November 3, 2018-Emporia State posted their first shut out since 2012 with a 48-0 victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon on Jones Field at Welch Stadium. With the win the Hornets have secured their fourth straight winning season for the first time as members of the NCAA.
Playing on Emporia State's Senior Day, both teams were sluggish on offense in the first quarter. The Hornets finally broke through with 12:44 left in the second quarter when Sam Dobbins hit the first field goal of the season. After forcing a punt on the Lions next possession Emporia State drove down to the Mo. Southern two yard line before having to settle for a 24 yard field by Dobbins and a 6-0 lead with 6:06 left in the half.
Emporia State then forced a three and out to get the ball back at their own 35 yard line after a MoSo punt. The Hornets went 65 yards in eight plays with Braxton Marstall hitting Jordan Reed for an eight yard touchdown with 1:12 left in the half.
On the Lions drive Emporia State forced another three and out and used their timeouts in order to get the ball back with 36 seconds left. After an incomplete pass on the first play, Marstall connected with Reed for 17 yards, Landon Nault for seven and then Tyler Harris for a 17 yard touchdown to put the Hornets up 20-0 going into the locker rooms.
Emporia State received the second half kick off and Travon Jones returned it 75 yards to the Lions 25 yard line. Five plays later Marstall connected with Cole Schumacker for an eight yard touchdown and 27-0 lead with 12:48 left in the third quarter. Nault scored on a three yard run with 8:33 left to cap a nine play, 84 yard drive to give Emporia State a 34-0 lead.
One of Southern's best drives of the day came next as they made it to the Hornet 33 yard line before stalling out. Riley Hathorn's punt was downed at the ESU one yard line with 3:47 left in the third quarter. Emporia State then went on a 14 play, 99 yard drive with Marstall hitting Jordan Jackson from eight yards out to make it 41-0 with 14:53 left in the game. It would be the last pass on Jones Field for Marstall who was replaced on the next drive by freshman Dalton Cowan.
The teams traded three and outs over the next three drives until the Hornets got the ball at their own 35 yard line with 10:46 left in the game. After a four yard rush by Cowan, Missouri Southern was hit with a personal foul and two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties that moved the ball from the ESU 39 to the MSSU 16 yard line. Travon Jones carried the ball on three of the next four plays, capping the drive with a six yard touchdown run with 9:22 left for the final score.
Marstall finished his final game in Welch Stadium going 31 of 42 for 316 yards with four touchdowns and added 42 rushing yards on eight carries. He connected with 11 players led by Schumacker with five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. Nault had 111 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries and added six receptions for 28 yards. Defensively Jace McDown again led the Hornets with nine tackles.
Emporia State will wrap up the regular season next Saturday when they travel to Central Oklahoma. Kick-off from Wantland Stadium in Edmond, Okla. is set for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES
This was the first shutout for Emporia State since a 13-0 win over Lindenwood on October 11, 2012 and the first time they had held an opponent without a touchdown since a 30-3 victory over Washburn on November 11, 2016.
Marstall passed Adam Hinspeter (9016 yds from 2005-08 for MSSU) and Eric Howe (9097 yds from 1998-2001 for Truman) to move into sixth in career passing yards in the MIAA with 9,297 passing yards.
Marstall passed Neal Philpot (10,168 yds from 2001-04 for Pittsburg State) to move into fourth in career total offense in the MIAA with 10,470 yards of total offense.
Justin Brown had three catches for 46 yards and passed Bruce Cerone (2,794 yds from 1968-69) for third in career receiving yards at Emporia State with 2,797 yards.
Emporia State's 99 yard drive at the end of the third quarter and start of the fourth was the third 99 yard drive by the Hornets as a member of the NCAA and the first since a 14 play, 99 yard drive at Winona State on September 3, 2005.
