC. He played in 16 games as a blocking tight end for the Ravens with 128 receiving yards. He was an All-League performer for Perry-Lecompton HS.

STRENGTH FROM WITHIN
Defensive lineman Marek Thompson (Fr.-RS./Osceola, Mo.) had two tackles, one for a loss and knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage at Ft. Hays State. He had four tackles with two of them for a loss against Pittsburg State. He had two assisted tackles, one behind the line of scrimmage, at Lindenwood. He had three tackles against Central Missouri. He had two tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had four tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He was a two-time first-team All-State pick and unanimous selection as a senior. He was a Missouri state finalist for the Wendy's HS Heisman.

POWELL GARDEN
Defensive end Logan Powell (Jr./Gardner, Kan) had two tackles and a quarterback hurry against Northeastern State. He was credited with two tackles against Central Missouri. He had an assisted tackle, a fumble recovery and a blocked PAT at Missouri Southern. He had three tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry in his first career start at Northwest Missouri.
He had an assisted tackle at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had three tackles against Washburn.  He had a pass break up at Northeastern State.
As a red-shirt freshman he had a tackle and a pass break up against Washburn in 2015.
He was a second-team All-State performer for Gardner-Edgerton HS as a senior in 2013.

YOU'RE GONNA DO WHAT
Defensive lineman Ugonna Nwarie (Jr./Arlington, Texas) had a solo sack at Lindenwood. He recorded two tackles including a sack against Northeastern State. He had a solo sack at Central Oklahoma. He recorded a tackle and a quarterback hurry at Missouri Southern. He had three tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with two tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He was second in the MIAA and ranked 36th in the nation with two fumble recoveries last season. He had a tackle and a fumble recovery at Pitt State. He forced and recovered a fumble at Northeastern State. He had two tackles, one for a loss of three yards, against Mo. Southern.  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.

BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
Defensive lineman Dyllan Haworth (Fr.-RS/Weatherford, Okla.) recorded two solo tackles against Pittsburg State. He had two tackles against Northeastern State. He was credited with two assisted tackles in his Emporia State debut at Northwest Missouri.
He was a first-team Class 4A All-Star in Oklahoma on the offensive line for Weatherford HS

NO MAASE
Defensive lineman Jackson Maase (So./Overland Park, Kan.) was credited with a solo tackle against Central Missouri. He had one tackle at Northwest Missouri.
He played in four games last year and recorded a solo tackle against Minnesota Duluth in the playoffs.
He was named second-team All-Eastern Kansas League as a junior when he helped lead Blue Valley HS to the Class 5A State championship but missed several games as a senior due to an injury

HOWLING COMMANDO
Defensive lineman Patrick Dugan (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) had two tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had a solo tackle at Northwest Missouri.
He had seven tackles, five of them solo, with a sack and a fumble recovery in five games last year.
He transferred to Emporia State from Butler CC after earning First-Team All Class 5A honors from the Kansas Football Coaches Association as a senior at Bishop Carroll HS.

TOP DESIGN
Safety Marcus Houghton (Sr./McPherson, Kan) was a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American last year. He has already graduated with a 3.97 GPA and is working on his MBA.
He did not play at Ft. Hays State and is questionable against Missouri Western. He was credited with four tackles and a pass break up against Pittsburg State. He had three solo tackles at Lindenwood. He had six tackles, five of them solo, at Central Oklahoma. He was credited with seven tackles against Central Missouri. He had four tackles and a pass break up at Missouri Southern. He recorded three solo stops against Neb.-Kearney. He had five tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He had 26 tackles with a pass break up and a 49 yard fumble return last year. He was credited with five tackles at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had two tackles against Minn.-Duluth. He had three tackles at Missouri Western. 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.
He had 20 tackles while playing in all 14 games as a sophomore. He had five tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He recovered fumbles against Central Okla. 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.

SPEEDY
Cornerback A.J. West (Sr./Yukon, Okla.) had four solo tackles at Ft. Hays State. He recorded four tackles and two pass break ups at Lindenwood. He had two pass break ups against Northeastern State. He had four tackles against Central Missouri. He was credited with three tackles and blocked a PAT at Missouri Southern. He had five tackles and a pass break up against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles, a pass break up and blocked a field goal at Northwest Missouri in the season opener.
He earned second-team All-MIAA and All-Region honors last season after recording 44 tackles with an interception and three pass break ups. He had six tackles and took a lateral 35 yards for a touchdown after a fumble against Minn.-Duluth. He had three solo stops at Washburn. He had eight tackles and a pass break up at Pittsburg State. He had an interception and was credited with another pass break up at Northeastern State. He 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 had six tackles against Northwest Missouri with five of them solo.
He earned third-team All-MIAA honors as a sophomore when he tied for 21st in the MIAA in interceptions and had a total of four take aways. 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 was credited with seven tackles, six of them solo, with a tackle for loss at Lindenwood. 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.
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.
He did not play football until his senior year at Yukon HS, yet earned All-Big City honors.

SPARTACUS
Cornerback Jarrett Strode (Sr./St. Charles, Mo.) is in his sixth year with the Hornets and is the lone remaining active member of the 2012 Kanza Bowl Championship team.
He was credited with a career high six solo tackles at Lindenwood. He had one tackle against Northeastern State. He was credited with one tackle at Central Oklahoma. He recorded two tackles against Central Missouri. He had three tackles at Missouri Southern. He was credited with one tackle against Neb.-Kearney. He had one tackle and a pass break up at Northwest Missouri.
He was injured against Northwest Missouri in the first game of last year and was granted a second medical red-shirt.
He played in six games as a junior in 2015 with seven tackles. He had two tackles at Henderson State. He was credited with two solo stops against Washburn.
He redshirted in 2014 with an injury. As sophomore in 2013 he had nine tackles in eight games. He had a season high four tackles at Lincoln and recorded three solo tackles at Ft. Hays State.  
As a true freshman he moved into the starting line up late in the season. He had two unassisted tackles against TAMU-Kingsville in the Kanza Bowl.  He had four tackles at Washburn.

SAVAGES
Safety Cody Savage (Sr./Canton, Kan.) had six tackles and an interception he returned 13 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had four tackles including one for a nine yard loss against Pittsburg State. He recorded three tackles at Lindenwood. He had an interception return of 20 yards and was credited with one tackle and a pass break up against Northeastern State. He recorded a solo tackle at Central Oklahoma. He had a solo tackle at Missouri Southern.
He transferred to Emporia State from Kansas State. He played two seasons at receiver for Hutchinson CC. He caught three passes for 89 yards in his two years. He was a two-year starting quarterback for Canton-Galva HS and earned honorable mention all-state honors.

GOLD FINGER
Safety Asher Goldston (Jr./Lenexa, Kan.) recorded five tackles and a pass break up at Ft. Hays State. He had seven tackles against Pittsburg State. He had five tackles and two pass break ups in his first career start at Central Oklahoma. He had two tackles against Neb.-Kearney.
He is a transfer from Hutchingson CC. He Had 51 tackles with four interceptions and a touchdown for the Blue Dragons. He was an All-Sunflower League kick returner for Shawnee Mission West HS.

CLOSE THE GATE
Defensive back Roscoe Gatewood (So./Midwest City, Okla.) recorded five tackles with a solo tackle for loss of six yards at Ft. Hays State in his first career start. He had three solo tackles against Pittsburg State. He forced a fumble at Lindenwood. He had two tackles and a pass break up against Northeastern State. He recorded four tackles at Missouri Southern. He had three tackles, two of them solo, at Northwest Missouri.
He moved into the post season roster as a red-shirt freshman last year. He had one tackle at Washburn. He was credited with one tackle at Northeastern State.
He was an all-state performer as a senior defensive back for Midwest City HS. He was a three-year starter that recorded over 300 career tackles and a three-time state qualifier in power-lifting.

NEW BLOOD
Cornerback Kelin Gordon (Fr./Del City, Okla.) had a pass break up and a tackle before suffering an ankle injury at Ft. Hays State. He had a solo tackle and a pass break up against Pittsburg State along with a 26 yard kick off return. He had three tackles at Lindenwood. He was credited with one tackle and returned two kicks for 13 yards against Northeastern State. He had two tackles at Central Oklahoma and returned two kicks for a total of 37 yards. He was credited with three tackles at Missouri Southern and had three kick returns for a total of 50 yards. He had a solo tackle against Neb.-Kearney and returned one kick 25 yards. The only true freshman on the travel roster, he had two assisted tackles at Northwest Missouri.
He was the District 5A-1 defensive back of the year for Del City HS. He earned All-District and All-Big City selection after recording 44 tackles, seven interceptions and one fumble recovery as a senior. He was also a member of Del City HS state championship 4x100m relay team.

ACE OF MAYZE
Cornerback Ace Mayze (Sr./Arlington, Texas) was credited with a pass break up and a solo tackle at Ft. Hays State. He had four tackles with one for a loss, at Central Oklahoma. He recorded seven tackles and a pass break up against Central Missouri. He had three tackles, a pass break up and returned a blocked PAT for defensive extra points at Missouri Southern. He had four tackles at Northwest Missouri in his return to action after sitting out last year.
He had a solo stop at Henderson State in the 2015 playoffs. He had three tackles at Ft. Hays State and was in on half a tackle for loss. He recorded three tackles and a pass break up at Central Oklahoma. He had five tackles and a key fourth quarter pass breakup against Central Missouri. He was credited with seven tackles at Missouri Southern.
He had three tackles and a fumble recovery at Missouri Western in 2014. He recorded five tackles at Northeastern State. He had one tackle and was credited with two pass break ups at Central Missouri. He was credited with five tackles against Missouri Southern.
He saw action in all 11 games as a freshman. He had a season high five tackles, four of them solo stops, against Southwest Baptist.
He was a first-team All-District utility player for Seguin HS after playing receiver, quarterback, cornerback, safety and kick returner as a senior.

THE THIRD PHAROAH
Safety Ramsey Stramel (Sr./Herington, Kan.) is the only other Hornet with game experience at the safety position, playing in three games last year after moving from receiver. He had a solo tackle at Central Oklahoma.
He transferred to Emporia State after playing for Ft. Scott CC. He had seven receptions for 67 yards for FSCC as a sophomore.

CHANGE UP
Cornerback Brent Davenport (Jr./Dallas, Texas) is in his fourth year with the Hornets but his first on the defensive side of the ball. He had four tackles at Ft. Hays State.
He came to Emporia State as a quarterback and has played wide receiver the last two years before moving to defense.  

THREE AMIGOS
For the first time in Emporia State history, the Hornets have four year starters at the kicker, punter and long snapper positions. Long snapper Reid Buckingham (Sr./Lawrence, Kan.) kicker Austin Morton (Sr./Rockwall, Texas) and punter Justin Marcha (Sr./Edmond, Okla.) have each appeared in all 45 games since the beginning of the 2014 season.

MARCHING ON
Kicker/punter Justin Marcha (Sr./Edmond, Okla.) leads the nation with an average of 45.3 yards per punt while Emporia State leads the league and is ranked third in the nation in net punting.
He tied a school record with ten punts at Ft. Hays State. He averaged 44.2 yards and placed seven inside the Tiger 20 yard line. He had an average of 48.0 yards per punt on three punts with two of them inside the 20 against Pittsburg State. He also connected on a 43 yard field goal against the Gorillas. He had one 47 yard punt at Lindenwood. He punted six times for an average of 48.3 yards with three inside the 20 and a long of 62 yards against Northeastern State. He averaged 46.0 yards per punt with a season long 68 yarder against Central Missouri. He had punts of 43 and 44 yards and averaged 63.3 yards on seven kickoffs with three touchbacks at Missouri Southern. He punted just once for 45 yards against Neb.-Kearney but averaged 60.6 yards on eight kickoffs with three touchbacks. He had a 54 yard punt and placed two of his nine punts against the Bearcats inside the 20 yard line.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick at punter last season. He was seventh in the MIAA and 36th in the nation in punting average at 40.0 yards per punt. He became just the fourth Hornet to average 40.0 yards per punt for a season behind Pat Amon's school record average of 41.9 in 2001, Kelly Goodburn's 40.8 in 1984, and Tyler Chilson's 40.4 in 2010
He averaged 45.6 yards per punt on eight punts at Missouri Western with three inside the Griffon 20 yard line. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt against Lindenwood. He averaged 54.3 yards per punt with a 70 yarder at Northeastern State and averaged 62.3 yards on nine kickoffs. He averaged 41.2 yards on six punts at Neb.-Kearney.
He was an honorable mention selection at punter as a sophomore. He was sixth in the MIAA in punting average at 38.8 yards per punt. Four of his 55 punts went at least 50 yards with long of 64 yards and he forced 12 fair catches. He had a 28 yard rush on a fake punt against the Bearcats. He averaged 41.5 yards on six punts at Minnesota State. He had a 50 yard punt against Pittsburg State. He averaged 49.0 yards per punt at Central Oklahoma with a 64 yarder. 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.
As a freshman 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.
His career average of 40.0 yards on 210 punts is better than all but four individual season averages at Emporia State.

SALTY
Kicker Austin Morton (Sr./Rockwall, Texas) is seventh in the MIAA in field goals per game and sixth in kick scoring. He was five of six on PATs and missed two field goals at Lindenwood. He hit all seven PATs and one of two field goals at Central Oklahoma. His only field goal attempt against Central Missouri was good for his 50th career make. He went four for four on PATs and hit two of three field goals at Missouri Southern. He was six of six on PATs and hit a 41 yard field goal against Neb.-Kearney.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick last season. He was second in the MIAA in total kick scoring and ranked 12th in the nation in field goals made. He hit eight out of eight PAT against Minn.-Duluth. He was three of three on field goals with a career long of 49 yards at Washburn and hit three of three PATs to break the school record for career makes. He made 34 and 32 yard field goals against Missouri Western. He hit a 42 yard field goal against Ft. Hays State. He connected on both field goals and all five PATs at Pittsburg State. He hit a pair of 44 yard field goals at Northeastern State. 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. He was a 2015 preseason All-American by Lindy's and the Sporting News.
He was an AP Little All-American as a sophomore. 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 in 2015.
He set the Emporia State and NCAA Division II playoff single game record with five made field goals in the rain at Henderson State in 2015 with two of them from over 40 yards out. 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. 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 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. 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 holds the Emporia State single game and season records for most field goals made. He has made a school record 178 of 188 career PAT attempts. He is ranked second at Emporia State and third among active NCAA Division II players in career field goals made with 51 makes in 72 attempts. He is third among active D-II players in total points scored with 331.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Long snapper Reid Buckingham (Sr./Lawrence, Kan.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets and has handled the long snapping since he first set foot on campus.  

HEAD COACH GARIN HIGGINS
Former Hornet Garin Higgins is in his 11th season at his alma mater having transformed Hornet football into a national power. He has a 119-66 record in his 16 years as a head coach and 68-57 in his 11th season at Emporia State. His 68 wins rank third behind Hornet legends Fran Welch and Larry Kramer. He has built the Hornets the right way over his 11 seasons and orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in Emporia State history. The Hornets have gone 49-21 over the last five plus years after going 19-36 in his first five seasons.
He is the 21st head football coach at Emporia State, was the first to lead the Hornets to ten wins in two different seasons and has now done it in three seasons. He has coached in more post season games than any one in Emporia State history. He completed his ninth season by taking his alma mater deeper into the NCAA Division II playoffs than ever before in 2015 while winning seven more games than in 2014. 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 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.
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.  
While at Northwestern Oklahoma State, 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 POLLS SAY
The MIAA has two teams ranked in the top ten in this week's AFCA national poll with two more receiving votes and two ranked in the D2Football.com national poll. The Hornets have been ranked in the AFCA Poll during the regular season for six straight years. Emporia State is 7-10 against teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 over the last four years, with a 7-3 record against teams other than Northwest Missouri.

LISTEN & WATCH LIVE
Video webcasts for all of Emporia State's regular season games are available on a pay per view basis from the MIAA Digital Network. The MIAA Network content is available live, via live DVR, and is immediately archived for on-demand viewing after each event.  Fans can find all of the action on www.themiaanetwork.com and on The MIAA Network apps for Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV, and Roku.
Audio of all Emporia State games are available on KFFX 104.9FM and at www.kvoe.com with Greg Rahe, Kenneth Sellers and Ron Thomas providing the call. KFFX is in their 30th straight year as the radio home of Hornet Athletics, the longest active streak between a commercial station and an MIAA school.

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 that season. For the entire six year run of the MIAA Television Network the Hornets had a home game featured, capped by their 45-34 win over Central Missouri in the 2015 home opener. 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 seven 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.

CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are safety Marcus Houghton, linebacker Gabe Cleveland, quarterback Braxton Marstall, S-Back Denzel Strong, running back Landon Nault, and offensive guard Tom O'Grady.

THE NFL EXPERIENCE
The Hornets have had 15 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. Jeff Richards played in three exhibition games with the Carolina Panthers and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers to start the regular season after winning a Grey Cup with the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL last season. Adam Schiltz saw action in exhibition games with the Chiefs in 2015 while Austin Willis played in exhibition action for the Buffalo Bills last year. 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.

INJURY REPORT
Quarterback Braxton Marstall (concussion) and offensive linemen Jake Warehime (ankle) are questionable while running backs Landon Nault (shoulder) and Ricky VanWeezel (leg), offensive lineman Dane Riley (shoulder/neck), defensive lineman Ugonna Nwarie (leg) and safety Marcus Houghton are all probable for the Missouri Western game.

A Hornet win would...
•make Emporia State 5-5 overall, 5-5 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 16-24 all-time against Missouri Western;
•be the Hornets fifth straight win over the Griffons;
•be the Hornets second straight win over the Griffons in Emporia;
•make Coach Higgins 69-57 at Emporia State and 120-66 overall.

A Hornet loss would...
•make Emporia State 4-6 overall, 4-6 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 15-25 all-time against Missouri Western;
•snap a foru game winning streak by the Hornets over the Griffons;
•be Emporia State's first loss to Missouri Western since 2012;
•make Coach Higgins 68-58 at Emporia State and 119-67 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.