September 29, 2018-In a game that was delayed nearly two hours by lightning, Emporia State was shut out for the second straight year by #17 Northwest Missouri in a 41-0 loss in Maryville, Mo. on Saturday.
The Hornets got the ball first and went three and out on their opening series. The Bearcats then went 52 yards, converting three first downs on the drive, to take a 7-0 lead on a three yard pass from Braden Wright to Shawn Bane with 9:30 left in the quarter.
Emporia State drove to the Bearcat 37 yard line but could not convert on fourth down, giving the ball back to Northwest Missouri. The Hornet defense was able to force a punt but offensively only went five yards before having to punt. On the following drive Northwest got a 34 yard run by Isaiah Strayhorn on fourth and one at the Emporia State 39 yard line. The Hornets were able to stop three plays from inside the six yard line but on fourth and goal from the one, the snap from center was bobbled and squirted out to the side where Josh Caldwell picked it up and took it into the end zone for a 14-0 Bearcat lead with 13:02 left in the half.
The Hornets got back to midfield before having to punt on the next possession. On the Bearcats first play from scrimmage after the touchback Wright found a wide open Jaime Taylor for an 80 yard touchdown and 21-0 lead with 10:57 left in the half. Emporia State went three and out and on the next possession for Northwest Wright hit Alec Tatum for a 72 yard touchdown. After the extra point was wide the Bearcats led 27-0 with 8:00 left.
Emporia State had a chance to get on the board on their last drive of the half. After the Bearcats muffed a punt, the Hornets took over on the NWMSU 24 yard line. On first down Tyler Harris connected with Marstall on a nine yard completion to get down to the 15 yard line. Marstall then had two passes dropped in the end zone as the the Hornets trailed 27-0 at the break.
Northwest Missouri took the opening kick-off of the second half and marched down the field as Wright's four yard run with 9:11 left in the quarter capped a 13 play, 71 yard drive and gave the Bearcats a 34-0 lead.Â
Over the next eight drives neither team got inside the others 30 yard line. The two teams traded three and outs for the first four possessions of the fourth quarter until the Bearcats put together an 11 play, 44 yard drive that ate up 6:53 of the clock. Brody McMahon scored on a one yard run with 2:34 left to put NWMSU up 41-0.
Braxton Marstall was 16 of 34 for 142 yards and had a string of 14 straight games with a touchdown pass snapped. Justin Brown had seven receptions for 68 yards as nine different Hornets caught a pass. Landon Nault had 29 yards on 11 carries. Jace McDown had nine tackles, a pass break up and forced fumble to lead the Hornet defense.
Emporia State will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 6 when they play host to #18 Ft. Hays State. Kick-off from Jones Field at Welch Stadium is set for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES
With his seven receptions, Justin Brown passed Mitchell Foote (215 rec. from 2013-16) for second on the Emporia State career receptions chart with 221 catches. He needs five receptions to tie Jarrett Vito (226 from 1995-98) for the Emporia State career record.
Braxton Marstall passed Tyler Eckenrode (8,669 yards from 2009-12) for second on the Hornets career total offense list. He has 8,716 yards.
