Comeback comes up short for second week as #20 Emporia State falls 33-25 at #3 Pittsburg State

October 7, 2023-For the second straight week #20 Emporia State battled back from a halftime deficit before falling 33-25 at #3 Pittsburg State on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Hornets took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards before settling for a 28 yard field goal from Caden Dodson to take a 3-0 lead with 11:11 left in the quarter.
 
After trading three and outs Chad Dodson found Jack Roberts for a 58 yards to put the Gorillas up 7-3 with 8:08 left in the quarter.  Devon Garrison pulled in a one handed touchdown grab from 17 yards out to give Pittsburg State a 14-3 lead 55 seconds into the second quarter.
 
Pitt State took over at their own 20 yard line after a 64 yard punt from Ross Brungardt flipped the field. They advanced to the Hornet 37 yard line when Montrell Wilson forced a fumble by Kam Gillespie and recovered it at the ESU six yard line.  The Hornets could not move the ball and Brungardt flipped the field again, this time with a 52 yard punt followed by a holding penalty on the Gorillas.  Pitt State was able to drive 75 yards in eight plays before Garrison caught his second touchdown pass of the game. This one was from eight yards out and gave PSU a 21-3 lead.
 
The Hornets would drive ot the Pitt State 38 yard line but loss on third and one, followed by an incomplete pass on fourth down gave the ball back to the Gorillas with 2:56 left.  They quickly went 59 yards on four plays capped by a 28 yard touchdown pass from Ty Pennington to Kolbe Katsis as Pitt State led 27-3 at the half.
 
Neither team found the endzone in the third quarter but Pittsburg State was able to get a 33 yard field goal to take their biggest lead of the game at 30-3 with 2:20 left in the quarter. That is when Emporia State started their comeback. As they scored on their next three possessions.
 
The first score cam on the second play of the fourth quarter when Braden Gleason found Tyler Kahmann for a 34 yard touchdown with 14:25 left in the game.  The extra point was blocked and the Hornets trailed 30-9. Emporia State forced a punt on the ensuing drive and took over at their own nine yard line.  Gleason went five for six for 61 yards and added nine yards on the gournd during the drive. He hit Kahmann in the endzone from seven yards out and then connected with him again on the two point conversion to pull the Hornets within 3017 with 9:52 left.
 
Pitt state was able to milk 5:16 off the clock before settling for a 33 yard field goal from Schmitt as the Hornets kept it to a two score game at 33-17 with 4:29 left.  Emporia State would go 74 yards on 11 plays with Gleason hitting Tommy Zimmerman form 14 yards out and then connecting with Zion Jones on the conversion to make it a one score game with 2:05 left.  The touchdown was Gleason's Emporia State record 88^th of his career. 
 
The Hornets attempted on side kick was recovered by Pittsburg State at the 46 yard line.  Emporia State used their last two timeouts as the Gorillas faced third and one with 1:54 left.  In third down Lavon Jones stopped Antwan Squire for a loss of one setting up fourth and two.  Pitt State ran the clock down to 1:08 before calling timeout for their final play.  Pennington was able to roll out and find Mario Kirby for a nine yard completion and a first down that iced the game.
 
Braden Gleason finished the game 35 of 51 for 310 yards and was the Hornets leading rusher with 62 yards on ten carries. His three touchdowns moved him past Braxton Marstall as the Emporia State career leader with 88 touchdowns.  Tyler Kahmann was his favorite target as he collected career highs of 12 catches for 140 yards. Jordan Williams, Chance Rodriguez and Lavon Jones shared game high honors with eight tackles each.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Saturday, October 14 when they play host to Washburn.  Kick-off for the 119^th edition of the Turnpike Tussle is set for 1:00 p.m. on Jones Field at Welch Stadium.
 
NOTES
With three touchdown passes today, Gleason moved past Braxton Marstall (87 TD passes from 2014, 16-18) to set the Emporia State career record. He is now fifth on the MIAA career list.
With 372 yards of total offense Gleason became just the second Hornet to eclipse the 10,000 yard mark in total offense and moved past Pittsburg State's Anthony Abenoja (10,036 yards from 2011-14) and Missouri Western's Kasey Waterman (10,056 yards from 1998-2001) into sixth place on the MIAA career list.
With 310 yards passing Gleason became just the second Hornet to eclipse the 9,000 yard mark in career passing. He moved past Missouri Southern's Adam Hinspeter (9,016 yards from 2005-08) and Truman State's Eric Howe (9,097 yards from 1998-2001) into seventh place on the MIAA career list.
The Hornet defense has not given up a touchdown in the third quarter this year.