October 29, 2022-The first six possessions of Emporia State's Homecoming contest with Fort Hays State saw the Hornets score three touchdowns while forcing the Tigers into three three and outs on the way to a 42-14 ESU victory.
The Hornets stuffed the Tigers on three plays to open the game. After a
Billy Ross Jr. punt return of 24 yards, it only took Emporia State four plays to go 38 yards, capped by a 31 yard touchdown pass from
Braden Gleason to
Jaylen Varner to take a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. The second drive for FHSU lost four yards thanks to a sack on second down by
Dawson Hammes. The Hornets went 46 yards in five plays to take a 14-0 lead on a 16 yard run by Ross with 9:08 left in the quarter. After another three and out Emporia State would drive 74 yards on seven plays with Gleason hitting
Tyler Kahmann from 16 yards out for a 21-0 lead with 4:42 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers would get on the board thanks to a 60 yard catch and run by Cale Cormaney from Jack Dawson to pull within 21-7 with 2:55 left in the first quarter.Â
Emporia State responded with another 21-0 run. It started with Ross scoring from eight yards out with 13:29 to go in the second quarter. Gleason found Ross on a pass play from three yards out to take a 35-7 lead with 8:48 left in the half. Â
The second half started with the Hornets stalling and needing to punt on their first possession.Â
Ross Brungardt's punt deflected off a Tiger player and
Andrew Kayhill recovered it at the FHSU 26 yard line. On the next play from scrimmage Gleason hit Varner for the second time, this time for a 26 yard touchdown as Emporia State went up 42-7 just 1:41 into the second half.
The Tigers went on their best drive of the game on the ensuing possession. They would go 65 yards on ten plays with Dawson hitting Manny Ramsey for a 13 yard touchdown to make it 42-14 with 7:38 left in the third quarter. No one else would score the rest of the way as the Hornets improved to 7-2 on the season.
Braden Gleason went 30 of 37 for 297 yards with four touchdowns and added 17 yards on six carries. Freshman
Kingsley Bennett led the Hornets in rushing with 65 yards on nine carries while
Billy Ross Jr. had 128 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns with 46 rushing, 58 receiving and 24 yards on punt returns.
Jaylen Varner had seven catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
The Hornets will take their final regular season road trip next weekend when they travel to Lincoln. Kickoff from Dwight Reed Stadium in Jefferson City, Mo. is set for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES:
This was the fifth time Emporia State has scored at least 40 points in a game this season
This was the seventh time Emporia State has held their opponent to 21 or fewer points this season.
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