Football | 10/23/2025 5:00:00 PM
Game #8
Emporia State Hornets (3-4, 2-3 MIAA)
at Central Missouri Mules (3-4, 3-2 MIAA)
Saturday, October 25 • 1:30 p.m.
Walton Stadium • Warrensburg, Mo.
Series Record: UCM Leads 44-21-4
Last Meeting: UCM 45, at #20 ESU 36 (11/9/24)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 12:30 p.m.
Internet (Audio):
www.kvoe.com Internet (Video):
The MIAA Network Television: None
Live Stats |
Ticket Info |
Complete Notes in pdf
Officials: Announced on Game Day
Up Next: #16 Northwest Missouri
Saturday, November 1 • 2:00 p.m.
Jones Field at Welch Stadium • Emporia, Kan.
INTO MULE COUNTRY
Emporia State travels to Warrensburg, Mo. to take on Central Missouri. Both teams are coming off losses with at least five turnvoers each.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State could not overcome 28 Central Oklahoma points off of four Hornet turnovers in a 56-22 loss in Edmond, Okla.
UCO scored the first 17 points but ESU responded with a touchdown from
Kingsley Bennett to
Camden Crooks and then blocked a punt for a safety to make it 17-8 at the end of the first quarter. The Hornets drove to the UCO five yard line after the free kick but the Bronchos deflected a pass for an interception. They would then go 99 yards to make it 24-8 with 8:34 left in the half. They would get another deflected interception on the ensuing drive and went 32 yards in three plays to take a 31-8 lead with 7:10 left in the half.
The Hornets had 198 passing yards with
Ben Harris and
Mason Dennis going for 81 and 82 yards respectively, as both attempted 20 or more passes in the game. Bennett's first-quarter pass to Crooks was the lone score through the air while the Hornets tallied 113 rushing yards with touchdowns from
Diego Cearns and
Keveon Robbins.
THE COACHES
Garin Higgins has a career record of 167-97 in his 22nd season as a head coach. He is 116-88 in his 18th season at his alma mater. He has tied Fran Welch's school record of 116 wins from 1928-54. He is the winningest active coach in the MIAA and has the fifth most wins among MIAA coaches in history. He has led the Hornets to the post season in eight of the last 12 seasons with three NCAA Playoffs and a national semifinal appearance in 2015. He had a 51-9 career record at Northwestern Oklahoma, including two trips to the national championship game. Higgins was a quarterback for Emporia State from 1987-90 and was on the 1989 national runners-up team. He is 4-11 against Central Missouri.
Josh Lamberson is 27-16 in his fourth year at Central Missouri and 28-37 in this sixth year overall. He is 2-3 against Emporia State overall, 2-1 at UCM.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 3-4, 2-3 in the MIAA. They are sixth in the nation in passing offense. ESU leads the nation with five blocked punts and are third in net punting. Nationally
Ben Harris is seventh in passing yards and eighth in total offense while
Malik O'Atis is eighth in receptions per game.
Dylan Davidson is leading the nation in punting and
Caden Dodson has the top field goal percentage.
Landon Boss is ninth nationally in sacks and 11th in tackles for loss.
SCOUTING THE MULES
Central Missouri is 3-4, 3-2 in the MIAA. They are ranked fifth in the nation in passing and total offense. Donovyn Omolo is 14th in the nation in passing yards per game while Hogan Wasson is fourth in receptions and yards per game.
THE SERIES
This is the 70th meeting in the series. The Mules lead the all-time series 44-21-4 with just an 8-7 edge over the last 15 meetings.
LAST TIME AGAINST CENTRAL MISSOURI
Two deflected passes took away a possible seven points from Emporia State and gave Central Missouri seven in a 45-36 Mule victory.
Emporia State led 7-3 after the first quarter but UCM scored twice in a four minute span of the second to go up 17-7 with 7:06 left in the half. The teams traded scores to end the period as the Mules led 24-14 at the break. On the first play from scrimmage in the second half, UCM returned a deflected pass 35 yards to go up 31-14. They traded scores the rest of the way with
Chase Ricke connecting with
Tyler Kahmann for an 86 yard touchdown with 3:45 left and the two point conversion made it 45-36. ESU got the ball back with 1:49 left. Time ran out before they were able to get back on the board.
Gunnar Gundy went 30 of 51 for 341 yards with four touchdowns and added 100 yards rushing on eight carries for the Hornets.
Tyler Kahmann had 12 catches for 228 yards and three scores.
UP NEXT
The Hornets return to Welch Stadium for Homecoming against #16 Northwest Missouri. Kick-off is set for 2:00 p.m. on November 1.
Complete Notes available
here
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