EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL SEASON ENDS AT #4 NORTHWEST MISSOURI

November 13, 2021-Fourth ranked Northwest Missouri held a 41:32 to 18:28 advantage in time of possession in a 35-7 victory over Emporia State on Saturday afternoon in Maryville, Mo.
 
The Hornets were able to hold the Bearcats to a missed field goal attempt on the opening drive of the game but could not get anything going on their ensuing possession. After an ESU punt, Jordan Williams flushed Bearcat quarterback Mike Hohensee out of the pocket second and nine from the 21 and he was able to find Imoni Donadelle at the 26 who took the ball all the way for a 79 touchdown and 7-0 NWMSU lead with 7:51 left in the quarter.
 
The Bearcats would go up 14-0 on a five yard run by Al McKeller with 14:30 left in the second quarter. The Hornets put together their first solid drive of the game and made it down to the NWMSU 35 yard line when Braden Gleason was intercepted by Cahleel Smith at the Bearcat seven yard line.  Four plays later Hohensee broke through the middle for 60 yards and a 21-0 Northwest lead with 10:23 left in the half.
 
Neither team generated much offense the rest of the half and the teams went to the locker room with Northwest Missouri leading 21-0.
 
The Bearcats went up 28-0 on a 27 yard run by McKeller that capped an 11 play 66 yard drive with 2:57 left in the third quarter.  McKeller scored his third touchdown of the game with 13:20 left on a four yard run.
 
Emporia State avoided the shut out when Gleason found Jaylen Varner for a ten yard touchdown with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter.
 
Braden Gleason was held to 85 yards on 13 of 32 passing with a touchdown and two interceptions.  Jaedon Pool and Cade Harelson tied for game high honors with 11 tackles each.
 
Emporia State ends the season 6-5, their seventh winning season in the last nine seasons.  They are set to return all 11 starters on defense and seven on defense.
 
NOTES:
With his 85 yards today Braden Gleason moved into fourth on the Emporia State single season passing list with 3,084 yards passing Braxton Marstall (3,049 in 2018) and Tad Hatfield (3,068 in 2004).
With 93 total yards Braden Gleason moved into fifth on the Emporia Staet single season total offense list with 3,385 total yards passing Brent Wilson (3,381 total yards in 2013)