September 23, 2023-The #11 Hornets improved to 4-0 on the season with a 38-27 victory over Central Oklahoma in Welch Stadium.
The Hornets started the game with a 40 yard kick return by
Zion Jones, but were held to just a field goal as they led 3-0 with 12:57 left in the opening quarter. Emporia State stopped Central Oklahoma at midfield on their possession to get the ball back with 10:27 remaining.
Braden Gleason then found
Tommy Zimmerman in the middle of the field and he raced 57 yards for the first touchdown of the game with 8:05 left as the Hornets took a 10-0 lead.
The Bronchos took advantage of a 38 yard kick return of their own to start at the ESU 44 on the ensuing drive. Six plays later Dawson Herl connected with Oscar Hammond from sic yards out to pull UCO within 10-7 with 4:52 left in the quarter. Emporia State answered right back with a nine play, 75 yard drive capped by a four yard touchdown pass from Gleason to
Jaylen Varner to make it 17-7 with 2:36 left in the period.
Central Oklahoma home would get to the Emporia State 33 yard line on the opening drive of the second quarter when they went for it on fourth and two.
Daniel Becker blew up the play in the back field, stopping Andrew Carney for a loss of three on the play. After a three and out by ESU, Trevon Woolfolk capped a nine play, 70 yard drive by the Bronchos with a four yard touchdown run The ensuing PAT made it 17-14 with 7:25 left in the half.
Emporia State responded with an eight play, 49 yard drive with 38 yards coming on the ground, before Gleason and Varner hooked up for their second score of the game. The 11 yard touchdown gave the Hornets a 24-14 lead with 4:21 left in the half. Central Oklahoma answered with a nine play, 64 yard drive down to the ESU six yard line. On first and goal Bo Odum picked off Herl's pass in the endzone with 37 seconds left to give the Hornets a 24-14 lead at the break.
Both teams struggled to start the second half offensively, trading punts on the first five possessions. Emporia State took over on their own 22 yard line with 5:06 left and on second and ten Gleason hit Varner streaking down the left sideline for a 78 yard touchdown and 31-14 lead with 4:31 left in the third quarter. Central Oklahoma then went on a 17 play, 90 yard drive that took 7:43 off the clock. Facing fourth and goal from the six, Herl's pass to Terrill Davis was short as the Hornets held the Bronchos out of the endzone after facing first and goal for the second time in the game.
The Hornets went three and out to send the ball back to the Bronchos. UCO would drive to the ESU 42 yard line and went for it on fourth and seven.
Sage Sieperda hurried Herl into an incomplete pass and the Hornets took over on their own 42 yard line. On the ensuing play
Billy Ross Jr. broke through the middle and then outraced the Broncho defense for a 58 yard touchdown that gave Emporia State a 38-14 lead with 8:00 left.
The Bronchos answered with a five play, 75 yard drive capped off by a 23 yard touchdown from Herl to Darius Melton. UCO went for two and were denied as Emporia State kept it a three score game at 38-20 with 5:53 left. The Hornets went three and out to give the ball back to the Bronchos with 4:19 remaining. Herl complete a 42 yard pass to Davis on first down to start the drive and it was followed by a pass interference call on ESU that put the ball at the Hornet 13. Herl scrambled in from 13 yards out to cut the deficit to 38-27 with 3:22 left in the game.
Chris Pope recovered the onside kick attempt but would only gain four yards on the drive as Brungardt punted back to UCO with 2:06 left. Facing fourth and 15 from their own 27 yard line, Herl was intercepted for the second time as
Rod Farmer picked him off at the 50 yard line to seal the victory.
Braden Gleason went 19 of 29 for 289 yards with four touchdowns. His favorite target was again
Jaylen Varner who caught six passes for a career high 147 yards and three touchdowns.
Billy Ross Jr. added to the balanced offense with a career high 157 yards on 16 rushes with a touchdown. Defensively
Montrell Wilson had a career high 11 tackles while Bo Odum and
Rod Farmer each recorded their first career interceptions.
Emporia State will begin another two game road trip next Saturday when they travel to Missouri Western. Kick-off from Spratt Stadium in St. Joseph, Mo. is set for 4:00 p.m.
NOTES
Emporia State improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2015 and the fifth time since joining NCAA Division II. It is the fourth time since 2012.
