FIRST ROAD TRIP FOR EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL

Football | 9/6/2022 4:18:00 PM

Game #2
Emporia State Hornets (1-0, 1-0 MIAA)
at Central Oklahoma Bronchos (0-1, 0-1 MIAA)
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022 • 7:00 p.m. • Richison Stadium • Edmond, Okla.
Series Record: UCO leads 11-10-1 Current Streak: ESU 3 Wins
Last Meeting: at ESU 31, UCO 21 (Sept. 11, 2021)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 6:00 p.m.
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: Missouri Western
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022 • 1:00 p.m. • Jones Field at Welch Stadium • Emporia, Kan.

HITTING THE ROAD
Emporia State travels to Edmond, Oklahoma for their first road trip of the season. It will be the first game Central Oklahoma's renovated Richison Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State rolled up 451 yards of total offense on the way to a 42-17 win over Northeastern State. The Hornets jumped out to a 14-0 midway through the first quarter thanks to a eight yard touchdown run by Canaan Brooks and a six yard touchdown pass from Braden Gleason to Tyler Kahmann. With under a minute left in the half and ESU leading 21-14, Derrick Maxwell got an interception then Gleason took the Hornets 57 yards in 26 seconds to go up 28-14.  Cole Schumacher battled his way in for a 37 yard touchdown with seven seconds left to give the Hornets a 28-14 lead. Gleason went 23 of 37 for 312 yards and three touchdowns with another score on the ground. He connected with 11 different receivers on the night led by Kahmann with six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.  Billy Ross Jr led the rushing attack with 59 yards on six carries while Brooks had 14 carries for 58 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Jordan Williams had a game high ten tackles with three tackles for loss and a sack.  Derrick Maxwell recorded six tackles, three pass break ups and an interception.

THE COACHES
Garin Higgins has a career record of 140-83 in his 20th season as a head coach. He is 89-74 in his 15th season at his alma mater and is 80-49 since the start of the 2010 season. He is the tenth winningest coach in MIAA history and ranks second among active coaches in total wins. He has led the Hornets to the post season in six of the last nine 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 9-2 against Central Oklahoma.
Adam Dorrell is 0-1 his first season at Central Oklahoma and is 95-41 in his 12th season overall. He was 76-8 in six years at Northwest Missouri. He is 8-0 against Emporia State.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 1-0 and receiving votes in the AFCA nationalpoll after their 42-17 win over Northeastern State. The Hornets are second in the MIAA in scoring offense, second in passing efficiency, third in passing yards and fourth in total offense. Braden Gleason is leading the MIAA in points responsible for. They are leading the league in interceptions, ranked third in passing yards allowed, and fifth in scoring and total defense. Derrick Maxwell is leading the MIAA and ranked second in the nation in passes defended. Jordan Williams leads the MIAA in tackles for loss and is second in total tackles.

SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma is 0-1 after their 35-0 season opening loss at Missouri Western. Offensively the Bronchos are ranked 12th in the MIAA in scoring and total offense. Defensively they are tenth in scoring and total offense.

THE SERIES
This will be the 23rd meeting between the two schools with Central Oklahoma leading 11-10-1 overall. The Hornets have won seven of nine meetings in MIAA play.

LAST TIME VS. CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
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 at Welch Stadium. The Hornets rolled up 411 yards of total offense while limiting the Bronchos to just 248 yards.  Braden Gleason went 28 of 42 for 280 yards with three touchdowns. He connected with eight different receivers. 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.

UP NEXT
The Hornets return to Jones Field at Welch Stadium to play host to Missouri Western on Saturday, September 17. Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
KNOW THE FOE
This will be the 23rd 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 eight of ten 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 then 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 31-24 and have gone 74-40 since then. Of the 40 losses, 18 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 112 games since then Emporia State is averaging 33.07 points while giving up 27.25 points per game and have won nearly two-thirds of their games.

OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE
The Hornets have gone 14-3 in non-conference games under Garin Higgins and are 25-8 outside the MIAA in the 21st century. Since joining the MIAA, ESU is 34-13 in non-conference games and has lost only four 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.

BOWL HISTORY
The Hornets are 4-3 all-time in bowl games and have won their last three of their last four - the 2018 Corsicana Bowl, the 2012 Kanza Bowl, and the 2002 Mineral Water Bowl.

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 29 national championship games, including ten of the last 16 title games.  In that time the MIAA is 49-24 in the NCAA Playoffs and 21-8 in bowl games for a combined post season record of 70-32 against non-conference opponents. The Hornets join Northwest Missouri (1996-99, 2002, 2004-11, 2013, 2015-16, 2021), 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.  Seven 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. The RiverHawks made the NAIA National Championship game four times and won the title in 1994. Northeastern State also 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 71-17 under coach Higgins when scoring 28 or more points with a 66-12 record in their last 78 games in which they have scored at least 28 points. The Hornets have scored at least 40 points in 40 games under Coach Higgins with a 38-2 record in those games. The Hornets have won 21 games when allowing their opponents 28 or more points under coach Higgins, but Emporia State has only won 18 games when the Hornets have scored less than 28 points, most recently the 15-12 victory at Fort Hays State on October 30. 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
After the first week of the season, Emporia State is ranked in the top 20 of the nation in Red Zone offense, fewest passes intercepted, first downs, scoring, passing offense, and third down conversion percentage.  They are second in the MIAA in passing efficiency.

QUARTERBACKS
To say Coach Garin Higgins has had a knack for developing quarterback is putting it mildly.  Over the last decade five different Hornet quarterbacks have thrown for over 300 yards in a game a combined 45 times, with 13 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. Braden Gleason was the fifth Hornet quarterback to start a postseason game since 2012 when he started the Live United Bowl.

TO THE MOON
Quarterback Braden Gleason (Jr./Muldrow, Okla.) has thrown a touchdown pass in 15 straight games dating back to 2019.  He leads the MIAA and is ranked 14th in the nation in points responsible for, is 18th in the nation in passing yards and completions per game and ranks 20th in total offense.
AS A JUNIOR: He was 23 of 37 for 312 yards with three touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown against Northeastern State. It was his eighth career 30 yard passing game in 15 starts. He connected with 11 different receivers against the RiverHawks.  
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was a Third-Team All-MIAA selection in 2021. He led the nation in completions, ranked ninth in completion percentage, tenth in passing yards, 13th in passing touchdowns, 14th in total offense, and 16th in points responsible for. He led the MIAA in passing yards, touchdown passes and completions while ranking second in total offense and third in completion percentage.  He went 25 of 40 for 309 yards and three touchdowns against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He had 297 yards on 21 of 27 passing with four touchdowns and added 38 rushing yards on four carries in just over one half against Lincoln. He was 27 of 41 for 170 yards at Fort Hays State, going nine of ten for 70 yards and a touchdown in the last 6:20 for his first fourth quarter comeback win. He was 31 of 43 for 219 yards and two touchdowns against Missouri Southern. He went 37 of 62 for 371 yards and two touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. He was 48 of 67 for 497 yards and two TD passing and added 49 yards on seven carries with a touchdown at Central Missouri. His 48 completions broke the MIAA record of 47 set by Mo. S&T's Evan Gray against MWSU in 2003.  His 67 pass attempts breaks Sean Ponder's ESU record of 66 set against FHSU in 1995.  His 546 yards of total offense are second in ESU and MIAA history to Brent Wilson's 571 against UCO in 2013 while his 497 passing yards are second to Wilson's 522 against UCO and third all-time in the MIAA. He threw four touchdown passes against Washburn, going 18 of 25 for 183 yards on the day. He was 36 of 53 for 348 yards with two touchdowns and added 39 yards and two rushing scores at Pitt State. He was 30 of 45 for 307 yards and three touchdowns at Missouri Western. He was 28 of 42 for 280 yards and three touchdowns against Central Oklahoma and connected with eight different receivers. He completed 28 of 40 passes for a career high 327 yards at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He came in after one play and led Emporia State to a 34-14 win against Central Oklahoma. 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.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was Honorable Mention All-State 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.
RECORD BOOK: He is ranked fourth on the Emporia State single season passing list with 3,394 yards and fourth with 3,727 yards of total offense.

IN THE CHASE
Quarterback Chase Ricke (Soph./Tulsa, Okla.) has moved into the back-up spot after training camp.
AS A FRESHMAN: He saw his first action as a Hornet against Lincoln.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He earned First-Team All-State honors as he led Lincoln Christian HS to an undefeated state championship in Oklahoma Class 3A.

PARTICULAR SET OF SKILLS
Quarterback Liam Thornton (Fr.-RS/Mesquite, Texas) was a second-team All-District 10-6A selection for North Mesquite HS in Texas.

RECEIVERS
Seven receivers caught a pass against Northeastern State with six having a reception of at least ten yards and three catching touchdown passes.

SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT
Receiver Corey Thomas (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection at receiver. He was tenth in the MIAA in receptions per game last season.
AS A SENIOR: He caught two passes for 34 yards against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: He averaged 5.3 catches for 64.3 yards over his last four games of 2021 highlighted by a six catch, 103 yard performance with a touchdown in the Live United Bowl. He had six catches for 75 yards including a 57 yard touchdown against Lincoln. He had seven catches for 60 yards and a two point conversion at Fort Hays State. He had seven receptions for 60 yards and recovered an on-side kick against Neb.-Kearney. He caught four passes for 52 yards at Central Missouri. He had a five yard touchdown catch among his three catches against Washburn. He had six catches for 92 yards at Pittsburg State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had a team high seven catches for 99 yards and a 47 yard touchdown against Northeastern State. He finished the 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.

FORMULA ONE
Receiver Cole Schumacher (Sr./Rossville, Kan.) is a sixth year senior in the receiving corps. He was the second leading receiver for the Hornets last season with 40 catches.
AS A SENIOR: He had a 37 yard touchdown reception at the end of the first half against Northeastern State with 25 yards coming after the catch.
AS A JUNIOR: He had four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. He carried four Lopers into the end zone on his touchdown. He caught six passes at Central Missouri for 46 yards. He had two catches for 25 yards against Washburn. He caught six passes for 42 yards and a game tying touchdown at Pitt State. He had four catches for just 13 yards at Missouri Western. He caught four passes for 58 yards against Central Oklahoma. 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 third 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.

UNCOMMON
Receiver Tyler Kahmann (Soph./Haysville, Kan.) is fourth in the MIAA in receiving yards.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had a team high six receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He led Emporia State with five touchdown receptions and finished the season with 34 catches for 428 yards. He had three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He had a 16 yard reception against Lincoln. He caught nine passes for 71 yards with two touchdowns against Missouri Southern. He had 42 yards on two receptions against Neb.-Kearney. He had four catches for 65 yards at Central Missouri. He had a four yard touchdown grab against Washburn. He erupted for nine receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown at Pitt State. He had a 69 yard catch against Central Oklahoma.
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 and baseball.

A NEW MARSHALL
Receiver Jaylen Varner (Soph./Marshall, Mo.) was 12th in the MIAA in receptions per game last year.  
AS A SOPHOMORE: He two catches for 19 yards and a touchdown against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had 39 receptions for 428 yards and four touchdowns. He had a team high five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown at Northwest Missouri. He had a 30 yard touchdown reception against Lincoln. He had five catches for 38 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He had a 72 yard reception at Missouri Western and finished with two catches for 80 yards against the Griffons. He caught five passes for 53 yards against Central Oklahoma. 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 as a red-shirt in 2019.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a four-time All-Conference selection at Marshall HS and was the district MVP his senior season.

WHERE THERE'S A WIL
Receiver Wil Amos (Jr./Afton, Okla.) has been hampered by injuries for most of his career and was limited to just five games as a sophomore in 2021 due to injuries and finished with 19 catches for 136 yards.
AS A JUNIOR: He caught two passes for 13 yards against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had four receptions for 21 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He caught nine passes for 76 yards at Central Missouri. He had one catch for four yards against Central Oklahoma.
AS A FRESHMAN: 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. 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 12 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown at Lincoln.  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.
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.

STRONG ONE
Receiver Dexton Swinehart (Jr./Lyndon, Kan.) has 73 career catches in 24 games with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR: He hauled in a 22 yard reception against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He caught 38 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns in 2021. He caught a 24 yard touchdown pass against Lincoln. He had 30 yards on four receptions against Missouri Southern. He had four catches for 24 yards at Central Missouri. He had four receptions for 29 yards, with 28 yards coming after the catch, against Washburn. He had 78 yards on six receptions at Missouri Western. He had eight receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown against Central Oklahoma. He had four catches for 29 yards at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He finished the season with 403 yards on 34 receptions. He had four catches for 38 yards at Mo. Western. He had 40 yards on six receptions against Central Missouri. He had four catches for 30 yards at Fort Hays State. He had seven catches for 97 yards with 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 112 yards on five catches against Northeastern State including a 74 yard touchdown.
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.

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
Receiver Zion Jones (Soph./Wichita, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had 78 all-purpose yards against Northeastern State, finishing with one catch for 11 yards and two kick returns for 67 yards.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had a 17 yard reception against Lincoln.  He caught a nine yard pass against Fort Hays State. He 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.

IT'S NOT BRAGGING
Receiver Deontei Braggs (Soph./Spiro, Okla.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A FRESHMAN: He 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.

TY-RRIFIC
Receiver Tyreek Robinson (Soph./Kissimmee, Fla.) is a dual sport student-athlete that also plays basketball for the Hornets.
ON THE BASKETBALL COURT: He had a career high 11 points against Northwest Missouri in the 2021 MIAA Tournament. He scored six points and matched his career high with eight rebounds in his first career start at Central Oklahoma as a freshman in 2019-20.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He averaged 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game at Gateway HS. He only played football as a senior but had several offers to play football at the NCAA Division I level.

LEAN ON ME
Receiver David Leonty (Jr./Carrollton, Texas) is in his first year with the Hornets.
PREVIOUSLY: He had ten receptions for 113 yards as a freshman at West Texas A&M in 2019 before walking on at Texas Tech in 2020-21.

S-BACK
The Hornets used four players at the Stinger Back position last year and they combined to catch seven touchdowns.

THE Z-MAN
S-Back Tommy Zimmerman (Soph./Overland Park, Kan.) is in his fourth year at Emporia State and moved into the starting role against Neb.-Kearney last season.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He caught two passes for 28 yards against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He finished the year with 24 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He had two catches including a 31 yard touchdown against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He had three catches for 62 yards against Lincoln. He caught four passes for 25 yards against Missouri Southern. He had a career high nine receptions for 99 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He had two catches, both for touchdowns, for a total of 23 yards at Missouri Western. He caught two passes for 31 yards including his first career touchdown against Central Oklahoma. He 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 MoKan All Star.

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
Quarterback Jack Diamond (Sr./Shawnee, Okla.) has transitioned from quarterback to S-Back this year for the Hornets. He transferred to Emporia State from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in December of 2019.
AS A JUNIOR: He was two for three for 44 yards and added a two carries for ten yards and a touchdown against Lincoln. 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.  He was teammates with current Kansas City Chief center Creed Humphrey

FAMILY AFFAIR
S-Back Case Cochran (Jr./Cashion, Okla.) is in his fourth year with the Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He played in three games last season and had a nine yard kick return against Lincoln.
AS A FRESHMAN: He started and had his first career touchdown on a three yard catch 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.

DALTON GANG
S-Back Dalton Cowan (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) was named second-team All-MIAA at all-purpose back but has missed the last six games with an injury. He was re-injured in training camp and will now help coach for the remainder of the fall. He is believed to be the only player in Emporia State history to have over 250 rushing, 300 receiving and 1,500 passing yards with at least three rushing, receiving and passing touchdowns in his career.

RUNNING BACKS
The Hornet running backs combined for 123 yards on 24 carries for an average of 5.1 yards per carry with two touchdowns against Northeastern State.

PROMISED LAND
Running back Canaan Brooks (Jr./St. Louis, Mo.) earned Second-Team All-MIAA honors last year.
AS A SENIOR: He carried the ball a team high 14 times for 58 yards and a touchdown against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: He was fourth in the MIAA in rushing yards per game, fifth in rushing touchdowns and 11th in all-purpose yards. In the six games that he carried the ball at least 12 times, he averaged 100.8 yards per game with seven of his eight rushing touchdowns on the season. He had 108 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He had two carries for 23 yards against Lincoln. He scored both touchdowns for Emporia State at Fort Hays State, finishing with 90 rushing yards on 12 carries and 23 yards on six receptions. He finished with 105 yards on 28 carries against Missouri Southern. He had a career high 151 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns against Neb.-Kearney. He had 15 carries for 79 yards and two touchdowns and 54 yards on five catches at Central Missouri. He had 72 yards on 21 carries against Washburn. He ran for 80 yards on nine carries against Central Oklahoma with a long rush of 52 yards. He had 52 rushing yards on 11 carries with an 18 yard touchdown run at Northeastern State and added 19 yards on three receptions.
AT SOUTH DAKOTA: He played in all 12 games as a sophomore in 2019 with 114 carries for 505 yards and four touchdowns and had a season high 112 yards on 11 carries against Youngstown State. As a freshman he played in ten games finishing 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.

SPEEDSTER
Running back Billy Ross Jr. (Soph./Oklahoma City, Okla.) is third in the MIAA in yards per carry at 9.8 yards per rush.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had 59 yards on just six carries against Northeastern State including a 35 yard touchdown run.
AS A FRESHMAN: He was a Third-Team All-MIAA pick at returner. He had 292 yards on 95 carries while catching 28 passes for 285 yards. He was 12th in the MIAA in all-purpose yardage. He led the league and ranked third in the nation in punt return touchdowns while ranking fourth in the MIAA in punt return average and fifth in kick-off return average. He had 66 all-purpose yards at Northwest Missouri including a season's best 38 yard kick-off return. He had 95 all-purpose yards against Lincoln with 48 on the ground, 19 receiving and 28 in returns. He had a 21 yard reception at Fort Hays State. He had 123 all-purpose yards on 13 touches against Neb.-Kearney. He had a 63 yard touchdown reception on a screen pass against Washburn. He gained 73 yards on 22 carries at Pittsburg State. He had 169 all-purpose yards at Missouri Western with 66 rushing yards, 49 receiving yards and 54 yards on two punt returns.  He returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown to open the scoring and was named the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week. 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 two outdoor and three 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.

THE KINGSMAN
Running back Kingsley Bennett (Fr./Garland, Texas) is playing a true freshman for the Hornets.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had 47 all-purpose yards on seven touches against Northeastern State. He rushed four times for six yards, had two catches for 16 yards and a kick return for 25 yards.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: In eight games as a senior at Naaman Forest HS he rushed for 1,336 yards on 157 carries with 18 touchdowns and had 16 receptions for 220 yards and three touchdowns. He earned First-Team All-District running back and First-Team kick/punt returner honors.

LIFE OF PETZ
Running back Jack Petz (Jr./Lenexa, Kan.) has moved back to running back after playing primarily S-Back last season.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had nine carries for 63 yards against Lincoln.
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.
IN 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.

PEYTON'S PLACE
Running back Peyton Henry (Fr.-RS/Andover, Kan.) missed last season with an injury but could make a move into the mix at running back this year.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was an honorable mention All-State performer at Andover HS.

OFFENSIVE LINE
After returning just two players with previous starting experience in 2021, the Hornets offensive line will bring a wealth of experience into 2022 with four returning starters. Three of the four have earned All-MIAA honors in their career. They gave up just one sack in every 44.5 passing attempts last year, with an MIAA low 12 sacks in 534 drop backs. They led the MIAA and ranked fifth in the nation with just 2.92 tackles for loss allowed

MEET THE CONNER
Guard Conner Lierz (Sr./Manhattan,Kan.) was named Second-Team All-MIAA.  He has started all 13 games he has played in for the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR: He had a team high 50 knockdowns on the season. He was named Squarehead Award winner for the fourth time this season against Missouri Southern. He earned his third Squarehead Award of the season against Neb.-Kearney. He was named the Offensive MVP at Central Missouri by the coaches. He recorded a season high 8.5 knockdowns against Washburn. He had 4.5 knockdowns at Pittsburg State. He earned his second straight Squarehead Award at Missouri Western. He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Central Oklahoma and was second on the team with four knockdowns. He had a team high eight knockdowns at Northeastern State.
AT HUTCHINSON CC: He transferred to ESU from Hutchinson CC in December 2019. He was an honorable mention All-Jayhawk performer for the Blue Dragons.

NO LONGER A FRESHMAN PHENOM
Center Hayden Reed (Sr./Celina, Texas) was a Third-Team All-MIAA selection. He is in his sixth year with the Hornets and has already graduated. He has started all 36 games for Emporia State over his career with 34 of those starts at center.
AS A JUNIOR: He averaged 2.4 knockdowns per game from the center spot. He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Washburn. He had five knockdowns at Pitt State.
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 (Sr./Junction City, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. He has played in 32 games with 17 starts in his career.
AS A JUNIOR: He averaged 3.5 knockdowns per game. He was named Squarehead Award winner at Fort Hays State. He earned the Squarehead Award against Central Missouri. He had a team high five knockdowns against Central Oklahoma. He had five knockdowns at Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was named the Squarehead Award winner after the Northwest Missouri game. He made his first start against UNK 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.

SHERMAN'S MARCH
Tackle Sherman Deaton (Soph./Fountain, Colo.) is in his third year with the Hornets. He has started 13 games in this career.
AS A FRESHMAN: He averaged 2.2 knockdowns per game as a red-shirt freshman. He started all 12 games for Emporia State since he 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.

THE INFERNO
Tackle Dante Smith-Posey (Soph./Lenexa, Kan.) is in his third year with the Hornets and has moved into the starting line-up out of training camp.
AS A FRESHMAN: He averaged 1.6 knockdowns per game. He made his first career start at Pittsburg State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He 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.

AMERICAN IDOL
Center Colton Dodd (Jr./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 his senior year.

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

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

HULL CITY
Tackle Josh Hull (Soph./Humboldt, Kan.) was a two-time First-Team Kansas All State Offensive Lineman and a KFBCA First-Team All-State performer. His mother Mona (Scantlin) Hull played basketball for the Lady Hornets.

TALON OF POWER
Guard Talon Wheeler (Fr.-RS/Broken Arrow, Okla.) was a First team All-District Offensive Line honoree and the Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year at Broken Arrow HS.

DEFENSE
Emporia State has six returning starters from a unit that made it's mark on third down and with big plays. The Hornets ranked second in the MIAA and 30th in the nation in third down defense while ranking second in the MIAA and 35th in the nation in defensive touchdowns last season. They were third in the MIAA in sacks.  After finishing last in the MIAA in yards allowed per pass completion last year, the Hornets gave up just 7.5 yards per completion against Northeastern State with just one play going over 20 yards.

LINEBACKERS
Two-time All-American and the leading tackler in the MIAA over the last three seasons Jace McDown is making the transition from player to coach, but the cupboard is not bare in the linebacker room. Two of the three returners earned All-MIAA honors in 2021.

PROCESSIONAL
Linebacker Cade Harelson (Sr./Davenport, Okla.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection. He was fifth in the MIAA in tackles per game, tenth in sacks, and 13th in tackles for loss per game last season.
AS A SENIOR: He had nine tackles, an assisted sack and a quarterback hurry against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: He had 11 tackles, nine of them solo, at Northwest Missouri. He had 12 tackles at Fort Hays State. He had seven stops and two pass break ups against Missouri Southern. He had seven tackles, half a sack and a pass break up at Central Missouri. He recorded eight tackles and a pass break up against Washburn. He had seven tackles and a pass break up at Pittsburg State. He was credited with a career high 15 tackles at Missouri Western with three tackles for loss and a sack. He recorded six tackles with two sacks and quarterback hurry against Central Oklahoma. He had seven tackles, three for a loss including a sack at Northeastern State.  
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. 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 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.

DAWSON'S CREEK
Linebacker Dawson Hammes (Sr./Rossville, Kan.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer. He ranked fifth in the MIAA in total tackles, eighth in solo tackles and 16th in tackles for loss last season.
AS A SENIOR: He was credited with five tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: He recorded double figure tackles in three games. He was credited with seven tackles at Northwest Missouri. He had six tackles and a forced fumble against Lincoln. He was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording 12 tackles at Fort Hays State. He had seven tackles against Missouri Southern. He had nine tackles with 1.0 TFL against Neb.-Kearney. He had five tackles at Central Missouri with an assisted tackle for loss. He was credited with six stops against Washburn. He had nine tackles with one for a loss at Pittsburg State. He was credited with eight stops at Missouri Western. He had eight tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry against Central Oklahoma. 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 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 seven tackles at Pittsburg State with a sack.
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.

EVERY DAY
Linebacker Declan Haub (Soph./Kingfisher, Okla.) is moving into the middle linebacker position in his third year with the program.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had six tackles and an assisted tackle for loss against Northeastern State in his first career start.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had a career high five tackles against Lincoln as a red-shirt freshman.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He earned first-team All-State honors as a senior with 98 tackles, 15 TFL, five sacks and two forced fumbles.  He was a member of Kingfisher HS state championship basketball team.

BARGE RIGHT IN
Linebacker Jack Barger (Jr./De Soto, Kan.) has already graduated but is only a junior in eligibility. He will also see time as the Hornet's long snapper.
AS A JUNIOR: He was credited with five tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He saw action in all 11 games last season and finished with eight tackles. He had two tackles in his first career start against Lincoln. He assisted on the stop on the Tigers two-point attempt at Fort Hays State. He had two tackles at Mo. Western and a solo tackle against Central Oklahoma.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had two interceptions during the Hornets spring scrimmage against Southeastern Oklahoma, returning one 43 yards and the other 11 yards. Played in ten regular season 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.

TAKE A CHANCE
Linebacker Chance Rodriguez (Jr./Holcomb, Kan.) is in his fifth year with the Hornets.
AS A JUNIOR: He had three tackles, two of them solo, against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had two tackles with a tackle for loss against Lincoln.
AS A FRESHMAN: He played in two games as a redshirt freshman in 2019.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a first-team All-State selection at tight end as Holcomb won the Class 4A-II state championship. He was a first-team Garden City Telegraph All-Area performer at tight end and linebacker.

LIVIN ON THE EDGE
Linebacker Lavon Jones (Soph./St. Louis, Mo.) is in his third year with the Hornets.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had two tackles against Washburn.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was First-Team All-League and First-Team All-District at Desmet Jesuit HS.

DEFENSIVE LINE
The Hornets are ranked fourth in the MIAA in sacks this season. Last season the defensive line combined for 13.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss.

WILLIAMS AUTOMOTIVE
Defensive lineman Jordan Williams (Jr./St Louis, Mo.) was a Second-Team All-MIAA pick. He leads the MIAA  and is ranked 13th in the nation in tackles for loss while ranking second in the league in total tackles.
AS A JUNIOR: He had a team and career high ten tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack on the first play of the game against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He finished seventh in the MIAA in total tackles for loss and eighth in total sacks. He averaged 5.5 tackles per game over the final six games last year. He had six tackles and a hurry against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He had seven tackles with a sack at Northwest Missouri. He had three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and seven total tackles at Fort Hays State. He had seven tackles and a tackle for loss against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles, all of which were behind the line of scrimmage, and a strip sack at Central Missouri. He had a sack, a quarterback hurry and two tackles against Washburn. He had a career high eight tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and a pass break up at Pittsburg State. He was credited with three tackles at Missouri Western. He had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack against Central Oklahoma.
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.

WISE WOLF
Defensive lineman Rafe Goucher (Soph./El Reno, Okla.) was named honorable mention All-MIAA last year.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He recorded three tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He started the last seven games of the year. He had two solo tackles against Lincoln. He had three tackles including a sack at Fort Hays State. He was credited with two tackles against Washburn. He had a career high six tackles, two for a loss, and a sack at Pittsburg State. He had an assisted tackle at Missouri Western.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was the Class 5A District 1 Defensive Player of the Year for El Reno HS. He earned Oklahoma All-State honors as a defensive lineman.

ISLAND MEADOW
Defensive lineman Rylan Miller (Soph./Overland Park, Kan.) missed four games in the middle of last season with an injury.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was credited with two tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had a solo tackle for loss against Lincoln. He had two solo tackles against Missouri Southern. He had a pair of assisted tackles at Missouri Western. He had a sack and two tackles in his first game as a Hornet at Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was Second-Team All-Sunflower League at Shawnee Mission North HS.

BECKER ADDITION
Defensive lineman Daniel Becker (Soph./Conway Springs, Kan.) has steadily progressed through his four years with Hornets.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He saw his first extended action of his career against Northeastern State and recorded three tackles.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a KFBCA First-Team All-State selection and a Topeka Capital Journal Top 33 player in the state of Kansas. He was the Central Plains Defensive Player of the Year and a 2018 Kansas Defensive Player of The Year finalist.

BOOMER SOONER
Defensive lineman Charlie Suenram (Soph./Edmond, Okla.) is another sophomore on the defensive line that has shown steady progress during his time at Emporia State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had two solo tackles against Northeastern State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Second-Team COAC All-Conference and Honorable Mention OCA All-State selection. He recorded 80 tackles with seven sacks.

BEAR DOWN
Defensive lineman Maquay Shaw (Jr./Haskell, Okla.) played in ten games last year and was credited with 12 tackles from his defensive line position.
AS A JUNIOR: He had three tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was in on five tackles against Lincoln. He got his first career start at Missouri Western. He had two assisted tackles against Central Oklahoma. He 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.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
The Hornets lead the MIAA and are ranked 19th in the nation in interceptions while ranking 18th in the nation and third in the league in pass defense.

JUMP IN THE POOL
Safety Jaedon Pool (Sr./Midwest City, Okla.) earned Third-Team All-MIAA honors. He was ninth in the MIAA with nine total passes defended and 12th with two interceptions. He is the co-president of the ESU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
AS A SENIOR: He was credited with five tackles and a pass break up against Northeastern State.
AS A JUNIOR: He had four tackles and a pass break up against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He was credited with 11 tackles and a career high ten solo at Northwest Missouri. He had six tackles at Fort Hays State. He had a tackle and two pass breakups against Missouri Southern. He had six tackles with a tackle for loss against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with five tackles, four of the solo, at Central Missouri. Against Washburn he had seven tackles, broke up a two point conversion and recovered an on-side kick attempt. He had an interception and three tackles at Pittsburg State. He had three solo tackles at Missouri Western. He had two solo tackles, an interception and a pass break up against Central Oklahoma.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was 19th in the MIAA in pass break ups. He had five tackles against Central Oklahoma. He recorded four solo tackles at Mo Southern. He had two tackles and a pass break up against Washburn. 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. He had eight tackles against Neb.-Kearney.  
AS A FRESHMAN: He had two tackles and a pass break up at Northwest Missouri. He 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 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 football teams and the 2017 Track & Field State Championship team.  

MAXWELL HOUSE
Safety Derrick Maxwell (Soph./Chicago, Ill.) leads the MIAA and is ranked second in the nation in passed defended while ranking 17th in the nation in interceptions.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was credited with six tackles, three pass break ups, a tackle for loss and an interception against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He played in ten games with a start against Central Missouri last season. He had two solo stops at Fort Hays State. He forced a fumble against Missouri Southern. He had three solo stops at Central Missouri. He had five tackles and an interception against Washburn. He had two tackles at Pitt State.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a First-Team All-Conference selection at Rich Central HS.

SAFETY FIRST
Cornerback Khalil Rasheed (Soph./Coppell, Texas) is tied for the MIAA lead and 17th in the nation in interceptions.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had four tackles, an assisted TFL and an interception against Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He played in all 12 games last year as a red-shirt freshman, getting a start in the Live United Bowl. He had four tackles at Central Missouri. He was credited with six tackles and two pass breakups against Washburn. He had three tackles and an assisted tackle for loss at Pittsburg State. He had a solo tackle at Missouri Western.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He had 70 tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss,  two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown as a senior at Coppell HS.

MOUNTAIN
Cornerback Montrell Wilson (Jr./Oklahoma City, Okla.) was 22nd in the MIAA in passes defended last year.
AS A JUNIOR: He recorded four tackles against Northeastern State.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He started five of 12 games last season. He had five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a pass break up at Fort Hays State. He broke up three passes and had four solo tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He had a tackle and a pass break up at Central Missouri. He had two solo stops at Northeastern State.
AS A FRESHMAN: He recorded two tackles against Washburn. He had a career high six tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss against UCO.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Second-Team All-City Selection for two-time Oklahoma State Football Champion Millwood HS.

PAPAL AUTHORITY
Safety Chris Pope (Jr./Edmond, Okla.) is a graduate transfer from NCAA FCS Northern Colorado and will be a junior in eligibility.
AS A JUNIOR: He had three tackles in his Hornet debut against Northeastern State.
AT NORTHERN COLORADO: He played in seven games last season. He saw action in three games as a redshirt-freshman in 2019.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He was a Second-Team All-Conference performer at Edmond Memorial HS. He lettered in football,basketball and track.

ARICH'S AMBUSH
Safety Arich Ansley (Soph./Oklahoma City HS) was third in the MIAA with two forced fumbles and tied for 12th with two interceptions last season.
AS A FRESHMAN: He had four tackles against Lincoln and at Fort Hays State. He had an interception, a pass break up and four solo tackles against Missouri Southern. He had four solo tackles and forced two fumbles against Neb.-Kearney. One of his forced fumbles prevented a Loper touchdown. He had three tackles and an interception at Central Missouri. He had a fumble recovery against Washburn.
IN HIGH SCHOOL:  He was Honorable Mention OCA All-State and All-City for Putnam City HS.

RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Defensive back Andrew Kayhill (Soph./Greenwood, Mo.) is in his third year with the Hornets and may play at both the safety and cornerback position.
IN HIGH SCHOOL: He as a Second-Team All-Conference performer at Lee's Summit West HS.

COULD HAVE BEEN A FARMER
Cornerback Roderick Farmer (Soph.-TR/Memphis, Tenn.) is a transfer from Coffeyville CC.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He was credited with one tackle against Northeastern State but was featured on ESPN's College Game Day TikTok account for his post game dance moves.
PREVIOUSLY: He spent last season at Coffeyville CC after originally signing with Delta State after graduating from White Station HS in Memphis.

SIM CITY
Safety Mike Sims (Sr./Woodbridge, Va.) is a graduate transfer from Central Washington.
AT CENTRAL WASHINGTON: He appeared in 10 of 11 games for the Wildcats and finished the season with 15 total tackles.

SPECIAL TEAMS
The Hornets return three All-MIAA picks including an All-American on special teams from last season. The three were the most by any school in the MIAA to earn at least third-team all-conference honors. This year Emporia State leads the MIAA and is ranked 15th in the nation in kickoff returns while ranking third in the league and 24th in the country in punt returns.

WAY/NO WAY
Punter Ross Brungardt (Jr./Lawrence, Kan.) was a First-Team All-MIAA pick, a Football Gazette honorable mention All-American and a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-District performer last season.  He is second in the MIAA and 21st in the nation in punting this season.
AS A JUNIOR: He averaged 43.2 yards per punt on five punts against Northeastern State. Four of his five punts went at least 42 yards and the only punt under 40 yards was fair caught at the RiverHawk eight yard line.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He led the MIAA and ranked fifth in the nation in average punt and has a league high 20 punts of at least 50 yards - twice as many as the next punter -  and placed 17 punts inside the 20 yard line. He had a punt of at least 50 yards in every game last season and one of at least 60 yards in five games. He had two punts of over 50 yards against Southeastern Oklahoma in the Live United Bowl. He averaged 39.8 yards on a season high nine punts at Northwest Missouri with a long of 60 yards. He averaged 46.7 yards on three punts against Lincoln. He averaged 45.6 yards per punt with half of them inside the 20 yard line at Fort Hays State. He averaged 39.5 yards per punt against Missouri Southern, the only game he has averaged less than 40 yards this year. He averaged 49.0 yards on four punts with two of them inside the 20 yard line against UNK. He was not called on to punt at Central Missouri. He averaged 48.8 yards on nine punts against Washburn and the only punt that did not go 40 yards went out of bounds at the WU 15 yard line. He averaged 45.6 yards on five punts with a long of 64 yards at Pittsburg State. He averaged 42.8 yards on eight punts with a long of 61 at Mo. Western. He averaged 42.6 yards on nine punts including a long of 64 yards against UCO. 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.

CLYDESDALE
Kicker Sam Dobbins (Sr./Emporia, Kan.) was named Second-Team All-MIAA as a kicker. He has gone 72 of 77 on PAT in his career and has made seven field goals.
AS A SENIOR: He went six for six on PATS and averaged 58.4 yards per kick-off with one touchback against Northeastern State. The RiverHawks average starting field position was their own 25 following kick-offs.
AS A JUNIOR: He was sixth in the MIAA with five field goals made and went 45 of 46 on PAT. He was an MIAA best 45 for 46 on PATs and averaged 58.3 yards per kickoff with 21 touchbacks. He executed a successful on-side kick against Neb.-Kearney. He had a career long 39 yard field goal at Central Missouri. He had a 30 yard field goal at Missouri Western.  He gave ESU the lead with a 22 yard field against Central Oklahoma. He hit a 34 yard field goal at Northeastern State.
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.

RETURN SPECIALIST
Returner Billy Ross Jr. (Soph./Oklahoma City, Okla.) was a Third-Team All-MIAA pick at returner last season. He was 12th in the MIAA in all-purpose yardage. He led the league and ranked third in the nation in punt return touchdowns while ranking fourth in the MIAA in punt return average and fifth in kick-off return average.
AS A SOPHOMORE: He had a 16 yard punt return against Northeastern State in addition to his 59 rushing and 13 receiving yards.

CAPTAINS
This year's team captains are linebackers Dawson Hammes, defensive back Jaedon Pool, S-back Dalton Cowan, receiver Corey Thomas, offensive lineman Conner Lierz and quarterback Braden Gleason.

THE POLLS SAY
The MIAA has two teams ranked in the top 25 in this week's AFCA national poll and three in the D2Football.com national poll with four other teams receiving votes in the AFCA poll. By getting votes this week, the Hornets have been ranked or received votes in the AFCA Poll at some point during the regular season for eight straight years. Emporia State is 8-15 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 70 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 six total years in the post season are the most among Division II teams in the state.

HEAD COACH GARIN HIGGINS
Former Hornet Garin Higgins is in his 15th season as the Hornets head coach in 2022 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 six 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 140-83 record in 19 seasons as a head coach with an 89-73 record in 14 seasons at his alma mater.  
His 89 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 15 seasons and orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in Emporia State history. The Hornets have gone 70-38 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 in 2019 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 35th 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 2021 Pittsburg State game was the 22nd time the Hornets have played a game on live television since 1997. 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.

A Hornet win would...
•make Emporia State 2-0 overall, 2-0 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 11-11-1 all-time against Central Oklahoma;
•be the Hornets fourth straight win over the Bronchos;
•be the Hornets second straight win over the Bronchos in Edmond;
•be Emporia State's second straight year to open up 2-0;
•make Coach Higgins 90-74 at Emporia State and 141-83 overall.

A Hornet loss would...
•make Emporia State 1-1 overall, 1-1 in the MIAA;
•make Emporia State 10-12-1 all-time against Central Oklahoma;
•snap a three game winning streak by the Hornets over the Bronchos;
•be Emporia State's first loss to Central Oklahoma since 2017;
•make Coach Higgins 89-75 at Emporia State and 140-84 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 2018. 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.