Football | 10/10/2019 6:32:00 PM

Game #6
Emporia State Hornets (2-3, 2-3 MIAA)
at Fort Hays State Tigers (3-2, 3-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Lewis Field Stadium (6,362) • Hays, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 53-37-2 Current Streak: ESU 1 Win
Last Meeting: at ESU 28, #18 FHSU 24 (October 8, 2018)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 6:00 p.m. TV: None
Internet (Audio): www.kvoe.com Internet (Video): themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Officials: Announced on Game Day
Live Stats • Ticket Info •  Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: vs. #15 Central Missouri • Sat., Oct. 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Jones Field at Welch Stadium (7,000) • Emporia, Kan.  

OCTOBERFEST   
Emporia State will travel to Fort Hays State for a rare October night game.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State had a second half lead against Northwest Missouri but could not build on it as the #7 Bearcats scored a 34-23 win at Welch Stadium. The Hornets came out and drove 75 yards on five plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 24 yard pass from Dalton Cowan to Cole Schumacher. The Bearcats got on the board with a safety before ESU took a 10-2 lead on a Clark Schoonover field goal with 8:06 left in the first.  NWMSU used the first of four Parker Sampson field goals and a TD run by Mike Hohensee to take a 12-10 midway through the second quarter.  Carlos Grace scored on a three yard run to put ESU back in front 17-12 going into halftime.  The Bearcats scored on the opening drive of the second half but the Hornets answered with a 16 yard pass from Cowan to JT Mackey to take a 23-19 lead.  Northwest took advantage of an ESU fumble to retake the lead on a 12 yard drive capped by a three yard TDpass from Hohensee to Marqus Andrews. The Bearcats would hit three field goals the rest of the way to ice the victory.
The Hornets held Northwest Missouri, who entered the game averaging 52 points and over 500 yards of offense, to 18 points and 200 yards below their season averages. Jace McDown had 13 tackles with an interception while Gary Woods II was credited with ten stops.  Dalton Cowan was 19 of 40 for 156 yards and two touchdowns.  Cole Schumacher had five receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown.

THE COACHES
Garin Higgins has a career record of 131-73 in his 18th season as a head coach. He is 80-64 in his 13th season at his alma mater and is 71-40 since the start of the 2010 season. He has led the Hornets to the post season in five of the last seven years with three NCAA Playoffs and 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 6-6 against Ft. Hays State.
Chris Brown is 58-34 in his ninth year at Fort Hays State. He is 4-4 against Emporia State.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 2-3 for the second straight year. They are ranked second in the MIAA in pass defense and are third in total defense and pass efficiency defense. They are third the nation in average punt return yardage, rank seventh in passing yards allowed and are eighth in redzone scoring percentage. Jace McDown is leading the MIAA in tackles and solo tackles, ranking 13th in the nation in solo stops.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 3-2 on the season and have won three straight games. They are second in the MIAA in scoring defense and third in passing offense. Chance Fuller is third in the MIAA in passing offense and total offense.

THE SERIES
This will be the 93rd meeting between the two with Emporia State holding a 53-37-2 edge. It is the third most played rivalry for the Hornets but this is the 62nd straight year the two schools have met, making it the Hornets' longest continuous rivalry. The home team has won 11 of the last 13 meetings in the series.

LAST TIME VS. FT. HAYS ST.
Emporia State forced four turnovers and scored 21 fourth quarter points on the way to a 28-24 win over #18 Fort Hays State.  The Tigers led 17-7 with 6:36 left in the third quarter.  Dalton Cowan hit Tyler Harris for a 54 yard touchdown and pulled Emporia State within 17-14 with 14:32 left in the game. Braxton Marstall found Jordan Reed for a ten yard touchdown to give the Hornets their first lead of the game with 8:05 left. The Tigers took a 24-21 lead with 5:31 left in the game. Marstall hit Reed from 14 yards out with 51 seconds left for the game winning score. Marstall was 32 of 54 for 289 yards with three touchdowns.  Harris had a career high 140 receiving yards on four catches with two touchdowns.  Jace McDown was credited with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble.

UP NEXT
The Hornets return to Welch Stadium to take on #17 Central Missouri for Homecoming.  Kick-off on October 19 is set for 2:00 p.m.

KNOW THE FOE
This will be the 93rd time overall and 62nd straight year that Emporia State and Fort Hays State have met on the football field.  They have met every year since 1958 making this the longest continual series for either team despite being in different conferences from 1990-2005. The Tigers have won or shared the MIAA championship and been to the NCAA playoffs each of the last two years.  Fort Hays State has made the NCAA playoffs four times, twice in the MIAA and twice in the RMAC, but have yet to win a playoff game.

FLIP A SWITCH
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 31-25 and have gone 65-30 since then. Of the 30 losses, 15 have been to teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 at the time. In Emporia State's first 49 games under Coach Higgins, the Hornets averaged 19.86 points per game while giving up 30.06 points per game. In the 95 games since then Emporia State is averaging 33.42 points while giving up 27.49 points per game.

OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE
The Hornets have gone 14-2 in non-conference games under Garin Higgins and are 25-7 outside the MIAA in the 21st century. Since joining the MIAA, ESU is 34-12 in non-conference games and has lost only three games to unranked non-conference D-II opponents since 1996.  

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, Northwest Missouri, and Pittsburg State are the only MIAA teams to have won playoff games in back to back years while Emporia State and Northwest Missouri are the only ones to have accomplished the feat this decade.

MIAA IN THE POSTSEASON
Since the MIAA first expanded in 1989 and the new teams became eligible for post season play in 1990, the league has eight national championships and a representative in 15 of 28 national championship games, including ten of the last 15 title games.  In that time the MIAA is 43-19 in the NCAA Playoffs and 19-7 in bowl games for a combined post season record of 62-26 against non-conference opponents. 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 national quarterfinals.  Emporia State's game at Northwest Missouri in 2015 was the fifth all-MIAA regional final all-time.  Six different MIAA schools have advanced to the NCAA Playoffs and won a game since 2010 while eight 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. The only two schools to have never made the NCAA Playoffs are Lincoln and Northeastern State, who made the NAIA National Championship game four times and won the title in 1994. Northeastern State participated in the 2011 Mineral Water Bowl, meaning 11 of the 12 member schools have participated in an NCAA sanctioned post season game.   
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 64-12 under coach Higgins when scoring 28 or more points with a 59-7 record in their last 66 games in which they have scored at least 28 points. The Hornets have scored at least 40 points in 38 games under Coach Higgins with a record 36-2 in those games. The Hornets have won 20 games when allowing their opponents 28 or more points under coach Higgins, but Emporia State has only won 16 games when the Hornets have scored less than 28 points. The 53-52 loss at Central Oklahoma last season was the first time in school history the Hornets have scored 50 points in regulation and lost a game.

QUARTERBACKS
For the third time in seven years the Hornets will be replacing a school record setting quarterback. Braxton Marstall graduated ranked second in MIAA history in career total offense and fifth in career passing and was the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year last season.  Marstall replaced Brent Wilson, who was the 2015 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year, while Wilson replaced 2012 All-MIAA quarterback Tyler Eckenrode.   Dalton Cowan is the fourth Hornet quarterback to pick up a win in his first career start since 2013.

DALTON GANG
Quarterback Dalton Cowan (Soph./Topeka, Kan.) is second in the MIAA in completion percentage, is ranked fourth in total offense, fifth in points responsible for, and sixth in passing yards, passing efficiency and passing touchdowns.  
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was 19 of 40 for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Northwest Missouri. He had his first career 300 yard passing game at Lincoln, going 28 of 40 for 331 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 21 of 32 passes for 161 yards and scored two rushing touchdowns against Neb.-Kearney. He was 19 of 33 for 174 yards with a touchdown. He went 15 of 25 for 261 yards with three touchdowns through the air and added 88 rushing yards on nine carries against Northeastern State in his first career start
AS A FRESHMAN-He threw a 54 yard touchdown in his only snap against Ft. Hays State. He played the final series against Pittsburg State and had the majority of the fourth quarter at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a first-team All Class 5A and first-team All-Centennial League selection at quarterback for Seaman HS. He was named Topeka Offensive Player of the Year after he passed for 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 589 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground for the Vikings. His father Jeff Cowan played linebacker for the Hornets while his mother Cassie (Henry) Cowan played basketball for the Lady Hornets.

TO THE MOON
Quarterback Braden Gleason (Fr.-RS/Muldrow, Okla.) was zero for two passing but had 17 yards on five carries at Lincoln. He was five of seven for 39 yards and a touchdown against Northeastern State. He also had a ten yard gain in his only carry against the RiverHawks.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an All-State Honorable Mention Selection for Muldrow (Okla.) HS. He threw for 6,317 yards and 60 touchdowns in his career along with 1,483 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing.

PURE MICHIGAN
Quarterback Patrick Briningstool (Jr.-RS/Clinton Township, Mich.) played the final three series against Northeastern State in his first action after sitting out last season with an injury.  
AS A FRESHMAN-He started at Ft. Hays State. He was three for three for 18 yards and had two rushes for 11 yards against Northeastern State. He completed his first pass as a Hornet against Neb.-Kearney.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He threw for over 4,300 yards and 52 touchdowns as a prepster at Chippewa Valley HS in Clinton Township, Mich.

RECEIVERS
The Hornets lost nearly 90% of their receptions and receiving yards from last season. Tyler Harris led the MIAA in touchdown catches last season and Justin Brown graduated with the most catches and second most receiving yards in Emporia State history.  
A total of 15 Hornets have caught a pass this season with nine of them pulling in a reception of at least ten yards. Of those nine, five have receptions of at least 30 yards and three of those five are in their first year on the field for the Hornets this season. Seven Hornets have caught a touchdown pass this year.

WHERE THERE'S A WIL
Receiver Wil Amos (Fr.-RS/Afton, Okla.) has only played in two games but ranks fifth in the MIAA in total receptions and 17th in total receiving yards. He would lead the MIAA in receptions per game and be fifth in yards per game if he had played in enough games to qualify for the leaders.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had five catches for 40 yards against Northwest Missouri. He had a breakout performance with 12 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown at Lincoln.  He added on carry for eight yards to go over 150 all-purpose yards in the game. He had four catches for a team high 51 yards in his first game as a Hornet against Neb.-Kearney including a 36 yard reception.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a Daily Oklahoman and Tulsa World All-State Selection. He had 3,247 yards and 45 touchdowns on the ground and threw for 1,269 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior to lead Afton to state championship. He was a two-time 800m and 400m State Champion in track.

FORMULA ONE
Receiver Cole Schumacker (Soph./Rossville, Kan.) is fifth in the MIAA in receptions with 20 on the season.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had 59 yards on five receptions with a touchdown against Northwest Missouri. He had three catches for 29 yards at Lincoln. He had six receptions for 45 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He caught four passes for 60 yards at Pittsburg State. He had two catches for 38 yards against Northeastern State, including a 32 yard touchdown.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had a career best five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown against Missouri Southern. He had two key catches for ten yards in the fourth quarter against Ft. Hays State. He finished the year with 112 yards on nine catches with a touchdown in five games last season.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an All-Class 3A receiver and three-time state champion at Rossville HS.

STRONG ONE
Receiver Dexton Swinehart (Fr.-RS/Lyndon, Kan.) is tenth in yards per catch in the MIAA.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had two catches for 20 yards against Northwest Missouri. He caught seven passes for 97 yards including a 42 yard touchdown at Lincoln. He had a 16 yard reception and a catch for a two-point conversion against Neb.-Kearney. He had one catch for 15 yards at Pittsburg State. He had 112 yards on five catches against Northeastern State and his 74 yard touchdown is the second longest reception in the MIAA this year.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was the Kansas Class 2-1A Offensive Player of the Year and a Topeka Capital Journal Top 33 selection. He earned Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle 2017 First-Team Offensive and Defensive All-State honors.

ANY GIVEN SATURDAY
Receiver Travon Jones (Jr./Mesquite, Texas) is in his third season with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He had 167 all-purpose yards at Lincoln with two catches for 40 yards, a rush of 30 yards, two kick returns for 86 yards and two punt returns for 11 yards. He had 101 all-purpose yards against Neb.-Kearney with a 74 yard punt return and a 27 yard kick-off return. It was the longest punt return by a Hornet since Mitchell Foote returned a punt 88 yards against Missouri Southern in 2015. He returned three kicks for a total of 52 yards with a 26 yard return at Pittsburg State. He had a 12 yard catch against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He made a move to running back against Missouri Southern and had three carries for 16 yards. He had a 19 yard reception against Lindenwood. He returned 22 kicks for 489 yards on the season with a long of 75 yards against Missouri Southern.

MACK TRUCK
Receiver J.T. Mackey (Jr./Ennis, Texas) is in his first year at Emporia State.
AS A JUNIOR-He had a 16 yard touchdown catch that gave the Hornets a 23-19 lead in the fourth quarter against Northwest Missouri. He had four catches for 24 yards at Pittsburg State including a nine yard touchdown reception.
AT KILGORE CC-He had 19 catches for 201 yards for the SWJCFC Conference Champions under current Northeastern State coach J.J. Eckert.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a First-Team All-District receiver for Ennis HS.

SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT
Receiver Corey Thomas (Soph./Topeka, Kan.) injured his shoulder against Neb.-Kearney. He is out this week. He is still 23rd in the MIAA in total receptions.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had four receptions for 27 yards before getting injured against Neb.-Kearney. He had a team high seven catches for 99 yards and a 47 yard touchdown against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had one reception for 19 yards against Mo. Southern. He had an eight yard reception at Northwest Missouri.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a Top 11 All-City pick in Topeka as a junior in 2015. He had 1,034 rushing yards and 996 receiving yards with eight touchdowns as a junior but missed much of his senior season at Topeka HS due to Injury.

ON THE SURFACE
Receiver Seth Surface (Sr./Perry, Kan.) is in his fifth year with the Hornets.
AS A SENIOR-He caught a five yard pass against Neb.-Kearney. He had a six yard touchdown reception against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR-He caught two passes for 18 yards against Lindenwood.
IN HIS CAREER-He saw action in six games last season.
IN HIGH SCHOOL- 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.

LEMONADE
Receiver Kai Lemons (Jr./Derby, Kan.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He had a ten yard reception against Northeastern State.
AT HUTCHINSON CC-Played one year before transferring to Emporia State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a Second-Team All-State selection and First-Team All-League  as a senior for Derby HS.

OUT OF HIS SHELL
Receiver Grant Shell (Sr./Burlington, Kan.) had two receptions for 16 yards against Northeastern State.  It was his first time on a college football field after spending the last four years playing basketball.
AS A JUNIOR (In basketball)-He scored ten points against McPherson, going three of four from behind the three-point line. Shell scored 14 points on three of four shooting from three point range in a win over Bethel. He scored 11 points against Sioux Falls.
AS A SOPHOMORE (In basketball)-He scored 16 points with four steals against Washburn. He had 15 points and six rebounds against Central Missouri. He was four of five from the field for 14 points against Northeastern State. He had 13 points with three treys against Central Oklahoma. He scored a career high 18 points at Lindenwood with four made three-pointers. He scored a team high 11 points at Iowa State.   
PREVIOUSLY (In basketball)-He played in six basketball games as a freshman at Fresno State in 2015-16 before redshirting in 2016-17. He was a two-time all-state selection in basketball for Burlington HS, earning Class 4A honors as a junior and Class 3A honors his senior season. He averaged 17 points per game as a senior. He also played football for the Wildcats.

THE THINKER
Receiver Rasheed Noel (Fr./Coppell, Texas) has had his red-shirt pulled and will be making his first road trip the the Hornets.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Texas All-District 6-6A performer.  He had 387 all purpose yards with nine touchdowns as a senior. Defensively he recorded 21 total tackles with a sack.

S-BACK
S-back is another position that took a hit with graduation.  Denzel Strong was a four year player for the Hornets and was the fifth leading receiver for Emporia State last year. Three different players have started at S-Back this season.

FAMILY AFFAIR
S-Back Case Cochran (Fr.-RS/Cashion, Okla.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He started and had his first career touchdown on a three yard reception at Lincoln.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was the 2016 District Offensive MVP and 2017 District Receiver of the Year for Cashion HS.

HAMMER
S-Back Marcellus Edwards (Sr./Little Rock, Ark.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He got his first start at S-Back against Northeastern State this year.
AS A JUNIOR-He made the switch from defense to offense during training camp.
AT ROCHESTER TECH COLLEGE-He had 5.5 sacks and 34 tackles as a defensive end at the Minnesota school.

LIFE OF PETZ
S-back Jack Petz (Fr.-RS/Lenexa, Kan.) made the move from running back prior to starting the Pittsburg State game.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had a three yard catch at Pittsburg State. He had seven carries for 28 yards as a running back against Northeastern State.
High School-He was a First-Team All-State Selection and First-Team All-EKL pick for St. James Academy. He was a 2018 Kansas Shrine Bowl selection. was also a three time state medalist in diving.

RUNNING BACKS
It will be somewhat of a new look for the Hornet backfield this season with nine of the ten running backs in only their first or second year at Emporia State after Landon Nault led the Hornets in rushing each of the last four years.   
A total of 11 different Hornets have carried the ball this season with all of them having a rush of at least six yards.

GRACEFUL
Running back Carlos Grace (Jr./Crosby, Texas) is tied for fourth in the league in rushing touchdowns and ranked tenth in rushing yards in the MIAA. His 71 yard touchdown run at Pitt State is the fourth  longest rush in the league this year.
AS A JUNIOR-He scored on a three yard touchdown run among his ten carries for 19 yards against Northwest Missouri. He carried the ball 16 times for 67 yards and a touchdown at Lincoln. He had 59 yards on a career high 19 carries against Neb.-Kearney. He had a game high 135 yards on 16 carries including a 71 yard touchdown run at Pittsburg State. He also had two catches for 14 yards against the Gorillas. His 71 yard touchdown run is the longest by a Hornet since Seville Ko went for 74 yards against Fort Hays State on August 27, 2005. He had eight carries for 34 yards and a touchdown against Northeastern State.
AT BLINN JC-He gained 2,193 yards in two seasons at Blinn. He had 1,001 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore after gaining 1,192 yards with 11 TD as a freshman.

CALVIN AND HOBBES
Running back Calvin Boyce (Fr.-RS/Prague,Okla.) had his first career start at Lincoln.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had seven carries for 18 yards and two catches for five yards at Lincoln. He gained 50 yards on nine carries and added a seven yard reception against Northeastern State and was the only player to have both a rush and a catch.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an Oklahoma VYPE Magazine All-Star Team Selection after he scored 36 touchdowns as a senior.

THE ARK
Running back Noah Diaz (Soph./Sun Prairie, Wisc.) is averaging 6.0 yards per carry in his first year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had 20 yards on four rushes at Lincoln. He had four carries for 25 yards at Pittsburg State. He averaged 6.8 yards per carry against Northeastern State with 27 yards on four rushes.
PREVIOUSLY-He was the leading rusher for Friends University last season with 421 yards on 116 carries with three touchdowns.

THE ROYAL FALCON
Running back Vinnie Shabazz (Jr./Olathe,Kan.) had five carries for 32 yards at Lincoln.
PREVIOUSLY-He transferred to Emporia State from Bulter CC. He had 408 yards on 100 carries with two touchdowns during two years with the Grizzlies.

BIRCH TREE
Running back Jordan Birch (Jr./Andover,Kan.) had three carries for nine yards at Lincoln. It was his first game action since coming back from a knee injury suffered in the first spring practice at Emporia State.
PREVIOUSLY-He played in six games last year for Illinois State with 86 yards on 14 carries. He saw action in 10 games and finished the season with 77 yards and a touchdown in 2017. He was a First-Team All-State running back for Andover Central HS.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Although Emporia State graduated the leading passer, the leading rusher and the leader in touchdown receptions from last year, the offensive cupboard is not entirely empty. The one position the Hornets did not take a hit with graduation is the offensive line as four out of five starters return from last season.  

PLAY RIGHT AWAY
Guard Austin Unterreiner (Sr./O'Fallon, Mo.) is in his fourth year at Emporia State. He has played in 30 games with 21 starts.
AS A SENIOR-He has started both games at right guard for the Hornets this season and has started 14 straight games.
AS A JUNIOR-He earned second-team All-MIAA honors last year at the right guard position. He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Ft. Hays State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He got his first career start at Missouri Southern in 2017.
AS A FRESHMAN-He moved into the offensive line rotation as a true freshman in 2016.  He played much of the second half at Pittsburg State at right tackle.
IN HIGH SCHOOL- He was a first-team all-conference and second-team all-district performer for Francis Howell HS.

FRESHMAN PHENOM
Guard Hayden Reed (Soph./Celina, Texas) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Lincoln as a guard. He started the first two games at center but moved to guard against NEb.-Kearney due to injuries.
AS A FRESHMAN-He became the first freshman to start at center for the Hornets under coach Higgins since Lance Uhles in 2008.
IN HIGH SCHOOL- He was a first-team All-District performer on the offensive line for Celina HS.

BIG STEVE
Tackle Steve Williams (Sr./St. Louis, Mo.) has played in 32 games with 14 starts in his career and has seen action in three playoff games.
AS A SENIOR-He earned the Squarehead Award at Pittsburg State.
AS A JUNIOR-He was named Squarehead Award winner against Lindenwood.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He earned the Squarehead Award winner against Ft. Hays State last year. He was named the Squarehead Award winner for the Neb.-Kearney game in his first start of the season.
AS A FRESHMAN-He sat out the 2016 season after playing in 12 games with seven starts as a true freshman for the Hornets in 2015.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a first-team all-conference performer on the offensive line for Clayton HS and a four-year letter winner.

OLE ROY
Center Jarrett Roy (Jr./Hoyt, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He moved into the starting lineup against Neb.-Kearney. He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He saw action in four games and was named Squarehead Award winner against Missouri Southern.

X MARKS THE SPOT
Tackle Xavier Cason (Soph./Junction City, Kan.) is in his second year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was named the Squarehead Award winner after the Northwest Missouri game. He made his first career start against Neb.-Kearney after he played most of the second half at Pittsburg State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He made the two-deep as a true freshman and played in four games.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention pick and 2018 Shrine Bowl Participant. He is the younger brother of former Hornet linebacker Manny Cason.

SPIDERMAN
Tackle Estevan Arana (Sr./Enid, Okla.) is a three-time honorable mentino All-MIAA performer at tackle. He has 33 starts in 36 career games at Emporia State. He is missed the last three games with a leg injury and is questionable for Fort Hays State.
AS A JUNIOR-He was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection last year. He earned his second Squarehead Award of the season against Neb.-Kearney. He was named the Squarehead Award winner after week one's win at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer last season. He 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.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was named honorable mention All-MIAA in 2016. 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.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a three-year letterwinner for Enid HS and earned all-conference, all-district and all-state honors on the offensive line.

GET THE JOKE
Guard Tyler Banta (Jr./Oklahoma City, Okla.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He got his first start against Northeastern State and started against Pittsburg State. He missed two games with a leg injury before returning against Northwest Missouri.
IN HIS CAREER-He played in five games in his first two years at Emporia State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a first-team Class 5A OCA All-Star and Carl Albert HS Lineman of the Year.

RUDD SCHOLAR
Tackle Aaron Clark (Fr.-RS/Great Bend, Kan.) has moved into the two deep as a red-shirt freshman.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal All-State Honorable Mention honoree. He was a two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection and a 2018 Kansas Shrine Bowl pick.

BROTHER OF DESTRUCTION
Guard Brandon Kane (Fr.-RS/Arlington, Texas) has moved into the two-deep as a red-shirt freshman.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was and All-District Honorable Mention on the field and All-District Academic selection at Arlington Bowie HS.

DEFENSE
The Hornets have the second ranked defense in the MIAA in total yards, passing yards and passing efficiency defense this season. Emporia State is one of two MIAA schools that are holding their opponents to under 330 yards of total offense per game this year. They have forced 12 turnovers on the season with seven interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
While the offense will be one of the most inexperienced groups in Coach Higgins 13 years at Emporia State, the defense might be the most experienced group the Hornets have had in his tenure. The Hornets return a player that has started at least five games at all 11 positions including 13 of their top 15 tacklers from a year ago.

LINEBACKERS
Although there is not a senior in the group, the talk of the Hornet defense begins with junior middle linebacker Jace McDown. He was named Second-Team All-MIAA last season after leading the MIAA with 127 total tackles, 79 solo tackles, and five forced fumbles. He was third in the nation in forced fumbles, fourth in total tackles and eighth in solo tackles.
Sophomore Dawson Hammes played in nine games as a freshman last year and had a season high four solo stops against Missouri Southern. Junior transfer Gee Stanley comes to Emporia State from Coffeyville CC where he recorded 47 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss last season.

GET DOWN
Linebacker Jace McDown (So./Columbus, Kan.) was named a preseason All-American by Lindy's after leading the MIAA in total tackles last season. He is leading the MIAA in tackles and solo tackles this year while ranking 13th in the nation in solo tackles.
AS A JUNIOR-He had a game high 13 tackles with an interception against Northwest Missouri. He recorded a career high 15 tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had a game high 14 tackles with two for a loss at Pittsburg State. He had a team high six tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was named Second-Team All-MIAA last season after leading the MIAA with 127 total tackles, 79 solo tackles, and five forced fumbles. He was ranked third in the nation in forced fumbles, fourth in total tackles and eighth in solo tackles. He had 12 tackles at Central Oklahoma, eight of them solo. He had nine tackles with one for a loss against Missouri Southern. He earned his second MIAA Defensive Player of the Week award after recording a career high 14 tackles and forcing two fumbles at Washburn. He had 11 tackles and one tackle for loss against Missouri Western. He was credited with nine tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry at Central Missouri. He had 12 tackles, a forced fumble, pass break up and an interception against Ft. Hays State to earn MIAA and D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Week honors. He led the Hornets with nine tackles, had a forced fumble and a pass break up at Northwest Missouri. He had 11 solo stops, 2.5 TFL and his first career sack against Lindenwood. He was credited with 12 tackles including a sack at Neb.-Kearney. He had 11 tackles with an assisted tackle for loss against Pitt State. He had six tackles with a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry in his first career start at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was a regular on special teams for Emporia State as a freshman last season. He was credited with two solo tackles against Washburn. He had four tackles on special teams against Missouri Western.  
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

DAWSON'S CREEK
Linebacker Dawson Hammes (Soph./Rossville, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was credited with six tackles against Northwest Missouri. He had a team high nine tackles with a sack and a quarterback hurry at Lincoln. He recorded six tackles and a quarterback hurry against Neb.-Kearney. He had a career high seven tackles at Pittsburg State with a sack. He had three tackles against Northeastern State in his first career start.
AS A FRESHMAN-He played in all 11 games last season. He had a career high four tackles against Missouri Southern. He had two stops against Missouri Western. He had two solo tackles against Ft. Hays State. He was credited with a solo tackle at Northwest Missouri.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an All-State and Top 33 selection in the state of Kansas. He earned first-team All-Mid-East League with 172 tackles, with six sacks and three pass deflections as a senior. He was a three-time state champ at Rossville HS playing for his father, former Hornet Derick Hammes.

GEE-WHIZ
Linebacker Gee Stanley (Jr./Miami, Fla.) is in his first year with the Hornets.  He is tied for second in the MIAA in solo tackles for loss and is tied for sixth in total tackles for loss.
AS A JUNIOR-He recorded six tackles with one for a seven yard loss against Northwest Missorui. He had his first career interception at Lincoln to go with three tackles. He had six tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with three tackles including a sack at Pittsburg State. He had three tackles, all for a loss including a sack against Northeastern State.
AT COFFEYVILLE CC-He recorded 47 tackles and 9.5 TFL's and three sacks for the Ravens last season.
AT ROBERT MORRIS-He was the Northeast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year as a freshman at Robert Morris and was named a HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American. He had 59 tackles with 12.5 tackles for loss.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a three-star prospect by 247sports.com and a two-star prospect by Rivals. He was a Top 100 outside linebacker recruit in the 2016 class according to 247sports. He was named to the Florida Class 8A all-state third team after recording 104 tackles, 56 of themsolo, in his senior season.

PROCESSIONAL
Linebacker Cade Harelson (Soph./Davenport, Okla.) is tied for second in the MIAA with two fumble recoveries.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had two tackles, one for a loss, and a pass break up against Northwest Missouri. He was credited with four solo tackles and a fumble recovery at Lincoln. He had three tackles and a fumble recovery against Neb.-Kearney. He recorded four tackles and forced a fumble at Pittsburg State. He had two tackles against Northeastern State with one for a loss.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was credited with four unassisted tackles against Missouri Southern. He had four solo tackles against Missouri Western. He had two tackles and his first career interception at Central Missouri. He was credited with an assisted tackle and a pass break up at Northwest Missouri. He had three tackles at Neb.-Kearney.  He recorded four tackles with 1.5 sacks in his Emporia State debut at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an All-Little City First team selection and all-state honoree for Davenport HS. He was the eight man football Class B-7 District MVP.

THE BAIRD OF THE LAKE
Linebacker Cole Baird (Jr./Silver Lake, Kan.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He had two solo tackles at Lincoln. He was credited with three tackles at Pittsburg State. He had three tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had two tackles at Washburn.
AS A FRESHMAN: He played in five games for Emporia State as a freshman.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a first team All-Class 3A selection for Silver Lake HS. He had 65 tackles and two interceptions for the Eagles as a senior.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA
Linebacker Jordan Griffin (Jr./St. Louis, Mo.) is in his second year at Emporia State.
AS A JUNIOR-He had five tackles with one for a loss at Lincoln. He had two stops against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles at Pittsburg State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He played in 11 games last year. He had three tackles and a pass break up in his first career start at Washburn. He recorded two tackles at Central Missouri. He had four tackles at Northwest Missouri.
IN HIGH SCHOOL/CC-At Ft. Scott CC he had a 100 yard interception return for a touchdown against Iowa Western CC. He had an 84 yard fumble return for a touchdown for Trinity Catholic HS.

BARGAIN WITH ME
Linebacker Jack Barger (Fr.-RS/DeSoto,Kan.) is in his second year with the Hornets.
AS A FRESHMAN-He recorded two tackles, one of them solo and one assisted. He had a solo tackle against Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was named a First-Team All-Class 4A Division I linebacker by the Kansas Football Coaches Association.

DEFENSIVE LINE
As good of a group the linebackers are, the defensive line might be better.  Senior Parker Bass was a Second-Team All-MIAA selection. Senior Tre'Vaun Ammons was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer last season after earning Second-Team All-MIAA honors as a sophomore.    Junior Marek Thompson was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection last season and has 8.0 tackles for loss in his first two years. Six more returners recorded at least one tackle for the Hornets last season. Senior Jackson Maase is in his fifth year at Emporia State. He is joined by returning juniors Dylann Haworth, Jahmek Murphy and Cody Swanson, and sophomore Hawkens Taylor to give Emporia State one of their deepest defensive fronts in recent years.

THE FIRST DAY
Defensive end Tre'Vaun Ammons (Sr./Omaha, Neb.) is the MIAA's active leader with 17.5 sacks and 33.5 tackles for loss.  He is tied for fifth in the MIAA in forced fumbles this season.
AS A SENIOR-He recorded four fumbles against Northwest Missouri, including an assist for a loss. He had four tackles with one for a loss and a forced fumble against Neb.-Kearney.
AS A JUNIOR-He was named honorable mention All-MIAA on the defensive line. He had seven tackles at Central Oklahoma. He was credited with five tackles against Missouri Western. He recorded seven tackles, 2.5 TFL, a sack, and recovered a fumble against Ft. Hays State. He had six solo tackles against Lindenwood. He was credited with four tackles and a forced fumble at Neb.-Kearney. He had five tackles and was in on a sack at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He earned second-team All-MIAA honors in 2017. He led the MIAA and ranked 25th in the nation in tackles for loss with 17.5 and was second in the league with 8.5 sacks.  He had 53 total tackles to go with four forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries and an interception.  He recorded a career high ten tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks against Washburn. He had a 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 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.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was fourth in the MIAA with 7.0 sacks as a freshman in 2016. 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 a sack and strip in the end zone at Northeastern State that resulted in a Hornet defensive touchdown. 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.
IN HIS CAREER-He has 33.5 tackles for loss and 17.5 sacks in 37 career games. He is ranked second among active NCAA Division II players and fourth in all divisions in forced fumbles with nine, is tenth in Division II in total tackles for loss and 13th in sacks.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was second-team All-Metro for Omaha North HS and had 93 total tackles.

BASSMASTER
Defensive lineman Parker Bass (Sr./Emporia, Kan) was named second-team All-MIAA last year. He is tied for fifth in the MIAA in forced fumbles.
AS A SENIOR-He d two tackles against Northwest Missouri. He was credited with four tackles, 1.5 TFL and two quarterback hurries at Lincoln. He had six tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble against Neb.-Kearney. He recorded four tackles including an assisted tackle for loss at Pittsburg State.
AS A JUNIOR-He led the MIAA and ranked ninth in the nation with three fumble recoveries. He was third in the MIAA  with 6.5 sacks while ranking fourth in the conference with 11.5 tackles for loss. He recorded eight tackles and was credited with 1.5 sacks at Central Okla. He earned his second MIAA Defensive Player of the Week award with five tackles and a 74 yard fumble return for a touchdown at Central Missouri. He had five tackles and had a fumble forced and recovered against Ft. Hays State. He had five tackles with one for a loss against Pittsburg State. He was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career best 3.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had a pass break up, a quarterback hurry and an assisted tackle against Missouri Western. He 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 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.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was credited with three tackles at Pittsburg State as a freshman. 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.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

STRENGTH FROM WITHIN
Defensive lineman Marek Thompson (Jr./Osceola, Mo.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets and was named honorable mention All-MIAA on the defensive line last year.
AS A JUNIOR-He forced a fumble and had a tackle for loss against Northwest Missouri. He had four tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had four tackles, three of them solo, with 1.5 TFL at Pitt State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He recorded five tackles at Central Okla. He had a career high six tackles at Washburn. He had four tackles including two sacks and a pass break up at Central Missouri. He was credited with five assisted tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He recorded three tackles against Pittsburg State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had a sack and a forced fumble against Washburn last season. He recorded three tackles against Missouri Western. He had two tackles, one for a loss and knocked down a pass at Ft. Hays State. He had four tackles with two TFL against Pittsburg State. He had three tackles against Central Missouri. He had four tackles at Northwest Missouri.
IN HIS CAREER-Also a member of the ESU track team and placed 11th in the MIAA in discus in 2018.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

MAASE WINDU
Defensive lineman Jackson Maase (Sr./Overland Park, Kan.) is in his fifth year with the Hornets.
AS A SENIOR-He was in on a tackle for loss at Lincoln. He had a fumble recovery at Pittsburg State. He had one solo tackle against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR-He recorded a career high five tackles against Northwest Missouri. He had three tackles including one for a loss against Ark.-Monticello. He had two solo tackles at Central Oklahoma. He was credited with four tackles against Missouri Western. He recorded a solo sack against Ft. Hays State. He had three stops at Northwest Missouri. He had a tackle for loss against Lindenwood. He had three tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with three assisted tackles with one of them behind the line of scrimmage against Pittsburg State. He had two tackles including an assist behind the line of scrimmage and had a fumble recovery of 26 yards.
AS A SOPHOMORE- He was credited with a solo tackle against Central Missouri last year. He had one tackle at Northwest Missouri.
AS A FRESHMAN-He played in four games and recorded a solo tackle against Minnesota Duluth in the playoffs in 2016.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
Defensive lineman Dyllan Haworth (Jr./Weatherford, Okla.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He had a solo tackle at Pittsburg State. He earned his first career start against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was credited with an assisted sack at Central Oklahoma. He had two solo stops against Pittsburg State. He was in on a tackle for loss at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He recorded two solo tackles against Pittsburg State last season. He had two tackles against Northeastern State. He was credited with two assisted tackles in his Emporia State debut at Northwest Missouri.
IN HIS CAREER-He is also a member of the Hornet Track & Field team. He finished in the top 20 in the MIAA in both the shot and discus last spring.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a first-team Class 4A All-Star in Oklahoma on the offensive line for Weatherford HS

OFF THE FERRY
Defensive lineman Jahmek Murphy (Sr./Staten Island, N.Y.) is in his second year with Emporia State after transferring from ASA College.
AS A SENIOR-He had a solo tackle against Northwest Missouri. He recorded a tackle for loss at Lincoln. He had one tackle at Pittsburg State. He had one tackle for loss against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR-He had a solo tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry at Central Missouri. He sealed the win against Ft. Hays State with a sack on the final play of the game. He had a tackle for loss on second and goal that helped hold Pittsburg State to a field goal.
IN HIGH SCHOOL/CC-He had nine tackles in seven games with three tackles for loss and a sack at ASA College in New York. He graduated from Tottenville HS.

WILLIAMS AUTOMOTIVE
Defensive lineman Jordan Williams (Fr.-RS/St Louis, Mo.) is in his second year with the Hornets.
AS A FRESHMAN-He recorded a career high five tackles against Northwest Missouri. He had a sack at Lincoln. He had two unassisted tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had a solo stop at Pittsburg State. He was credited with a solo tackle against Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a First-Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman as a senior. He also participated on the track & field team for Hazelwood East HS where he threw shot put.

IT'S IN THE BROTH
Defensive lineman Cody Swanson (Jr./Emporia, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He was credited with two tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had two solo stops at Pittsburg State. He recorded a solo tackle against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He played in four of the last five games. He had solo tackles against Central Oklahoma and Missouri Southern.
IN HIGH SCHOOL/CC: Attended Highland CC after graduating from Emporia HS. He was a first-team All-Centennial League performer for the Spartans in 2014.

STRANGER THINGS
Defensive lineman Hawkens Taylor (Soph./Flower Mound, Texas) is in his third season at Emporia State. He was credited with a quarterback hurry against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had two solo tackles at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a First-team All-District 6-6A at defensive tackle as a senior after earning first-team All-District 5-6A as a defensive end his junior year for Marcus HS.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The defensive secondary might be the most experienced unit on the team. Six of the returning defensive backs have started at least four games in a season. The Hornets are ranked second in the MIAA in passing defense and pass efficiency defense.
Senior Gary Woods II returns to the defensive backfield after earning honorable mention All-MIAA honors at linebacker last year. He also earned honorable mention all-league honors as a sophomore at safety. Junior Kyle Rinck was second in the MIAA in pass break ups last season. Senior Roscoe Gatewood III had 41 tackles in the first seven games before a season ending knee injury last year. Senior Jawill Aldridge had a season high eight tackles against both Washburn and Ark.-Monticello. Junior Jordan Wallace had a season's best 35 yard interception return against PittState. Sophomore Jaedon Pool had five starts as a true freshman before getting slowed by injuries.  Sophomore Kelin Gordon returns to the line up after missing all of last year with a knee injury.   

BRING THE WOOD
Safety Gary Woods II (Sr./Oklahoma City, Okla.) is in his fifth year at Emporia State. He earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors at linebacker last season.  
AS A SENIOR-He had a season high ten tackles against Northwest Missouri. He had an interception in the end zone that ended a Loper scoring threat and finished with six tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with three tackles at Pittsburg State. He had three tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR-He was fourth in the MIAA and 19th in the nation in fumbles forced and was sixth in the conference in solo tackles. He had 12 tackles at Central Oklahoma. He had ten tackles and a pass break up against Missouri Western. He recorded nine tackles and forced a fumble inside the five yard line against Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles, a pass break up and forced a fumble at Northwest Missouri. He had ten tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He recorded ten tackles against Pittsburg State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer at safety in 2017. He had nine tackles against Washburn. He recorded ten tackles against Missouri Western. He had eight tackles with a six yard tackle for loss at Ft. Hays State. He recorded eight tackles at Central Okla. He had eight tackles, including one for a loss against Central Missouri. He was credited with seven tackles, a forced fumble and a pass break up at Missouri Southern.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was tied for 21st in the MIAA in interceptions in 2016 as a freshman. He had five tackles with an assisted TFL 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 Central Missouri.  
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

CLOSE THE GATE
Safety Roscoe Gatewood III (Sr./Midwest City, Okla.) is in his fifth year at Emporia State.
AS A SENIOR-He was credited with four tackles against Northwest Missouri. He had two tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had an unassisted tackle and a pass break up against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR-He injured his knee in the first half at Central Missouri and was out for the rest of the year. He had nine tackles against Ft. Hays State. He recorded five stops at Northwest Missouri. He was credited with four solo tackles and a pass break up against Lindenwood. He had seven tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He had a career high ten tackles including an assisted TFL against Pittsburg State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had a career high six tackles and a pass break up against Missouri Western. He 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.
AS A FRESHMAN-He moved into the post season roster as a red-shirt freshman in 2016. He had one tackle at Washburn. He was credited with one tackle at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

iSPY
Cornerback Kyle Rinck (Jr./Independence, Kan.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR-He had three solo tackles and a fumble recovery against Northwest Missouri. He recorded four tackles and a pass break up against Neb.-Kearney. He had a solo tackle at Pitt State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He was ranked second in the MIAA with 14 passes defended. It was the most pass break ups without an interception in the MIAA last year. He had a career high ten solo tackles at Central Oklahoma along with a pass break up. He broke up three passes and had seven tackles at Washburn. He had four tackles, one tackle for loss, a pass break up and a blocked PAT against Missouri Western. He matched his career high with eight tackles and had two pass break ups at Central Missouri. He had a career high eight tackles, three pass break ups and recovered a fumble against Ft. Hays State. He had five tackles, four of them unassisted, against Lindenwood. He had two tackles and a pass break up at Neb.-Kearney. He had a tackle and two pass break ups in his first career start against Pittsburg State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an honorable mention all-state performer for Independence HS.

JUMP IN THE POOL
Cornerback Jaedon Pool (Soph./Midwest City, Okla.) is in his second season with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had a career high eight tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He broke up a pass at Pittsburg State. He had a tackle for loss and a pass break up against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He had a solo tackle and a pass break up at Washburn. He had two tackles and a pass break up at Northwest Missouri. He two tackles and two pass break ups against Lindenwood. He had a pair of tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with five solo tackles and a pass break up against Pittsburg State. He had two solo tackles and a fumble recovery in his first game as a Hornet at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a First-Team All-District pick on defense for Carl Albert HS. He had 75 tackles, five Sacks and an Interception on defense while catching 22 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns. He was part of back-to-back State Championship teams in football in 2016 and 2017 and was a part of the 2017 Track & Field State Championship team.  

THE LAW
Defensive back Lawson Holbert (Sr./Leawood, Kan.) is in his second year with the Hornets. He is ranked third in the MIAA in interceptions.
AS A SENIOR-He had seven tackles, a fumble recovery and two pass break ups against Northwest Missouri. He was credited with five tackles at Lincoln. He had four tackles at Pittsburg State. He had two interceptions against Northeastern State along with four solo tackles and another pass break up.
AS A JUNIOR-He had an interception return of 33 yards at Central Oklahoma. He was credited with three tackles at Washburn. He had two tackles against Missouri Western. He had two assisted tackles at Central Missouri. He had four tackles against Ft. Hays State. He had two tackles against Lindenwood.
IN HIGH SCHOOL/CC-He had seven tackles with a 43 yard interception return for a touchdown for the Blue Dragons last season. He was an honorable mention All-Eastern Kansas League pick at receiver for Blue Valley HS.

AIR JORDAN
Safety Jordan Wallace (Jr./Denton, Texas) is in his second year with the Hornets after transferring from Coffeyville CC.
AS A JUNIOR-He had four solo stops and a pass break up against Northwest Missorui. He had four tackles, two for a loss, and a pass break up against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with a solo tackle at Pittsburg State. He had an unassisted tackle for loss and a pass break up against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He matched his career high with six tackles at Central Oklahoma. He recorded a career high six tackles with a pass break up at Washburn. He had five tackles against Missouri Western. He was credited with five tackles against Lindenwood. He recorded a career high five tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He had four tackles and returned an interception 35 yards against Pittsburg State. He had two solo tackles at Northeastern State.
AT COFFEYVILLE CC-He had 21 tackles and two pass break ups for the Red Ravens in 2017. He originally Signed with Iowa State out of high school.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was ranked as a Three Star Recruit, and listed in the top 100 in the state of Texas. He was a First-Team All-District at Guyer HS. He had 76 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception as a senior.

CHI-TOWN
Rover Jawil Aldridge (Sr./Chicago, Ill.) is in his second year with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC.
AS A SENIOR-He had two tackles at Pittsburg State.
AS A JUNIOR-He tied his career high with eight tackles against Ark.-Monticello. He eight tackles with two behind the line of scrimmage at Washburn. He was credited with five tackles at Central Missouri. He recorded four tackles against Lindenwood. He had two solo tackles at Neb.-Kearney. He had a tackle, a fumble recovery and two pass break ups at Northeastern State.
PREVIOUS SCHOOLS-He had 29 tackles for Butler CC as a sophomore in 2017. He redshirted at Illinois State in 2015.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He recorded 78 tackles and picked off four passes, while causing two fumbles at Marist HS. He led Marist to the semifinals of the IHSA state playoffs.

THE BIRD
Safety Trey Morris (Soph./Cushing, Okla.) is in his third year at Emporia State.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He recorded three tackles with one for a loss against Northwest Missouri. He  had his first career interception at Lincoln. He had three tackles including one for a loss against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He forced a fumble at Central Oklahoma. He had a career high five tackles at Northwest Missouri. He had a tackle and returned a kick-off 46 yards against Lindenwood.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He earned All-District, all-area, and all-state honors at Cushing HS. He had 35 catches for 873 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior and carried the ball 36 times for 365 yards and two touchdowns.

COMEBACK KID
Cornerback Kelin Gordon (Soph./Del City, Okla.) is in his third season with the Hornets. He sat out last season with an injury.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He had two tackles at Lincoln. He was credited with two tackles at Pittsburg State. He had three solo tackles and an interception against Northeastern State.
AS A TRUE FRESHMAN-He had a pass break up and a tackle 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.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-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.

SPECIAL TEAMS
With two freshmen kickers the Hornets only attempted six field goals last year and were 40 of 48 on extra point attempts.  This year Emporia State is already nine of 11 on field goals and has hit 15 of 17 PATs. The Hornets are third in the nation in two-point conversions this year.
Emporia State leads the MIAA and ranks third nation with an average of 24.5 yards per punt return this season. They also lead the league and are ranked 16th in the nation in kick-off return defense this year.
Tyler Harris handled most of the punting duties last year however Sam Dobbins punted five times for an average of 43.8 yards per punt.

SCHOON-OVER MIAMI
Kicker Clark Schoonover (Soph./Andover, Kan.) is second in the MIAA and eighth in the nation in made field goals while ranking second in field goal percentage and fourth in kick scoring.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He hit his only field goal attempt against Northwest Missouri but did have a PAT blocked. He set an MIAA record with 20 kick points and tied the Emporia State single game record with five made field goals at Lincoln. He broke Central Missouri's Steve Huff's league record of 19 points scored against SEMO on Nov. 2, 1985 and tied Austin Morton's Emporia State and NCAA Playoff record of five made field goals set on Nov. 28, 2015 at Henderson State. He also hit all five PAT's in Jefferson City. He was one of two on PATs against Neb.-Kearney. He made his only PAT at Pittsburg State but missed two field goal attempts. He went six of six on PATs and three for three on field goals against Northeastern State. The three field goals are one more than Emporia State made as a team last year.
AS A FRESHMAN-He was 21 of 25 on PATs last season and missed his only field goal attempt.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was a First-Team All-State Kicker and First-Team All-League kicker/punter for Andover Central HS.

WAY/NO WAY
Punter Ross Brungardt (Fr./Lawrence, Kan.) is in his first year with the Hornets. He is fifth in the MIAA in average yards per punt and his 67 yarder against Neb.-Kearney is tied for the second longest in the league this year.
AS A FRESHMAN-He averaged 41.2 yards on eight punts a long of 58 yards and three inside the 20 against Northwest Missouri. He averaged 36.5 yards on two punts at Lincoln with one of them inside the 20 yard line. He averaged 40.7 yards per punt with a 35.4 yard net against Neb.-Kearney. He averaged 38.0 yards per punt at Pittsburg State. He had four punts for 33.0 yard average with two of them placed inside the 20 yard line against Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He had six punts of at least 50 yards for Lawrence HS last year.

CLYDESDALE
Kicker Sam Dobbins (Soph./Emporia, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE-He has handled kick-offs at home. He is averaging 54.4 yards per kick on 20 kick-offs with five touchbacks. He averaged 61.2 yards per kick on ten kick-offs against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN-He missed seven games with an injury. He hit both field goals made by the Hornets last year, connecting on tries from 30 and 24 yards against Missouri Southern.  He was 19 of 23 on PATs and at one point hit 18 straight. He averaged 47.7 yards on three punts with a 55 yarder in Emporia State's Corsicana Bowl win.
IN HIGH SCHOOL-He was an all-state kicker as a junior for Emporia HS.

RETURNERS
Travon Jones is sixth in the MIAA in kick returns and would lead the league with a 28.3 yard punt return average if he had enough returns to qualify for the leaders. He had a 74 yard punt return and a 27 yard kick-off return against Neb.-Kearney. It is the longest punt return by a Hornet since Mitchell Foote had an 88 yard return against Missouri Southern in 2015. He had three kick returns for an average of 17.3 yards with a long of 26 at Pittsburg State. Last year he had 22 kick-off returns for an average of 22.2 yards per return.  He had a season long 75 yard kick return against Missouri Southern.

GOING LONG
Long snapper Austin Passmore (Sr./Tulsa, Okla.) is in his second year as deep snapper after transferring to ESU from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M last year. He was named the Hornets Special Teams Player of the Week against Pittsburg State.

CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are defensive back Roscoe Gatewood III, safety Gary Woods II, linebacker Jace McDown, and offensive lineman Austin Unterreiner.

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 and is immediately archived for on-demand viewing after each event.  Fans can find 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 on the call, Tagan Trahoon on the sidelines and a special guest commentator each week. KFFX is in their 32nd 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. The Hornets are third behind Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri for the most appearances on live television over the last eight 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.

HEAD COACH GARIN HIGGINS
Former Hornet Garin Higgins is in his 13th season at his alma mater having transformed Hornet football into a national power, taking Emporia State to the postseason in five of the last seven years. He has a 131-73 record in his 17 years as a head coach and 80-64 in his 13th season at Emporia State. His 80 wins are the second most in Emporia State history behind Fan Welch's 115 from 1928-54 and ranks tenth in MIAA history. He has built the Hornets the right way during his 13 seasons and orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in Emporia State history. The Hornets have gone 61-28 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 done it in three seasons with three different quarterbacks. 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 and was one win away in 2017. He joins Larry Kramer, Fran Welch and Bill Hargis as the only Emporia State coaches to have a span of four straight winning seasons.
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.
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 three teams ranked in the top 25 in this week's AFCA and D2Football.com national polls. The Hornets have been ranked in the AFCA Poll at some point during the regular season for six straight years. Emporia State is 8-13 against teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 over the last seven years, with an 8-4 record against teams other than Northwest Missouri.

BEST IN THE STATE  
Emporia State's 61 victories are the most wins among NCAA schools in the state of Kansas since the beginning of the 2012 season. Their three NCAA playoff appearances and five total years in the post season are the most among Division II teams in the state.

THE NFL EXPERIENCE
The Hornets have had 16 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 appeared in the playoffs last year with the Los Angeles Chargers after winning a Grey Cup with the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL in 2016. Adam Schiltz saw action in exhibition games with the Chiefs in 2015 while Austin Willis played in exhibition action for the Buffalo Bills in 2016. 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 four players that have gone on to play in the NFL regular season - Jeff Richards with the Chargers, Lynn Scott with the Dallas Cowboys, Sam Breeden with the Green Bay Packers, and Patrick Crayton with the Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.
Both Jeff Richards and Patrick Crayton spent time on the Emporia State coaching staff.

A Hornet win would...
•make Emporia State 3-3 overall, 3-3 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 54-37-2 all-time against Fort Hays State;
•be the Hornets second straight win over the Tigers;
•be the Hornets first win over the Tigers in Hays since 2013;
•be the first road win by either team in the series since 2014;
•make the Hornets 3-3 for the second straight year:
•make Coach Higgins 81-64 at Emporia State and 132-73 overall.

A Hornet loss would...
•make Emporia State 2-4 overall, 2-4 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 53-38-2 all-time against Fort Hays State;
•be the fifth straight win by the home team in the series;
•make Emporia State 2-4 for the first time since 2011;
•make Coach Higgins 80-65 at Emporia State and 131-74 overall;

WORKING OVERTIME
• The Hornets are 6-8 in overtime games with wins in six of their last eight after dropping their first four extra period contests.
• Emporia State is 4-1 in overtime games under Garin Higgins with wins in the last four 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 has twice overcome a 17 point deficit at the half for a win in MIAA play. Most recently they trailed 17-0 at Neb.-Kearney before rallying for a 20-17 win in week three this year. The first was against Missouri Southern in 2011 when the Hornets trailed 17-0 and eventually won 31-24 in Welch Stadium.
• 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.