July 31, 2018-After posting their third straight winning season and fifth in the last six years, the Emporia State football team is picked to finish fifth in both the MIAA Coaches and Media Preseason polls. The polls were released as part of MIAA Football Media Day at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan., the home of the NCAA Division II Football National Championship game.
Over the last six years Emporia State has established itself as a force to be reckoned with in the MIAA and across Division II. The Hornets have gone 51-21 since 2012 with seven of the wins over teams in the top 25 at the time. They have won four post season games and played in seven during that time. Emporia State has gone 28-10 over the last three seasons.
Emporia State is set to return 14 starters and 37 letterwinners from last season including All-MIAA players Justin Brown, Landon Nault, Braxton Marstall and Estevan Arana on offense with Tre'Vaughn Ammons and Gary Woods on defense.
The offensive starters are led by a talented group of senior skill players. The keys to the offense will again be handed over to senior quarterback Braxton Marstall. A three-year starter, Marstall threw for 2,893 yards and 24 touchdowns while adding 300 yards on the ground to rank ninth in the nation in total offense last season. He is 18-7 as a starter for the Hornets. He is ranked third on the Emporia State career chart in total offense with 7,678 yards, passing with 6,869 yards and touchdown passes with 58 in his three years. His 481 passing yards against Minn.-Duluth in the 2016 playoffs is the fifth best single game total in MIAA history.
Justin Brown was a first-team All-MIAA receiver last season as he finished the year with 86 catches for 999 yards and eight touchdowns. He was eighth in the nation in receptions per game.
Senior Landon Nault has a chance to become the first Hornet since Brian Shay to lead Emporia State in rushing in four straight seasons. He had 179 yards rushing at Henderson State in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Playoffs. He was third in the MIAA with nine rushing touchdowns last season. He was a second-team All-MIAA performer and an Academic All-American for the Hornets last season.
Estevan Arana will anchor the Hornets offensive line after earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors last year. He started all 11 games last season and eight of 11 games including both playoff games as a redshirt freshman.
Tre'Vaun Ammons, who earned second-team All-MIAA honors last season will anchor the Hornet defense. He led the MIAA and ranked 25th in the nation in tackles for loss last year and was second in the league in sacks. He recorded 17.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, and 53 total tackles to go with four forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries and an interception last season. He had a team high seven sacks to rank fourth in the MIAA as a freshman. He was also credited with nine quarterback hurries, five pass break ups and three forced fumbles.
Gary Woods is the leading returning tackler for the Hornets. He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick last year as he recorded 73 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and three pass break ups last season. He had 35 tackles with two interceptions as a redshirt freshman in 2016.
The Hornets were 6-5 last season, their third straight winning season and fifth winning season in the last six years. Their 51 wins and four postseason appearances are the second most in the MIAA since 2012.
Emporia State opens the season on Thursday, August 30 at Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. The home opener is one week later on Thursday, September 6 against Pittsburg State. Kick-off from both Doc Wadley Stadium in Tahlequah and Jones Field at Welch Stadium in Emporia is set for 7:00 p.m.
2018 MIAA Preseason Football
Coaches Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (4) 103
2. Fort Hays State (5) 102
3. Central Missouri (2) 96
4. Pittsburg State 81
5. Emporia State 67
5. Central Oklahoma 67
7. Washburn 63
8. Lindenwood 46
9. Missouri Western 40
10. Nebraska Kearney 30
11. Northeastern State 19
12. Missouri Southern 12
2018 MIAA Preseason Football
Media Poll
1. Northwest Missouri (14) 382
2. Fort Hays State (13) 375
3. Central Missouri (6) 349
4. Pittsburg State (1) 311
5. Emporia State 243
6. Central Oklahoma 229
7. Washburn 223
8. Missouri Western 171
9. Lindenwood 160
10. Nebraska Kearney 98
11. Northeastern State 66
12. Missouri Southern 45
