Hornet Football Falls 13-7 in Defensive Battle with Fort Hays State

November 15, 2025-In a defensive struggle Emporia State could not come up with an onside kick at the end as Fort Hays State picked up a 13-7 win on Saturday at Welch Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers scored ten points in the first quarter on a 41 yard field goal from Kole Rogers and a six yard touchdown run from quarterback Caleb Heavner. The touchdown capped a three play, 71 yard drive highlighted by a 61 yard scamper by Heavner on the first play.
The two teams combined for 12 punts and two interceptions in the second and third quarters.  Fort Hays State went up 13-0 on a 43 yard field goal by Rogers with 7:00 left in the game. It was set up by a fumble recovery on a punt return by Darby Roper on which he was originally ruled down, but the call was overturned after review.  The Hornets held the Tigers to just six yards before Rogers hit his second field goal of the day to go up 13-0.
The Hornets got on the board with 58 seconds left on a 13 yard touchdown pass from Mason Dennis to Malik O'Atis in the corner of the endzone.  Caden Dodson's PAT made it 13-7 but the Tigers were able to recover the onside kick and kneel out the clock.
 
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Emporia State outgained Fort Hays State 316 to 188 but lost three turnovers. Mason Dennis, who came on in relief when starter Jamison Sarver was injured at the end of the first quarter, went 23 of 37 for 189 yards with a touchdown and added 31 rushing yards. Sarver was six of ten for 36 yards before leaving the game. Ethan Schultze had six catches for 71 yards while Malik O'Atis had 54 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. Kingsley Bennett had four catches for 27 yards before exiting the game with an injury after being hit on a targeting penalty by FHSU's Bashu Delco in the second quarter.
Landon Boss had a career high 14 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and seven quarterback hurries.  Clem McCullough added seven tackles and a forced fumble.
 
A LOOK AT THE RECORD BOOKS
With two sacks Landon Boss finished the season with ten to rank fourth all-time on the Emporia State single season list. His 2.5 tackles for loss give 18 on the season to move into a tie with Greg Harvey (1993), Leon Brigham (1997) and Gerard Clemons (1998) for fourth on the Emporia State single season TFL list.
Tyler Schultze had one pass break up on the day to give him 14 for the season to tie for second on the Emporia State single season list with Kyle Rinck (2018) and Tre Dickerson (2015).
Caden Dodson finished his career ranked second in made extra points with 161 and thrd with 37 made field goals.