Football | 11/5/2026 2:30:00 PM

Game #10
#15 Emporia State Hornets (8-1, 7-1 MIAA)
vs. Washburn Ichabods (6-2-1, 5-2 MIAA)

Saturday, November 7 | 1:00 p.m.
Blackcreek Diesel Field at Welch Stadium | Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 62-53-6 Last Meeting: ESU 45, at WU 17 (November 8, 2025)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 12:00 p.m. 
Internet (Audio): www.kvoe.com Internet (Video): The MIAA Network Television: None
Officials: Announced on Game Day
Live Stats | Ticket Info | Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Fort Hays State
Saturday, November 14 | 1:00 p.m.
Lewis Field Stadium | Hays, Kan.

SENIOR SALUTE TO SERVICE TUSSLE 
The #15 Hornets play host to Washburn in the 122nd edition of the Turnpike Tussle. It will also be Salute to Service/Senior Day at Emporia State.

LAST TIME OUT
Four Hornet turnovers led to 28 Bearcat points as #8 Emporia State fell 59-14 at #11 Northwest Missouri on Saturday in Maryville, Mo.
The teams traded punts to open the game and ESU held NWMSU to a field goal for the first score of the game. A fumble recovery in the endzone made it 10-0 but the Hornets got a 44 yard touchdown pass from Jamison Sarver to Trenden Collins to trail 10-7 after one period. A 50 yard kick return and a pass interference call on first down set up a Northwest touchdown to start the second quarter.  On the next drive it was determined that Jayden Welch intercepted a pass just off the ground and returned it 33 yards for 24-7 lead with 13:10 left in the half.  The Bearcats added another score to take a 31-7 lead into the break and then scored 21 points in the third quarter thanks in part to another pick six. Emporia State tallied 376 yards of offense but were outgained 502-376 on the afternoon. The Hornets' four turnovers resulted in 28 Bearcat points. Jamison Sarver was 30 of 48 for 244 yards while Trenden Collins had ten catches for 95 yards and Vudrico Roberson had 66 yards on seven carries.

THE COACHES
Garin Higgins is the winningest coach in Emporia State history with a record of 126-91 in 19 seasons at his alma mater. He has a career record of 177-100 in his 25th year as a head coach. He is the winningest active coach in the MIAA and has the fifth most wins among all MIAA coaches. He has led the Hornets to the post season in eight seasons with three NCAA Playoffs and a national semifinal appearance. 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 11-7 against Washburn.
Zach Watkins is 9-10-1 in his second year at Washburn. He is 0-1 against the Hornets.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-1 overall, 6-1 in the MIAA and ranked #15 in the AFCA National Poll. The Hornets lead the MIAA in tackles for loss, interceptions, turnover margin and turnovers gained. ESU is second in the MIAA in sacks allowed but lead the league in sacks per pass attempt. Landon Boss is leading the nation in fumble recoveries and is second in tackles for loss while Jamison Sarver is second in the nation in completions per game, Tyler Schultz is third in the nation in passes defended and Brandon McCary is third in the nation in field goal percentage. Malik O'Atis leads the league in punt returns. 

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 6-2-1, 5-2 in the MIAA and receiving votes in the AFCA National Poll. They lead the nation in fumble recoveries and are second in the MIAA in scoring defense. Tre Calhoun is ninth in the nation in receiving yards while J.C. Heim leads the nation in total tackles.

THE SERIES
The Turnpike Tussle is the second most played active rivalry in NCAA Division II. This is the 122nd meeting in a series that began in 1899. The Hornets lead the series 62-53-6. Emporia State has won 11 of the last 13 meetings. 

KNOW THE FOE
The Turnpike Tussle between Emporia State and Washburn is the second most played active rivalry in NCAA Division II history. The Hornets have won 62 games while the Ichabods have picked up 53 wins and there have been six ties. Emporia State has scored a total of 2,172 points while Washburn has scored 2,093 points, a difference of just 0.65 points per game over 121 contests. In MIAA only games, Emporia State leads the series 23-11. The Hornets have averaged 30.74 points and the Ichabods 26.41 points per game in the 34 MIAA meetings, however the average margin of victory in each game has been 17.91 points. Only ten of the 34 MIAA contests between the two have been decided by eight points or less with the Hornets holding a 9-1 advantage in close games. Emporia State won a series best 11 straight games from 1991-2001 before Washburn won eight straight from 2004-11.  The Hornets have now won 11 of the last 13 meetings. 
This is just the fifth time in history and the first time since November 12, 2016 in which both teams have entered the Turnpike Tussle with at least six wins. That year a 9-1 Emporia State team defeated a 7-3 Washburn squad 30-3 in Topeka. This is the first time the two have met in Welch Stadium with both teams having won at least six games since the 8-1 Hornets won 34-23 over the 8-2 Ichabods on November 16, 2013 to secure a spot in the NCAA Playoffs.
When competitions in football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and women's soccer are added together Emporia State holds a 599-465-9 (.562) all-time advantage over Washburn heading into Friday's MIAA Soccer Tournament Semifinal match up.   

LAST TIME VS. WASHBURN
Emporia State scored 28 second half points on the way to a 45-17 Turnpike Tussle win at Washburn. The Hornets used a blocked punt return for a touchdown and a 35 yard Jamison Sarver touchdown pass to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Diego Cearns had a career high 136 rushing yards. Landon Boss had 12 tackles, 11 of them solo, three tackles for loss, a sack and a 43 yard interception return for a touchdown.  Kaliel Boyd had three tackles and a 29 yard pick six.

UP NEXT
The travel to west for their final regular season game on November 14 at Fort Hays State. Kick-off from Lewis Field in Hays, Kan. is set for 1:00 p.m.

Complete Notes available here

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