#22 HORNETS COME UP SHORT IN COMEBACK AGAINST #10 NORTHWEST MISSOURI

November 12, 2022-Emporia State outscored Northwest Missouri 14-7 in the second half and had the ball at the Bearcat two yard line with 1:12 left but could not complete the comeback in a 27-21 loss in the final regular season game of the year.
 
Neither team could generate much offense over the first four drives.  Northwest finally got something going when they took over on their own 23 with 9:43 left in the quarter.  They would convert two third and long plays during a nine play, 77 yard drive capped by 19 yard touchdown run by Jay Harris.  The PAT was wide right and the Bearcats took a 6-0 lead with 5:32 left.
Harris would score his second touchdown early in the second quarter. His five yard run capped a seven play, 56 yard drive as Northwest took a 13-0 lead with 13:16 left in the quarter.  The Hornets went three and out on the ensuing possession followed by a 65 yard punt from Ross Brungardt as the Bearcats set up at their own 18 yard line.  On the second play from scrimmage there was a fumble on the exchange and Dawson Hammes scooped it up and scored from 17 yards out to get the Hornets on the board.  Caden Dodson's PAT was good and Emporia State trailed 13-7 with 10:54 left in the half. The Bearcats answered with an 11 play 88 yard drive that took 6:41 off the clock. Mike Hohensee connected with Ryan DeWhirst from ten yards out with 4:13 left in the half as Northwest took a 20-7 lead into the half.
 
Emporia State had the ball to start the second half and they went on a 10 play, 59 yard drive to pull within 20-14.  Braden Gleason converted two third downs on the drive, one with his legs on third and one and another with a 38 yard completion to Corey Thomas on third and 15.  Gleason would score on a one yard rush with 11:04 left to pull ESU back within one score.
Northwest answered with an 11 play, 65 yard drive to go back up by two scores with 5:34 left in the third.  Braden Wright scored on a quarterback draw from six yards out to give the Bearcats a 27-14 lead.
 
Emporia State took over at their own 35 with 10:55 left in the game.  They got to midfield when Gleason was sacked for a loss of seven.  On third and 17 he hit Cole Schumacher for 13 yards and then hit Jaylen Varner for a 27 yard gain on fourth and four.  The Hornets also converted on third and one when Gleason hit Tyler Kahmann for a gain of four down to the Northwest three yard line.  Two plays later Gleason ran it in to pull the Hornets within 27-21 with 7:07 left.

The Hornet defense forced a three and out, with Jordan Williams getting a sack on third down, to give the ball back to the offense with 5:36 left.  Emporia State drove down to the Northwest 22 yard line and on fourth and three Gleason hit Billy Ross Jr. who was stopped short of first down marker to give the ball back to the Bearcats with 4:05 left.

The Hornet defense came up big again and stopped the Bearcats short on third and six with 2:40 left.  Northwest was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct to set up a fourth and 16 from their own 15 yard line.  A 31 yard punt gave the ball to the Hornets at the Northwest 46 with 2:29 remaining.
 
After first down incompletion, Gleason hit Thomas for seven yards and Northwest was called for defensive holding to put the ball at the Bearcat 29.  Gleason then scrambled for 19 yards down to the ten yard line.  Completions to Varner for two yards and Ross for six put the Hornets at the two yard line with 1:12 left in the game.  On third and goal the Hornets were called for a block below the waist to push the ball back to the 17 yard line.  Gleason's pass was intercepted by a leaping Cahleel Smith who was able to tip the ball to himself with 48 seconds left.  The Bearcats then ran out the clock on the 27-21 victory.

Braden Gleason went 26 of 44 for 198 yards and added seven yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. Corey Thomas had five receptions for 67 yards. Canaan Brooks had 49 yards rushing on 12 carries. Defensively Dawson Hammes had 12 tackles a forced fumble and fumble return for a touchdown while Rafe Goucher had ten tackles.  Jordan Williams added seven stops with two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.
 
The Hornets will now await their post season fate.  Although they will not make the playoffs a trip to a bowl game is a strong possibility.  An announcement should be made early this week following the announcement of the NCAA playoff field on Sunday evening.

NOTES
Braden Gleason moved past Brent Wilson (2,985 yds in 2013), Braxton Marstall (3,049 yd in 2018) and Tad Hatfield (3,068 yds in 2004) into fifth on the ESU single season passing yardage list with 3,146 yards.