EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL COMEBACK COMES UP SHORT AT PITTSBURG STATE

September 25, 2021-Emporia State's Braden Gleason had 387 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns but it was not enough as the Hornets fell 30-28 to Pittsburg State in front of 10,611 fans in Pittsburg on Saturday night.
 
The Gorillas got on the board first with a five play 68 yard drive capped by a Tyler Adkins one yard touchdown run.  The big play on the drive was a 59 yard completion from Mak Sexton to Elijah Harris on third down.  The Hornets drove down to the Pitt State 29 yard line on their next drive but Billy Ross Jr was stopped short on fourth and two.
 
Pitt State went up 14-0 on another Sexton to Harris pass, this time from 32 yards out with 6:32 left.  The Gorillas were able to convert on a fourth and two the play before. Emporia State answered with a 10 play, 75 yard drive to pull within 14-7 with 3:41 left.  Gleason completed five of seven passes on the drive capped by a nine yard throw to Tyler Kahmann from nine yards out.
 
The start of the second quarter saw Pitt State drive 65 yards on ten plays to take a 21-7 lead.  They converted two third downs and a fourth down on the drive, scoring on a ten yard rush by Caleb Lewis with 10:11 left in the half. Emporia State pulled within a touchdown with 3:00 left in the half on a one yard touchdown run by Braden Gleason.
 
The Hornets received the second half kick off and went 75 yards in 11 plays to tie the game at 21.  They twice converted on third down during the drive before Gleason hit Cole Schumacher for a six yard touchdown with 10:49 left in the quarter.  On the next drive Jaedon Pool intercepted Sexton at the ESU 35.  The Hornets drove to the Pitt State 37 but could not get any closer as Gleason quick kicked on fourth down. 
 
The Gorillas answered with a ten play, 80 yard drive to retake the lead. Sexton hit Jalen Martin from 16 yards out with 4:06 left.  The PAT was no good and the Gorillas led 27-21 with 4:06 left in the third.
 
Cross Holmes hit a 39 yard field goal on the opening drive of the fourth quarter to go up 30-21 with 11:06 left in the game.  After a three and out for the Hornet offense, the defense was able to stop the Gorillas after a nine play, 17 yard drive.  Stadiman's punt went out of bounds at three yard line with 4:24 left.
 
The Hornets went on a ten play 97 yard drive with Gleason going nine of ten for 72 yards and adding 24 yards on the ground.  He capped the drive with a six yard scramble for a touchdown to pull Emporia State within 30-28 with 18 seconds left.  The onside kick was then recovered by Pitt State who was able to kneel down to end the game.
 
Gleason went 36 of 53 for 348 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.   Tyler Kahmann had nine catches for 77 yards and a touchdown while Daltpn Cowan and Corey Thomas each had six receptions for 93 and 92 yards respectively. Jace McDown had a team high ten tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss for the defense.
 
Emporia State is back in action on Saturday afternoon against Washburn.  Kick-off of the Turnpike Tussle on Jones Field at Welch Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.