EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL IMPROVES TO 2-0 WIN 31-21 WIN OVER UCO

September 11, 2021-Emporia State jumped out to a 21-7 lead and then scored the final ten points of the game to secure a 31-21 victory over Central Oklahoma on Saturday night on Jones Field at Welch Stadium. The Hornets rolled up 411 yards of total offense on the night while limiting the Bronchos to just 248 yards.
 
UCO got on the board first thanks to a 20 yard touchdown run by quarterback Stephon Brown.  The extra point made it 7-0 with 8:03 left in the first quarter.  After the teams traded three and outs Emporia State tied it on an eight yard touchdown pass from Braden Gleason to Dexton Swinehart with 2:04 left in the period.

The Bronchos got down to the Hornet 32 yard line to start the second quarter before Cade Harelson sacked Brown for a loss of 11 back to the 43 yard line.  On the ensuing drive Gleason connected with Tyler Kahmann for 69 yards on third and seven to get the Hornets down to the UCO 13 yard line.  Three plays later Gleason found Tommy Zimmerman for a ten yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead with 10:14 left in the half. 
 
The Hornets went up two scores early in the third when Billy Ross, Jr. took a counter hand off and went around the left end for a two yard touchdown run.  It was the only rush on an eight play, 65 yard drive that saw Gleason go six of seven for 63 yards and connect with five different receivers.   The extra point gave Emporia State a 21-7 lead with 9:07 left in the third quarter. 
 
Central Oklahoma saw the momentum change with four minutes left in the third when Gleason was strip sacked for a loss of nine yards back to the ESU six yard line.  Two plays later Markiese King scored from five yards out to pull the Bronchos within 21-14 with 3:15 left in the quarter.  The Hornets then went three and out to give the ball back to UCO for the end of the quarter.
 
The Bronchos would drive 63 yards on nine plays and would score don a Jayce Gardner 19 yard run with 12:59 left in the game to tie the score at 21. 
 
The teams traded punts with Emporia State getting the ball back on their own 43 yard line with 9:56 left.  On first down Canaan Brooks broke a run for 52 yards down to the Hornet five yard line. They were not able to get in the endzone but Sam Dobbins connected on a 22 yard field goal to make it 24-21 with 7:50 left in the game.
 
The Hornet defense forced another three and out giving the ball back to their offense with 7:00 left in the game.  Emporia State marched down the field going 67 yards on eight plays capped by a nine yard touchdown pass from Gleason to Dalton Cowan with 3:59 left. On the next series Harelson got an 11 yard sack on third down and Jaedon Poll sealed the with an interception on fourth down.  Emporia State took over with 2:13 left and Calvin Boyce iced it with a 12 yard gain on first down and then carried it for the final three plays of the game.
 
Braden Gleason went 28 of 42 for 280 yards with three touchdowns. HE connected with eight different receivers, six of whom had a reception of at least ten yards. Dexton Swinehart had a team high eight catches for 30 yards while Tyler Kahmann led the Hornets with 69 yards on one catch. Canaan Brooks was the leading rusher for the hornets with 80 yards on nine carries.
 
Dawson Hammes was credited with a team high eight tackles while Cade Harelson had six tackles including two sacks for a total of 22 yards.  The Hornets combined for seven sacks on the evening with Hammes, Jordan Williams, Jace McDown, Jahmek Murphy and Hawkens Tayler each getting credit for one sack.
 
Emporia State, now 2-0 on the season, will travel to Missouri Western next Saturday night.  Kick-off from Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph, Mo. is set for 6:00 p.m.