March 14, 2018-The Emporia State football team has officially announced their 2018 schedule.  The Hornets will play host to five games this fall on Jones Field at Welch Stadium, where they have won 15 of their last 18 games over the past three years.

The Hornets will open the season on August 30 at Northeastern State.  The Hornets have won all six meetings with the RiverHawks as members of the MIAA, including a 47-27 win the last time the two met in Tahlequah, Okla. in 2016.

One of the most played rivalries in NCAA Division II history comes to Welch Stadium for the home opener on Sept. 6 when Emporia State plays host to Pittsburg State on a Thursday night. Last year's game was delayed into the night and was eventually finished on a Sunday afternoon due to thunderstorms before Pitt State won 27-10. The last time the two played a night game was on Sept. 19, 1998 when the Hornets prevailed 38-28 in Welch Stadium in front of 9,200 fans.

Emporia State is back on the road a week later when they travel to Neb.-Kearney on Septemer 15. The Hornets have won nine of their last 11 meetings with the Lopers and have outscored them 131-54 over the last three years.  

Family Day for Emporia State will be on September 22 when the Honrets take on Lindenwood in Welch Stadium.  The Hornets are 6-0 against the Lions since they joined the MIAA in 2012.

Emporia State will travel to Maryville, Mo. for the seventh time in nine years to take on Northwest Missouri on Sept. 29.  Two of those games have been in the NCAA Playoffs.

On Oct. 6 Emporia State will welcome defending MIAA Champion Ft. Hays State to Welch Stadium. The Hornets defeated the Tigers 24-16 in their last visit to Emporia in 2016.

The Hornets travel to Central Missouri on October 13 in a series that has had some bizarre finishes over the last three seasons.  Last year the Mules won on the last play of the game when they recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown in a 37-31 game in Emporia.  The Hornets pulled out a thrilling 37-31 double overtime win in their last trip to Warrensburg, Mo. in 2016 following their 45-34 victory spread over three days in Welch Stadium in 2015.

For the second straight season and sixth time in 12 years Missouri Western will be Emporia State's Homecoming opponent.  The Hornets have won five straight over the Griffons, including last season's 30-27 come from behind win in Welch Stadium.

Emporia State will head to Topeka on October 27 for the most played active rivalry in Division II as they take on Washburn in the 115th Turnpike Tussle. The Hornets lead the all-time series 56-52-6 and have won five of the last six between the two.

Senior Day will be on November 3 when Emporia State plays host to Missouri Southern. The Hornets have won six straight against the Lions. It will be part of a busy day as Emporia State will host the MIAA Cross Country Championships in the morning and the Hornet volleyball team will play Central Oklahoma that evening.

The Hornets will wrap up the regular season on November 10 when they take on Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. for the second straight year. Emporia State has won five of the last seven meetings but fell 53-52 last year when the Bronchos connected on three two-point conversions in the fourth quarter.

The Hornets went 6-5 last season, their third straight winning season and fifth year above .500 over the last six seasons. They are set to return nine starters on defense and eight on offense in 2018.

Emporia State will start spring practices on Thursday, March 15 at Jones Field at Welch Stadium and are scheduled to have 14 practices capped by Legends Weekend on April 20-21.  The weekend will include a Legends Flag Football game in addition to the Hornets spring game at Welch Stadium.

2018 Emporia State Football Schedule
Thur.    Aug. 30    at Northeastern State    Tahlequah, Okla.    7:00 p.m.
Thur.    Sept. 6      Pittsburg State    Emporia    7:00 p.m.
Sat.    Sept. 15     at Neb.-Kearney    Kearney, Neb.    2:00 p.m.
Sat.    Sept. 22     Lindenwood     Emporia    2:00 p.m.
Sat.    Sept. 29     at Northwest Missouri    Maryville, Mo.     1:00 p.m.
Sat.    Oct. 6    Ft. Hays State    Emporia    2:00 p.m.
Sat.    Oct. 13       at Central Missouri    Warrensburg, Mo.    1:30 p.m.
Sat.    Oct. 20      Missouri Western    Emporia     2:00 p.m.
Sat.    Oct. 27       at Washburn    Topeka, Kan.     1:00 p.m.
Sat.    Nov. 3    Missouri Southern    Emporia     2:00 p.m.
Sat.    Nov. 10    at Central Oklahoma    Edmond, Okla.     2:00 p.m.

2018 Emporia State Spring Practice Schedule
Thursday, March 15    7:00 p.m. Practice 1
Monday, March 26    4:00 p.m. Practice 2
Wednesday, March 28    4:00 p.m. Practice 3
Friday, March 30    4:00 p.m. Practice 4
Monday, April 2        4:00 p.m. Practice 5
Wednesday, April 4    4:00 p.m. Practice 6
Friday, April 6        6:30 a.m. Practice 7
Saturday April 7        11:00 a.m. Junior Day
                                  2:15 p.m. Practice 8
Monday, April 9        4:00 p.m. Practice 9
Wednesday, April 11    4:00 p.m. Practice 10
Friday, April 13        7:30 p.m. Practice 11 Friday Night Lights
Monday, April 16    4:00 p.m. Practice 12
Wednesday, April 18    4:00 p.m. Practice 13
Legends Weekend
Friday, April 20        3:15 p.m. Practice 14
                                7:30 p.m. Legends Social at Coaches
Saturday, April 21    10:30 a.m. Legends Game
                                12:30 p.m. Alumni Tailgate
                                 2:30 p.m. Spring Game
                                 4:30 p.m. Post Game Dinner   

###HORNETS###