#18 Emporia State Football rolls to 48-14 Homecoming win over Northeastern State

October 5, 2024-Gunnar Gundy threw for 404 yards and two touchdowns and added three more rushing touchdowns as #18 Emporia State defeated Northeastern State 48-14 on Saturday afternoon in Welch Stadium.
 
The Hornets forced punts on the first four RiverHawk possessions while scoring touchdowns on their first three.  After Tyler Crawford punt was downed at the Emporia State six yard line, the Hornets would go 94 yards in 13 plays to take their first lead of the game.  Gundy scrambled in from eight yards out with 9:21 left in the quarter for a 7-0 lead. After a three and out by Northeastern State, ESU would put together a ten play, 79 yard drive capped by Gundy's second touchdown of the day from five yards out with 3:58 left in the quarter. Emporia State would get one more score before the end of the period Gundy scored from a yard out with 18 seconds left to give the Hornets a 21-0 lead.
 
The teams would trade punts to open the second quarter before Dedrek Taylor-Akins got behind the Hornet defense for a 42 yard touchdown pass from Luke Milligan with 11:06 left in the half.  Emporia State answered quickly with an eight play, 75 yard drive to go back up 28-7 with 9:04 left in the half.  Zion Jones scored his first career touchdown on a 22 yard completion from Gundy.  The Hornets forced another three and out and took over at their own 22 with 8:38 left in the half. Gundy hit Tommy Zimmerman at the six yard line and he rumbled into the endzoe for a 12 yard touchdown with 3:30 left to put the Hornets up 35-7.  
 
On the RiverHawks first play from scrimmage, Tyler Schultze picked off Milligan and returned it to the Northeastern State 31.  Emporia State drove to the NSU three yard line. Gundy was stopped for a loss of eight and on the next play Jarveon Williams hit Gundy as he was getting ready to throw and knocked the ball out. Jamar McKee recovered the ball at the Northeastern State 39 with 34 seconds left.  After a ten yard gain on first down Dereun Dortch was strip sacked by CJ Adams and Sage Sieperda would pick up the ball and go 49 yards for the touchdown to put Emporia State up 42-7 with nine seconds left in the half.
 
Gundy would finish the first half 31 of 42 for 325 yards and two touchdown in the first half.
 
Emporia State received the ball to start the second half and went 60 yards in 15 plays before settling for a 33 yard field goal from Caden Dodson with 11:11 left in the third to go up 45-7. Northeastern State answered with a nine play, 66 yard drive capped by a 14 yard touchdown pass from Dortch to Anthony Roberson with 5:29 left in the third quarter.  The Hornets would answer with another Dodson field goal, this one from 26 yards out with 2:52 left in the third quarter for a 48-14 lead.
 
Gundy finished the game 40 of 56 for 404 yards with two touchdowns through the air while adding three rushing scores. Emporia State had 11 different receivers catch at least two passes in the game with Trenden Collins pulling down nine catches for 71 yards. Ethan Schultze had seven receptions for 68 yards while Tyler Kahmann had 74 yards on five catches.  Diego Cearns was the leading rusher for the Hornets with 64 yards on 14 carries. Kobe Holley had a team high five tackles while Tyler Schultze had four tackles and his team leading fourth interception of the year.  Sage Sieperda had a 49 yard scoop and score for the Hornets.
 
Emporia State will be back in action on Saturday, October 11 at Missouri Southern.  Kick-off from Hughes Stadium in Joplin, Mo. is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
NOTES
The win was Emporia State's ninth straight at Welch Stadium, the longest active home winning streak in the MIAA.
Emporia State has won four straight Homecoming games.
Tyler Kahmann is now second in career receptions at Emporia State with 227 receptions, passing Jarrett Vito who had 226 catches from 1995-98.
Tyler Kahmann is now fifth in career receiving yards at Emporia State with 2,757 yards, passing J.J. Richard who had 2,716 yards from 2002-05.
Gunnar Gundy became the first Hornet quarterback in the 21st century to rush for three touchdowns in a single game.