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2026 Emporia State Football Jamison Sarver vs Washburn
Trent Stuhlsatz, ESU Athletics
20
Winner Washburn WAS 7-2 , 6-2
19
Emporia St. ESU 8-2 , 6-2
Winner
Washburn WAS
7-2 , 6-2
20
Final
19
Emporia St. ESU
8-2 , 6-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WAS Washburn 0 10 7 3 20
ESU Emporia St. 12 0 7 0 19

Game Recap: Football |

#15 Emporia State Falls 20-19 in Turnpike Tussle

Hornets go three of six in the red zone in loss

November 7, 2026-The #15 Hornets were three of six in the red zone in a 20-19 loss to Washburn in the 122nd edition of the Turnpike Tussle.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Emporia State got off to a great start, as Eric Stevenson tackled Jacoby Ogbonna in the endzone for a safety on the second play of the game.  After the free kick, the Hornets went up 5-0 on a 28 yard field goal by Brandon McCary with 12:26 left in the first quarter.  The Ichabods missed a 41 yard field goal on their next possession and ESU went 76 yards in five plays, capped by an eight yard pass from Jamison Sarver to Malik O'Atis over the middle, to take a 12-0 lead with 3:10 left in the period.  
Washburn got on the board with 11:17 left in the second quarter on a 12 yard completion from Logan Madden to Nathan Lewis.  The Hornets appeared to go up 14-7 with 6:47 left when the Ichabods were flagged for holding in the endzone on a punt.  After a Washburn challenge it was determined that the holding occurred outside the endzone.  Emporia State would go down to the Washburn 15 yard line before McCary's 32 yard field goal hit the upright with 5:00 left in the half. The Ichabods would get a 27 yard field goal from Aidan Battle with 21 seconds left as the Hornets took a 12-10 lead to the break.
 
Emporia State took the opening drive of the second half and went 67 yards in 11 plays with Sarver connecting with O'Atis on an eight yard shovel pass to give the Hornets a 19-10 lead with 11:32 to go in the third. After trading punts the Ichabods went 52 yards on ten plays, overcoming a first and 25 on the way, scoring on a one yard run by Keller Hurla to pull within 19-17 with 1:36 left in the third.  
The Ichabods took their first lead on the opening drive of the fourth quarter on a 33 yard field goal by Battle to go up 20-19. The teams traded punts and the Hornets got the ball back with 4:48 left on their own 12 yard line.  ESU drove down to the Washburn 13 yard line before Sarver was sacked on third down, setting up a 39 yard field goal attempt by McCary.  Al-Mani Jimerson got a hand on the attempt and it came up short giving the ball back to WU with 1:33 left. The Hornets forced a three and out and got the ball back with 1:02 remaining.  They drove down to the 20 yard line with six seconds left to set up for a 37 yard attempt by McCary. The kick had the distance but was wide right as Washburn survived to win the Turnpike Tussle for the first time since 2019.
 
A LOOK AT THE STATS
Jamison Sarver was 30 of 48 for 252 yards and two touchdowns with Malik O'Atis hauling in ten catches for 77 yards and two scores.  Landon Boss had 13 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets travel to Fort Hays State on November 14 for the final regular season game.  Kick-off is set for 1:00 p.m. at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays, Kan.
 
 
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