November 1, 2025-A 20 point third quarter by Northwest Missouri opened the game in a 41-14 victory over Emporia State on Saturday at Welch Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After stopping the Bearcats on downs on their opening possession, the Hornets took a 7-0 lead on a 55 yard touchdown run by Diego Cearns with 8:08 left in the first quarter.  The teams traded punts before Luke Mathews hauled in a 28 yard touchdown pass from Chris Ruhnke with 3:53 left to tie the game.  Northwest took the lead on a 25 yard run by Dominic Myers with three seconds left in the quarter.
Neither team scored in the second quarter although the Hornets had a great opportunity midway through the period.  Caden Dodson missed a 39 yard field goal attempt wide left with 9:37 left in the quarter.  The Hornet defense forced a punt and the snap from center sailed past the Bearcat punter to give ESU the ball at the nine yard line.  Following a second down sack and an incomplete pass the Hornets lined up for a 42 yard field goal but ran a fake. Darby Roper was hit as he was trying to throw to Sam Hull across the middle and the ball popped out and was recovered by Northwest.  After the teams traded punts NWMSU drove to the ESU 40 yard line.  Ruhnke took a deep shot but Nehemiah Figueroa intercepted it in the endzone with 39 seconds left to keep it 14-7 at the break.
To start the second half Emporia State went for it on fourth and one from their own 46 yard line and were stopped short.  Eight plays later Myers scored from five yards out to give Northwest a 21-7 lead with 9:27 left in the third quarter.  On the Hornets next possession Jamison Sarver was intercepted and Carter Edwards returned it 21 yards to the ESU three before Sarver tackled him.  On the next play Quincy Torry scored to put the Bearcats up 28-7 with 9:08 left. In the quarter. NWMSU went up 34-7 on a one handed catch in the endzone by Myers from Ruhnke for a 31 yard touchdown with 4:00 left in the third. The Hornets were forced to punt on the ensuing possession but Divante Harig-Brittain forced a fumble by Myers on the return and Clem McCullough recovered it at the Bearcat 19 yard line.  Six plays later Sarver hit Malik O'Atis for eight yards to get ESU within 34-14 with 26 second left in the third quarter.
Northwest got the final score with 8:01 to go in the game on a four yard run by Ruhnke for the final score of 41-14.
 
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Diego Cearns had a career high 122 yards on 17 carries for Emporia State.  He became the first MIAA opponent to run for over 100 yards against the Bearcats since UCM's Marcellous Hawkins on September 30, 2023.  He joins Billy Ross Jr., who had 106 yards against NWMSU in ESU's 33-13 win on September 7, 2023, to give Emporia State two backs with over 100 rushing yards against Northwest in the last three games between them.
The Hornets were held to a season low 71 yards passing, the first time ESU has been held to under 100 passing yards since throwing for 91 against Washburn on November 2, 2019 and the fewest yards overall since being held to 63 yards in a 29-3 win at Henderson State in a rain soaked game in the 2015 NCAA Playoffs.
Landon Boss led Emporia State's defense with nine tackles including half a tackle for loss.  Tyler Schultze added eight stops, an assisted tackle for loss and two pass break ups.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets travel to Topeka for the Turnpike Tussle on Saturday, November 8.  Kick-off from Yager Stadium at Moore Bowl is set for 1:00 p.m.