November 11, 2023-Behind record setting performances from
Braden Gleason and
Tyler Kahmann Emporia State possibly punched their ticket to the post season with a 45-42 win at Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon.
Fort Hays State scored first on a two yard run by Travis Dixon with 10:00 left in the first quarter. The snap of the PAT was bad and the Tigers led 6-0. Emporia State responded quickly with a 45 yard touchdown from Gleason to Kahmann with 8:25 left and
Caden Dodson's PAT made it 7-6. The Hornets forced a three and out and then went 61 yards on eight plays before settling for a 23 yard field goal by Dodson with 5:00 left in the quarter. The Tigers retook the lead on a 30 yard touchdown run by Dixon with 2:38 left in the first. Gleason and Kahmann hooked up with 30 seconds left in the first, this time from 18 yards out to give Emporia State the lead for good at 17-13. Â
Rylan Miller and
Jordan Williams combined for a third down sack on FHSU's opening drive of the second quarter to force a punt and get the ball back to the Hornets. Three plays later Gleason tossed a shovel pass to
Trenden Collins who scored from 14 yards out to make it 24-13 with 9:41 left in the half. The defense stepped up with another three and out and ESU took over at their own 46 yard line. Gleason connected with
Billy Ross Jr for a three yard touchdown to make it 31-13 with 5:25 left in the half. The Tigers then mounted their best drive of the half as they went 75 yards in eight plays, with Dixon gaining 32 yards on six plays during the drive. Jack Dawson capped the drive with a 14 yard pass to Jabari Lewis with 1:03 left to make it 31-20 at the break.
The Hornets took the opening kick off of the second half and would go 75 yards in nine plays with Gleason hitting
Jaylen Varner for an 11 yard touchdown to go back up by 18 with 11:40 left in the third quarter. The Tigers answered with a six yard touchdown pass from Dawson to Jayden Horace with 7:50 left in the third to get within 38-27. The Hornets were forced to punt for the first time in six quarters on their next drive and
Ross Brungardt got off a 57 yard punt against the wind that was downed at the two yard line. The teams traded punts until Dawson found Trevor Watts for a 24 yard touchdown as the Tigers pulled within 38-35 with 17 seconds left in the period.
Emporia State was forced to punt on their first drive of the fourth quarter and Brungardt got off a 54 yarder that was muffed by Watts at the 12 and recovered by
Tyler Schultze. Gleason hit Kahmann for the third time, this time from 12 yards out, to give the Hornets a 45-35 lead with 13:42 remaining. Emporia State forced another punt and then ate up nearly five minutes before turning the ball over on downs at the Tiger 16 yard line with 6:11 left.  The teams traded there and outs on the next two possessions. FHSU called timeout with 3:02 left with ESU facing fourth and six from their own 38 yard line. Brungardt then unleashed a 62 yard punt that resulted in a touchback but effectively flipped the field with 2:54 left. The Tigers were able to go 80 yards in nine plays and scored on a one yard run by Dawson with 43 seconds left to get within three at 45-42. Ross recovered the onside kick for the Hornets and they were able to run out the clock for their eighth win of the year.
Gleason went 30 of 40 for 369 yards and tossed six touchdowns. Kahmann finished with nine catches for 119 yards and three scores while
Ethan Schultze had four receptions for 56 yards. Ross was the leading ground gainer for the Hornets with 46 yards on 14 carries.
Sage Sieperda was credited with a team and career high 12 tackles while
Lavon Jones added ten stops.
Chance Rodriguez had seven tackles and two sacks while
Jordan Williams had a sack and a half.
The Hornets should find out their bowl fate later this weekend. The date for the NCAA approved bowl is Saturday, December 2.
NOTES
Gleason now has 109 career touchdown passes to break Eric Czerniewski of Central Missouri's MIAA career record of 107 set between 2006-10.
Gleason now has 41 touchdown passes this season to break Brent Wilson's Emporia State single season record of 40 set in 2015.
Kahmann now has 18 touchdown receptions this year to break Lester McCoy's Emporia State record of 16 set in 1999.
