HORNET FOOTBALL MAKES 2021 HOME DEBUT AGAINST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA

Football | 9/8/2021 5:18:00 PM

Game #2
Emporia State Hornets (1-0, 1-0 MIAA)
vs. Central Oklahoma Bronchos (1-0, 1-0 MIAA)
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. • Jones Field at Welch Stadium • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: UCO leads 11-91 Current Streak: ESU 2 Wins
Last Meeting: at ESU 34, UCO 14 (Nov. 16, 2019)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 6:00 p.m. TV: None
Internet (Audio): www.kvoe.com Internet (Video): themiaanetwork.com/esuhornets
Live Stats • Ticket Info • Complete Notes in pdf
Officials: Announced on Game Day
Up Next: at Missouri Western • Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 • 6:00 p.m.
Spratt Stadium • St. Joseph, Mo.

FINALLY AT HOME   
The Hornets make their 2021 home debut as they take on Central Oklahoma. Emporia State is 10-3 in home openers under Garin Higgins with two of the losses coming to nationally ranked teams. It will be the first college football game at Welch Stadium in 665 days.

LAST TIME OUT
After 658 days and a one hour rain delay Emporia State rolled out to a 28-0 first half lead and defeated Northeastern State 38-7 on Saturday night in Tahlequah, Okla. The Hornets jumped out to a 28-0 lead at the half and limited the RiverHawks to just 22 yards on 28 plays in the first two quarters. Braden Gleason was 28 of 40 for 322 yards and three touchdowns.  Dalton Cowan was credited with five catches for 65 yards while Jaylen Varner had four catches for 44 yards and two touchdowns and Cole Schumacker had three receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Canaan Brooks was the leading rusher with 52 yards on 11 carries. Dawson Hammes was credited with eight tackles, seven of them solo along with three tackles for loss.  Cade Harelson had seven stops with three TFL and Jace McDown added six tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss.  

THE COACHES
Garin Higgins has a career record of 134-77 in his 19th season as a head coach. He is 83-68 in his 14th season at his alma mater and is 74-44 since the start of the 2010 season. He has led the Hornets to the post season in five of the last eight seasons 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 8-2 against Central Okla.
Nick Bobeck is 43-47 in his ninth season at Central Oklahoma and is 2-6 against ESU.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 1-0 on the year after their 38-7 win at Northeastern State.  The Hornets are leading the MIAA in total defense and are second in scoring defense and while ranking second in scoring and third in total offense. ESU is fifth in the nation in passing offense. Braden Gleason is leading the MIAA in passing yards, is second in touchdown passes and third in passing efficiency.
 
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 1-0 on the season after their 24-20 home win over Missouri Western. The Bronchos are fifth the MIAA in scoring and sixth in total offense while ranking sixth in scoring defense and total defense. Stephon Brown is second in the MIAA in total offense with 126 rushing yards and 189 passing.

THE SERIES
This will be the 22nd meeting between the two schools with Central Oklahoma leading 11-9-1 overall. The Hornets have won six of eight meetings in MIAA play.

LAST TIME VS. CENTRAL OKLA.
Emporia State sent their 17 seniors out in resounding fashion with a 34-14 win over Central Oklahoma in the final game of the 2019 season. Braden Gleason was 17 of 27 for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Cole Schumacher had six catches for 54 yards and a touchdown while Wil Amos had three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. Carlos Grace had 108 yards on 24 carries. Lawson Holbert had four tackles to go with his two interceptions. Gee Stanley forced two fumbles, recovered one, had a sack and five total tackles.  Jace McDown and Montrell Wilson shared team high honors with six stops each.

UP NEXT
The Hornets begin a two game road trip at Missouri Western on September 18. Kick-off from Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph, Mo. is set for 6:00 p.m.

KNOW THE FOE
This will be the 22nd meeting between Emporia State and Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos owned the early years of the series, winning nine of the first 12 games with a tie before Coach Higgins took over in 2007.  Since then the Hornets have won seven of nine games.  The 53-52 loss to the Bronchos in 2017 in Edmond was the first time the Hornets have scored 50 points in regulation and lost. Emporia State rolled up nearly 700 yards of offense and scored 54 points in their 2013 trip to Wantland Stadium with Brent Wilson throwing for an ESU and MIAA record 522 yards with seven touchdown.  Travis Lee gave the Hornets a 14-0 lead with his 100 yard pick six on the way to a 17-7 Hornet victory in which they did not score an offensive touchdown in the 2007 game in Edmond.  
Two of Central Oklahoma's last three wins in the series have come in Welch Stadium.

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 68-34 since then. Of the 34 losses, 16 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 101 games since then Emporia State is averaging 33.20 points while giving up 27.03 points per game and have won two-thirds of their games.

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 in the last 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 46-21 in the NCAA Playoffs and 21-7 in bowl games for a combined post season record of 67-28 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 67-12 under coach Higgins when scoring 28 or more points with a 62-7 record in their last 69 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 in 2017 was the first time in school history the Hornets have scored 50 points in regulation and lost a game.

OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW
The Hornets are leading the MIAA in completion percentage and passing offense,while ranking second in scoring and first downs, and third in total offense.  They are fifth in the nation in passing yards.  

QUARTERBACKS
Coach Garin Higgins has had a knack for developing quarterbacks.  Over the last decade five different Hornet quarterbacks have thrown for over 300 yards in a game a combined 41 times, with 12 games  of at least 400 yards and an MIAA record 522 yard game by Brent Wilson while eight different QBs have thrown at least two touchdown passes in a season.

TO THE MOON
Quarterback Braden Gleason (Soph./Muldrow, Okla.) is leading the MIAA in completions, passing yards and total offense while ranking seventh in the nation in completions, 12th in completion percentage, 14th in passing yards, and 20th in total offense.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He completed 28 of 40 passes for a career high 327 yards at Northeastern State. He connected with ten different receivers.
AS A FRESHMAN: He did not technically get the start against Central Oklahoma on Senior Day but came in after one play and led Emporia State to a 34-14 win. He was 17 of 27 for 160 yards and two touchdowns through the air and added 30 yards on ten rushes. He went 14 of 34 for 222 yards and added 81 rushing yards in his first career start against Missouri Southern. He was ten of 18 for 122 yards and added 45 yards on 12 rushes at Missouri Western. He 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.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
Quarterback Jack Diamond (Jr./Shawnee, Okla.) transferred to Emporia State from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in December of 2019.
AS A JUNIOR: His first pass as a Hornet was a 62 yard touchdown pass against Northeastern State.
AT NEO A&M: He was 32 of 76 for 426 yards and six touchdowns in seven games for the Norsemen and added 270 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 2019.  
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He had 3,024 yards of total offense in 11 games as a senior for Shawnee (Okla.) HS.  

IN THE CHASE
Quarterback Chase Ricke (Fr.-RS/Tulsa, Okla.) earned First-Team All-State honors as he led Lincoln Christian HS to an undefeated state championship in Oklahoma Class 3A.

RECEIVERS
Eleven different Hornets caught a pass against Northeastern State with six of them going for at least ten yards.

FORMULA ONE
Receiver Cole Schumacker (Jr./Rossville, Kan.) has caught a pass in 16 straight games for the Hornets. He is sixth in the MIAA in receiving yards, seventh in yards per catch and 13th in receptions.
AS A JUNIOR: He had three catches for 77 yards and a touchdown at Northeastern State. His 70 yard reception gave Emporia State a 7-0 lead and is the second longest reception in the MIAA this season.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had a team high 44 receptions for 461 yards and four touchdowns in 2019. He was eighth in the MIAA in total receptions with 44 in 2019. He caught six balls for 54 yards against Central Oklahoma. He had two catches for 39 yards at Missouri Southern. He had three catches for 32 yards - all on consecutive plays on a third quarter touchdown drive- against Washburn. He had four catches for 48 yards at Missouri Western. He caught eight passes for 53 yards against Central Missouri. 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.

A NEW MARSHALL
Receiver Jaylen Varner (Fr.-TR/Marshall, Mo.) is leading the MIAA with two touchdown receptions, is third in catches and 13th in receiving yards.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had five catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns at Northeastern State.
AT MISSOURI: He is a transfer from Missouri where he was a defensive back during his red-shirt season of 2019.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a four-time All-Conference selection at Marshall HS and was the district MVP his senior season.

SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT
Receiver Corey Thomas (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) returns to the lineup after missing most of his sophomore year with an injury.
AS A JUNIOR: He caught two passes for 14 yards at Northeastern State.
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. He finished his sophomore season with 126 yards on 11 catches in just three games.
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.

STRONG ONE
Receiver Dexton Swinehart (So./Lyndon, Kan.) is 12th in the MIAA in receptions.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had four catches for 29 yards at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He finished his red-shirt freshman season with 403 yards on 34 receptions. He had four catches for 38 yards at Missouri Western. He had 40 yards on six receptions against Central Missouri. He had four catches for 30 yards at Fort Hays State. 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 was the sixth longest reception in the MIAA.
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.

WHERE THERE'S A WIL
Receiver Wil Amos (Fr.-RS/Afton, Okla.) missed the Northeastern State game with an injury.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had 25 rushing yards on four carries and added three receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown against Central Oklahoma. He had five catches for 63 yards including a 42 yard touchdown at Missouri Southern. He had two receptions for 40 yards including a 34 yarder at Missouri Western. He had four catches for 54 yards including a 36 yard touchdown that pulled the Hornets within seven points with 1:02 left in the game against Central Missouri. He had 40 yards on two receptions at Fort Hays State. 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. He had 498 yards on 39 catches in nine games as a red-shirt freshman in 2019. He ranked seventh in the MIAA in receptions per game but was just 14th in receiving yards per game despite having a catch of at least 26 yards in all but one game he played in during the 2019 season.
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.

THE THINKER
Receiver Rasheed Noel (Soph./Coppell, Texas) had his red-shirt pulled prior to the Central Missouri game in 2019.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had a 15 yard reception against Central Oklahoma. He carried the ball twice for ten yards at Missouri Southern. He was held to one catch at Missouri Western after he had 118 all-purpose yards against Central Missouri with 70 receiving on eight catches while carrying the ball three times for 48 yards. He had a 45 yard touchdown run on a reverse against the Mules.
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.
IT'S NOT BRAGGING
Receiver Deontei Braggs (Fr.-RS/Spiro, Okla.) took a shovel pass 62 yards for a touchdown at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was the Oklahoma District 2A-5 Offensive/Defensive MVP and Player of the Year. He was a first-team OCA All-State selection with 1,469 passing yards with 15 touchdowns while adding 751 yards with 14 touchdowns on the ground. He had 32 total tackles with four interceptions on defense.

UNCOMMON
Receiver Tyler Kahmann (Fr.-RS/Haysville, Kan.) had a six yard reception at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He had 35 receptions for 694 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn All-State honors. He was also a Class 6A honorable mention All-State selection in basketball as well as earning All-State honors in baseball.

MAKE LEMONADE
Receiver Kai Lemons (Jr./Wichita, Kan.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets. He caught one pass for five yards at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He played in three games and had a ten yard reception against Northeastern State.
AT HUTCHINSON CC: Played for the Blue Dragons in the 2017 season.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Second-Team All-State selection for Derby HS and earned First-Team All-Senior Class honors.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
Receiver Zion Jones (Fr.-RS/Wichita, Kan.) had two receptions for 12 yards at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a two-time All-City League and two-time All-State selection at Wichita Northwest HS.

S-BACK
The Hornets return two players that have started at S-Back while Dalton Cowan began the move from quarterback to S-Back at the end of the 2019 season and completed it during the off seasons.

DALTON GANG
S-Back Dalton Cowan (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) is third in the MIAA in receptions and tenth in receiving yards in his first season at S-Back.
AS A JUNIOR: He had five catches for 65 yards at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Playing quarterback the first nine games, he had 241 rushing yards as a sophomore in 2019 with six rushing touchdowns while throwing for 1,683 yards with 11 touchdowns. He was third in the MIAA in completion percentage, sixth in completions, seventh in total offense and passing efficiency, and eighth in passing yards and passing touchdowns despite playing only nine games at quarterback. He had rushing touchdowns against Central Oklahoma and at Missouri Southern. He was 13 of 24 for 91 yards against Washburn after going just ten of 17 for a season low 67 yards at Missouri Western. He had his second 300 yard passing game of the season as he went 36 of 57 for 313 yards with two touchdowns against Central Missouri. He drove the Hornets 69 yards on three plays with under two minutes left to pull within seven of the Mules. He was the leading rusher for the Hornets at Fort Hays State with 56 yards on 13 carries while going 14 of 29 for 129 yards through the air. 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.

THE Z-MAN
S-Back Tommy Zimmerman (Fr.-RS/Overland Park, Kan.) saw his first action as a Hornet at Northeastern State and had a key block on Deonti Braggs 62 yard touchdown.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He earned all-league honors at both tight end and defensive line for Blue Valley Southwest HS. He was a Kansas Football Coaches Association (KFBCA) All-State pick on the defensive line and was named a Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association (GKCFCA) MoKan All Star.

FAMILY AFFAIR
S-Back Case Cochran (Soph./Cashion, Okla.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A FRESHMAN: 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. He is the brother of former Emporia State assistant coaches Cayden and Cale Cochran.

LIFE OF PETZ
S-back Jack Petz (Soph./Lenexa, Kan.) moved from running back to S-Back prior to starting at Pittsburg State in 2019. He missed the Northeastern State game with an injury.
AS A FRESHMAN: He got the start against Washburn and had one receptions. He had one catch for five yards against Central Missouri. 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
The Hornets three primary running backs combined to average 4.4 yards per carry against Northeastern State.

PROMISED LAND
Running back Canaan Brooks (Jr./St. Louis, Mo.) is tenth in the MIAA in yards per rush among players with at least ten carries and is 13th in total rushing yards.
AS A JUNIOR: He had a team high 52 rushing yards on 11 carries with an 18 yard touchdown run at Northeastern State. He added 19 yards on three pass receptions.
AT SOUTH DAKOTA: He played in all 12 games as a sophomore in 2019 with 114 carries for 505 yards and four touchdowns. He was the third leading rusher for the Coyotes in 2019. He had a season high 112 yards on 11 carries against Youngstown State. As a freshman he played in ten games including the season opener at Kansas State. He finished with 144 yards on 55 carries.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He earned all-conference, all-metro and all-state honors after rushing for 1,438 yards and 33 touchdowns for Lutheran North HS. He averaged 9.8 yards per carry as he led the Crusaders to their first conference championship since 2002. He played at  Hazelwood West HS before transferring to Lutheran North HS prior to the 2017 season.

CALVIN AND HOBBES
Running back Calvin Boyce (Soph./Prague,Okla.)  is ninth in the MIAA in yards per rush among players with at least ten carries and is 14th in total rushing yards.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had 50 yards on ten carries with a long rush of 18 yards at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had 44 carries for 159 yards and two touchdowns as a red-shirt freshman in 2019. He had four carries for 18 yards against Central Missouri. He had six carries for 24 yards at Fort Hays State. He had seven carries for 18 yards and two catches for five yards in his first career start 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.

SPEEDSTER
Running back Billy Ross Jr. (Fr.-RS/Oklahoma City, Okla.) is 11th in the MIAA in combined kick return yards.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had 93 all-purpose yards at Northeastern State with 29 rushing, 39 receiving and 25 yards on punt returns.
ON THE TRACK: He has already competed in one outdoor and two indoor seasons for the ESU track team. He ran a personal best 10.67 to place tenth in the 100m at the MIAA Outdoor Championships.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He had 860 receiving yards, 660 rushing yards, 1,800 all purpose yards, and 22 total touchdowns for Heritage Hall HS  He was a five-time State Champion in track in the 100m, 200m, and 4x200m.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The Hornets have re-tooled the offensive line with just two players with previous starting experience returning for 2021.

FRESHMAN PHENOM
Center Hayden Reed (Jr./Celina, Texas) is in his fifth year with the Hornets and has already graduated. He has started all 24 games for Emporia State over the last three seasons with 22 of those starts at center.
AS A JUNIOR: Anchors the offensive line from the center position.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He moved back to the starting center at Fort Hays State and finished the season at that position. He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Lincoln as a guard. He started the season at center for three games before moving to guard for two.
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.

X MARKS THE SPOT
Tackle Xavier Cason (Jr./Junction City, Kan.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets. He has played in 21 games with six starts over the last three seasons.
AS A JUNIOR: He made his sixth career start to open the season at Northeastern State.
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.

MILES AND MILES
Guard Miles Wade (Jr./Chicago, Ill.) is in his fifth year at Emporia State.
AS A JUNIOR: He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Northeastern State
AS A SOPHOMORE: He played in six games on the offensive line in 2019 after making the switch from the defensive line.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a two-time All-Conference performer and three year starter for Rich Central HS. He had 20 solo tackles with ten tackles for loss, five sacks and a forced fumble as a senior.

MEET THE CONNER
Guard Conner Lierz (Jr./Manhattan,Kan.) transferred to Emporia State from Hutchinson CC in December of 2019.
AS A JUNIOR: He earned his first career start at Northeastern State.
AT HUTCHINSON CC: He was an honorable mention All-Jayhawk performer for the Blue Dragons.

SHERMAN'S MARCH
Tackle Sherman Deaton (Fr.-RS/Fountain, Colo.) earned his first career start at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a two-time All Conference selection and earned First-Team Colorado All State honors at Fountain HS.

AMERICAN IDOL
Center Colton Dodd (Soph./Enid, Okla.) was an All-Conference and All-District performer for Enid HS.  He earned the Offensive Line MVP Award at Emporia State's O-Line Camp prior to his senior year.

GREAT ESCAPE
Guard Will Valentas (Sr./Andover, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-Jayhawk selection at Butler CC before transferring to Emporia State.

BRING THE WOOD
Guard Ian Carpenter (Fr.-RS/Andover, Kan.) was a First-Team Topeka Capital Journal and KFBCA All-State selection and a 2019 Shrine Bowl selection.

THE INFERNO
Tackle Dante Smith-Posey (Fr.-RS./Lenexa, Kan.) was a two-time All-Sunflower League pick. He was a Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal All-State selection as well a 2019 Shrine Bowl selection.

A GOOD MAN
Tackle Carlos Guzman (Fr.-RS/Denver, Colo.) was a First-Team All-Conference and the Offensive MVP for Bear Creek HS.

DEFENSE
Emporia State has seven returning starters from a unit that ranked second in the MIAA in total defense in 2019. Six of those seven returners have earned All-MIAA honors in their career. The Hornets lead the MIAA in total defense and pass efficiency defense, are ranked second in scoring defense and are third in rush and pass yardage defense. They are seventh in the nation in tackles for loss and eighth in opponents first downs.

LINEBACKERS
The heart of the Hornet defense is in their linebackers with three All-MIAA performers returning in 2021.

GET DOWN
Linebacker Jace McDown (Sr./Columbus, Kan.) is a two-time All-MIAA performer and was an honorable mention All-American as a junior in 2019. He is eighth in the MIAA in tackles for loss.
AS A SENIOR: He had six tackles, five of them solo, and 1.5 tackles for loss. He also had a quarterback hurry on fourth down that forced an errant pass.
AS A JUNIOR: He was a first-team All-MIAA selection and honorable mention All-American by the Football Gazette. He was second the MIAA in tackles as a junior while ranking 30th in the nation in solo tackles. He was credited with six tackles and two sacks against Central Oklahoma. He recorded six tackles with one for a loss at Missouri Southern. He had nine tackles against Washburn. He was credited with seven tackles including one for a loss against Missouri Western. He had ten tackles with 1.5 TFL against Central Missouri. He was credited with eight tackles at Fort Hays State. 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. He was named a preseason All-American by Lindy's.
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 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.
IN HIS CAREER: McDown has 231 career tackles in 33 career games, with 222 of them coming in the last two years.  
He has graduated with a 3.99 GPA in health and human performance. He is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and was named the Newberg Distinguished Senior at Emporia State. He is a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and ESU Athletic Director's Honor Roll as well as being named an MIAA Scholar Athlete during the last season of competition. He is also a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient and member of the Emporia State chapter of Chi Apha Sigma Athletic Honor Society. He was named Emporia State's Outstanding Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2019-20 and was voted best teammate and most outstanding player on the football team by his fellow players. He was a semifinalist for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda and was named the MIAA Fall Male Student-Athlete of the Year for 2019-20.

DAWSON'S CREEK
Linebacker Dawson Hammes (Jr./Rossville, Kan.) leads the MIAA in tackles for loss and is fourth in solo tackles.
AS A JUNIOR: He was credited with a team high eight tackles, seven of them solo, with three tackles for loss at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer as a sophomore. He had five tackles and a forced fumble against Central Oklahoma. He recorded nine tackles at Missouri Southern. He had a career high 11 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss against Washburn. He was credited with six tackles in three of his previous four games-at Missouri Western, at Fort Hays State and 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.

PROCESSIONAL
Linebacker Cade Harelson (Jr./Davenport, Okla.) is leading the MIAA in tackles for loss and ranks 16th in both total and solo tackles.
AS A JUNIOR: He had seven tackles, three for a loss including a sack at Northeastern State.  His sack took the RiverHawks back to their own one yard line and almost resulted in a safety.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was tied for sixth in the MIAA with two fumble recoveries and ranked 25th in the nation. He had four tackles at Missouri Southern. He missed two games with an injury before returning with three tackles at Missouri Western. 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.

BARGE RIGHT IN
Linebacker Jack Barger (Soph./De Soto, Kan.) has already graduated but is only a sophomore in eligibility. He had a pick-six interception during the Hornets spring scrimmage.
AS A FRESHMAN: Played in ten games and had a career high three tackles at Lincoln.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was an all-state linebacker for De Soto HS and a finalist for the Get Busy Livin' KPreps Player of the Year Award.

EVERY DAY
Linebacker Declan Haub (Fr.-RS/Kingfisher, Okla.) earned first-team All-State honors as a senior with 98 tackles, 15 TFL, five sacks and two forced fumbles.  He was also a member of Kingfisher HS state championship basketball team.

LIVIN ON THE EDGE
Linebacker Lavon Jones (Fr.-RS/St. Louis, Mo.) was a First-Team All-Conference and First-Team All-District performer for Desmet Jesuit HS

DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line accounted for two sacks and three tackles for loss against Northeastern State despite just having one starter back from 2019.

STRENGTH FROM WITHIN
Defensive lineman Marek Thompson (Sr./Osceola, Mo.) is in his sixth year with the Hornets and is a two-time All-MIAA selection.
AS A SENIOR: He had a solo tackle at Northeastern State while routinely taking on double teams at the line of scrimmage.
AS A JUNIOR: He was a third-team All-MIAA pick in 2019 when he was eighth on the Hornets with 30 tackles, 5.0 TFL, and a sack. He tied his career high with six tackles at Missouri Southern and against Washburn. He was credited with a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries against Central Missouri. He had five tackles at Fort Hays State. 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 Pittsburg 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-Was 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.

OFF THE FERRY
Defensive lineman Jahmek Murphy (Sr./Staten Island, N.Y.) is in his fourth year with Emporia State after transferring from ASA College. He has graduated and is a graduate assistant in the ESU Admissions office.
AS A SENIOR: He had a sack and three tackles at Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: 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 SOPHOMORE: 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 (Soph./St Louis, Mo.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was credited one solo tackle at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had three tackles with half a tackle for loss at Missouri Western. 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.

BEAR DOWN
Defensive lineman Maquay Shaw (Soph./Haskell, Okla.) was credited with four tackles including a tackle for loss at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL:  He was the two-time Haskell HS Offensive Lineman of the Year and has switched to the defensive side of the ball at Emporia State.

LIKE A HAWK
Defensive lineman Hawkens Taylor (Jr./Flower Mound, Texas) played in three games as a sophomore and had two tackles against Northeastern State as a red-shirt freshman in 2018.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a First-Team All-District 6-6A selection at defensive tackle as a senior after earning first-team All-District 5-6A as a defensive end his junior year at Marcus HS.

ISLAND MEADOW
Defensive lineman Rylan Miller (Fr.-RS/Overland Park, Kan.) had a sack and two tackles in his first game as a Hornet at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Second-Team All-Sunflower League performer at Shawnee Mission North HS.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The defensive secondary is one of the deepest position groups for the Hornets with five players having starting experience. Emporia State is leading the MIAA in pass defense efficiency and ranks third in passing yards allowed..

GEE-WHIZ
Rover Gee Stanley (Sr./Miami, Fla.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection at linebak as a junior in 2019 and has moved to the defensive backfield as a senior.
AS A SENIOR: He was credited with five tackles at Northeastern State including an assist on a tackle for loss.
AS A JUNIOR: He was second in the MIAA in tackles for loss per game. He had five tackles, two forced fumbles, a recovery and a sack against Central Oklahoma. He had seven tackles including 2.5 TFL at Missouri Southern. He was credited with five tackles against Washburn. He matched his career high with ten tackles at Missouri Western and added 1.5 TFL. He recorded ten tackles against Central Missouri. He had seven tackles at Fort Hays State. He recorded six tackles with one for a seven yard loss against Northwest Missouri. He had his first career interception at Lincoln. He had six tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had 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.
AT ROBERT MORRIS-He was the Northeast Conference Defensive Rookie of the Year as a freshman 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 All-Class 8A third team after recording 104 tackles, 56 of them solo, in his senior season.

iSPY
Cornerback Kyle Rinck (Sr./Independence, Kan.) earned All-MIAA honors in 2019 and led the MIAA in pass breakups in 2018. He has already graduated.
AS A JUNIOR: He recorded three solo tackles and a pass break up against Central Oklahoma. He had five tackles at Missouri Southern. He was credited with four solo tackles with one for a loss, and two pass break ups against Washburn. He had four tackles and a pass break up against Central Missouri. He recorded two tackles and a pass break up at Fort Hays State. He had three solo tackles and a fumble recovery against Northwest Missouri. He recorded four tackles and a pass break up against Neb.-Kearney.
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.

COMEBACK KID
Cornerback Kelin Gordon (Jr./Del City, Okla.) is in his fifth season with the Hornets. He sat out 2018 with an injury.
AS A JUNIOR: He had one tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had two pass breakups against Central Oklahoma. He was credited with a solo stop at Fort Hays State. 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.

JUMP IN THE POOL
Safety Jaedon Pool (Jr./Midwest City, Okla.) is in his fourth season with the Hornets.  
AS A JUNIOR: He was credited with a pass break up at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was 19th in the MIAA in pass break ups as a sophomore. He had five tackles against Central Oklahoma. He recorded four solo tackles at Missouri Southern. He had two tackles and a pass break up against Washburn. He was credited with two tackles and a pass break up at Missouri Western. He had three tackles and three pass break ups against Central Missouri. He was credited with a career high nine tackles at Ft. Hays State with seven of them unassisted. He had eight tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had one TFL 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 at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was First-Team All-District at Carl Albert HS. He had 75 tackles, five sacks and an interception while catching 22 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns. He was on back-to-back State Championship teams in football and part of the 2017 Track & Field State Championship team.  

THE BAIRD OF THE LAKE
Safety Cole Baird (Jr./Silver Lake, Kan.) is in his sixth year with the Hornets. He has played both defensive back and linebacker during his Emporia State career.
AS A SENIOR: He had two solo tackles at Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: He had three tackles at Missouri Southern. He was credited with a quarterback hurry at Central Missouri. 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.

THE FLASH
Safety Garrick Martin (Fr.-RS/Stillwater, Okla.) was a 6A-II All-Conference and All-District and First-Team All-Area performer for Stillwater HS.

THE BIRD
Safety Trey Morris (Jr./Cushing, Okla.) is in his fifth year at Emporia State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had a career high nine tackles at Missouri Western in his first start. He had two tackles including an assisted tackle for loss at Fort Hays State. 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.

ARICH'S AMBUSH
Safety Arich Ansley (Fr.-RS/Oklahoma City HS) had an interception in the spring scrimmage against Southeastern Oklahoma.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had a pass break up at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL:  He was Honorable Mention OCA All-State and All-City for Putnam City HS.

SPEED FORCE
Cornerback Juwan Johnson (Jr./Tulsa, Okla.) is in his third year at Emporia State and placed tenth in the nation in the 100m at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
AS A JUNIOR: He got his first career interception at Northeastern State.
ON THE TRACK: He qualified for the NCAA Championships with a career best 10.40 in the prelims of the 100m at the MIAA Championships and placed fifth in the finals at 10.81. He was also a part of 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams that placed fifth at the outdoor championships. He was seventh in the 60m at the 2021 MIAA Indoor Championships and placed fifth in 2020.
AT NEO A&M: He was a SWJCFC Honorable Mention All-Conference performer at receiver. He had 23 catches for 370 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore including a 98 yard reception. He caught four passes for 53 yards and a touchdown as a freshman.

AIR JORDAN
Safety Jordan Wallace (Jr./Denton, Texas) is in his fourth year with the Hornets after transferring from Coffeyville CC.
AS A JUNIOR: He had six tackles, five of them solo, against Washburn. He was credited with four tackles and an assist on a sack against Central Missouri. He had four solo stops and a pass break up against Northwest Missouri. 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.

BUFFALO BILL
Safety Cody Ladson (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) had one tackle at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He played in four games in 2019.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was First-team All-Centennial League and Class 6A Honorable Mention All-State. He had 103 tackles, three interceptions with a touchdown and one kick return touchdown.

MOUNTAIN
Cornerback Montrell Wilson (Soph./Oklahoma City, Okla.) was credited with two solo tackles at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had a career high six tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss against Central Oklahoma
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Second-Team All-City Selection for two-time Oklahoma State Football Champion Millwood HS.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Hornets return all three players that kicked/punted for them in 2019.
Emporia State is fourth in the MIAA in net punting and punt returns this season.

GOING LONG
Long snapper Kenneth Harding (Fr-RS./Ballwin, Mo.) is in his first year as deep snapper for the Hornets. He was credited with two tackles at Northeastern State.

CLYDESDALE
Kicker Sam Dobbins (Jr./Emporia, Kan.) is in his fifth year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR: He was five for five on PATs and hit a career best 34 yard field goal at Northeastern State. He averaged 59.2 yards on five kick-offs with a touchback against the RiverHawks.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He handled kick-offs at home. He averaged 56.0 yards per kick on 41 kick-offs with ten touchbacks. He averaged 61.2 yards 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.

WAY/NO WAY
Punter Ross Brungardt (Soph./Lawrence, Kan.) is second in the MIAA in average punt and has a league high three punts of at least 50 yards.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He averaged 46.0 yards on six punts, placing two inside the 20 yard line with three of at least 50 yards at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He was second in the MIAA in fair catches forced, third with nine punts of at least 50 yards and punts inside the 20 yard line. His 67 yarder against Neb.-Kearney was tied for the fourth longest in the league in 2019. He averaged 39.4 yards on eight punts at Missouri Southern. He was credited with six punts for an average of 40.3 yards against Central Missouri. He averaged 40.8 yards per punt on eight punts at Fort Hays State. 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.

SCHOON-OVER MIAMI
Kicker Clark Schoonover (Soph./Andover, Kan.) was third in the MIAA and 14th in the nation in made field goals while ranking third in the league and 24th in the nation in field goal percentage.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was fourth in single season field goals for Emporia State with 14 makes. He had a career best 37 yard field goal at Missouri Southern. He hit a 24 yard field goal and was two of two on PAT against Washburn. He scored the only points for Emporia State with a 24 yard field goal at Fort Hays State. He hit his only field goal attempt against Northwest Missouri. 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.
AS A FRESHMAN: He was 21 of 25 on PATs 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.

CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are linebackers Jace McDown and Dawson Hammes, defensive back Jaedon Pool, S-back Dalton Cowan, receiver Corey Thomas and offensive lineman Xavier Cason.

HEAD COACH GARIN HIGGINS
Former Hornet Garin Higgins completed his 13th season as the Hornets head coach in 2019 and has moved into the top ten of the MIAA's all-time wins list and is the second winningest active coach in the league. He has taken his alma mater to the postseason five times, including a national quarterfinal appearance in 2015.
He ranks second in career wins at Emporia State behind stadium namesake Fran Welch's 115 wins from 1928-54. He has a 134-77 record in 18 seasons as a head coach with an 83-68 record in 13 seasons at his alma mater.  
His 83 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 64-32 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 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. 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. Most recently Jeff Richards appeared in six regular season and two playoff games in for the Chargers in 2018. Three former Hornets - Adam Schiltz with the Kansas City Chiefs, Austin Willis with the Buffalo Bills, Harold Ayodele with the Chiefs have appeared in NFL Preseason games since in 2011.
Both Jeff Richards and Patrick Crayton spent time on the Emporia State coaching staff.

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 ESU Hall of Honor members Greg Rahe and Fred McClain on the call along with Tagan Trahoon on the sidelines. KFFX is in their 34th 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 ten 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.

THE POLLS SAY
The MIAA has two teams ranked in the top 25 in this year's preseason AFCA national poll and two in the D2Football.com national poll with four more teams receiving votes in the AFCA poll. Heading into this season, the Hornets have been ranked or received votes in the AFCA Poll at some point during the regular season for six straight years. Emporia State is 8-14 against teams ranked in the AFCA Top 25 over the last seven years, with an 8-5 record against teams other than Northwest Missouri.

BEST IN THE STATE  
Emporia State's 63 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.

A Hornet win would...
•make Emporia State 2-0 overall, 2-0 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 2-0 for the first time since 2015;
•make Emporia State 10-11-1 all-time against Central Oklahoma;
•be the Hornets third straight win overall against the Bronchos;
•be the Hornets third straight win in Welch Stadium over the Bronchos;
•be Emporia State's second straight home opening win;
•be Emporia State's fourth straight win dating back to the 2019 season;
•make Coach Higgins 84-68 at Emporia State and 135-77 overall.

A Hornet loss would...
•make Emporia State 1-1 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 1-1 for the fifth straight year;
•make Emporia State 9-12-1 all-time against Central Oklahoma;
•snap an two game winning streak by the Hornets over the Bronchos;
•be Emporia State's first loss to Central Oklahoma since 2017;
•be Emporia State's first loss in Welch Stadium to Central Oklahoma since 2014;
•make Coach Higgins 83-69 at Emporia State and 134-78 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.