Kahmann sets Emporia State single season receiving record in final game

November 16, 2024- Senior receiver Tyler Kahmann set the Emporia State single season receiving record but the Hornets saw their season come to an end with a 55-38 loss at #8 Central Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon. Kahmann had 12 catches for 191 yards and two touchdowns to finish the year with 100 receptions, 1,488 yards and 20 receiving touchdowns.
 
The Bronchos got on the board first with a two yard touchdown run by William Mason with 10:14 left in the quarter. After a three and out by the Hornets UCO drove to the Hornet 29 yard line before turning it over on downs.  On third and nine for ESU, Gunnar Gundy's pass was picked off by J.K. Moore at the Hornet 33 yard line. Five plays later quarterback Dawson Herl ran it in from eight yards out to give UCO a 14-0 lead.  The Bronchos would go up 21-0 on a 57 yard touchdown pass from Herl to Terrill Davis with 12:07 left in the half.
 
The Hornets would get on the board with 2:19 left in the half when Chase Ricke, who had subbed in for an injured Gundy at quarterback, scored from one yard out to make it 21-7.  Emporia State would force a three and out on the next possession and got the ball back with 1:42 left. After picking up 17 yards, ESU was forced to punt the ball back to UCO with 1:03 left.  The Bronchos were able to get a 44 yard field goal as time expired to take a 24-7 lead into the half.
 
Emporia State took the opening drive of the second half down to the UCO five yard line before settling for a 22 yard field goal by Caden Dodson to make it 24-1 with 10:51 left in the third quarter. The Bronchos then went 75 yards in seven plays to take a 31-10 lead on a two yard rush by Mason with 8:26 left. The Hornets answered right back with a 73 yard touchdown pass from Ricke to Trenden Collins to make it 31-17 just 18 seconds later.  ESU forced a punt on the next UCO possession.  After Kahmann hit Zion Jones for 37 yards on a receiver reverse pass, Ricke's next pass was deflected and intercepted by Dylan Bucheit.  Three plays later Jaylen Cottrell ran around the left side for a 41 yard touchdown with 3:21 left to push the lead back to 38-17.
 
A two yard touchdown run by Diego Cearns with 12:03 left in the game pulled the Hornets back within two scores at 38-24. The Bronchos answered again on the next drive, getting a 26 yard field goal from Nicky Quevedo with 8:35 remaining.  The back and forth scoring continued on the next possession. Facing third and ten from the ESU 40, Ricke hit Kahmann at the Hornet 43 yard line and he took it the house for a 60 yard touchdown with 7:18 left that got Emporia State back to within ten at 41-31.  Herl found Dominique Dunn for a five yard touchdown with 5:47 left to make it 48-31. Kahmann and Ricke connected again with 2:47 left, this time on a two yard pass to the back of the end zone to get within 48-38. The onside kick attempt was recovered by the Bronchos. UCO scored the final points on a 12 yard rush by Mason with 1:05 left.
 
Tyler Kahmann finished with 191 yards on 12 receptions with two touchdowns and added a pass completion of 37 yards.  Chase Ricke was 28 of 43 for 394 yards and three touchdowns while adding a team high 33 rushing yards on five carries with a touchdown. He came on in relief of Gunnar Gundy who was seven of ten for 44 yards before leaving the game in concussion protocol.  Trenden Collins had a career high 12 receptions and 178 yards with a touchdown. It is the second time this year and 25^th time in school history that two receivers have had over 100 yards in the same game.  It is the first time since 2013 that two receivers have had at least 175 yards in the same game for Emporia State. Cade Stephenson led Emporia State with eight tackles and a pass break up.
 
Emporia State ends the season 7-4, their fourth straight non-losing season and 33^rd season with at least seven wins in school history.
 
NOTES
Kahmann finished the season with a school record 1,488 yards, breaking Bruce Cerone's Emporia State record of 1,479 yards set in 1968.  It is the fifth most receiving yards in MIAA history.
Kahmann finished the year with 100 receptions for 1,488 yards and 20 touchdowns, the second straight year he has had at least 100 catches, 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Kahmann's 54 touchdown catches are an MIAA record, his 282 career receptions rank third all-time in the MIAA, and his 3,686 yards rank fourth all-time in the MIAA.