EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL GETS 24-21 HOMECOMING VICTORY OVER MISSOURI SOUTHERN

October 23, 2021-Emporia State built a ten point lead on three occasions on the way to a 24-21 Homecoming victory over Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon on Jones Field at Welch Stadium.
 
The Hornets forced a three and out on the opening series and would drive down to the Lion five yard line before settling for a 28 yard field goal from Sam Dobbins with 10:30 left in the quarter.  The teams traded three and outs over the next three series with the Emporia State drive stalled on a bad snap from center that cost them 21 yards. 
 
Once they got the ball back Emporia State drove 60 yards on 11 plays capped by a five yard touchdown run from Canaan Brooks.  He carried the ball the last three times on the drive as the Hornets went up 10-0 with 2:10 left in the quarter.
 
Emporia State forced another punt by Southern to start the second quarter and would drive down to the Lion seven yard line.  Braden Gleason and Cole Schumacher could not connect on a fourth down play and ESU turned the ball back over to Southern with 7:29 left in the half. 
 
The Lions would go 66 yards before stalling out at the Hornet 27 yard line and Nick Williams got them on the board with a 44 yard field goal at the 3:01 mark to pull within 10-3 at the half.
 
Williams would hit another field goal, this one from 22 yards out, with 5:21 to go in the third quarter as Southern pulled within 10-6.  Emporia State went back up by double digits thanks to a nine yard touchdown pass from Gleason to Tyler Kahmann with 11:54 left in the game. 
 
The Lions responded with a nine play 75 yard drive capped by a 25 yard pass from Dawson Herl to Brian Boyd.  The two connected on a two point conversion to bring Southern within 17-14 with 8:07 left in the game.  Emporia State answered quickly getting a four yard touchdown pass from Gleason to Kahmann with 5:45 left to cap a nine play, 64 yard drive.
 
Arich Ansley ended the next Missouri Southern threat when he intercepted Herl in the end zone with 3:26 left in the game.  The Hornets were able to get the ball out to the 39 yard line before having to punt, but used 2:26 off the clock and forced the Lions into using all of their timeouts.
 
The Lions went 72 yards, aided by two penalties on the Hornets, and scored on an 18 yard pass from Herl to Jaedon Stoshak with just 19 seconds left.  Billy Ross, Jr. was able to recover the onside kick attempt and take a kneel down to secure the 24-21 victory.
 
Canaan Brooks had his second consecutive 100 yard rushing day, finishing with 105 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown.  Braden Gleason was 31 of 43 for 219 yards with two touchdowns.  His favorite target on the day was Tyler Kahmann who finished with nine catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns.  Jace McDown had a team high nine tackles.
 
After a two game homestand, the Hornets will head back on the road next weekend.  They travel to Fort Hays State on October 30 with kick-off set for 1:00 p.m.