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September 19, 2026-Thanks to a pair of Landon Boss touchdowns #17 Emporia State improved to 4-0 for the third time in the last four years with a 19-9 win over Neb.-Kearney on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hornets scored on a 34 yard field goal by Brandon McCary on their opening drive to go up 3-0 with 12:10 left in the first quarter.  The Lopers would take the ensuing drive and on a third and six from their own 41 Devin Tate connected with Ryker Evans at the 50 yard line before Clem McCullough forced a fumble, Landon Boss scooped it up and went 50 yards for a touchdown. McCary's PAT made it 10-0 with 9:33 left in the quarter.  Emporia State then forced a three and out, with Malik O'Atis returning the punt 35 yards to the UNK 43 yard line. Four plays later Boss line up at running back and scored from the one yard line. The Hornets two point attempt came up short and ESU led 16-0 with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
  After a three and out by the Hornet defense, ESU took over on their own 17 yard line. Facing third and two at their own 25 yard line Jamison Sarver was intercepted by Carson Murphy at the ESU 40 yard line.  The defense stiffened as the Lopers lost one yard on the next three plays before Kaden Kiernan connected on a 59 yard field goal to get UNK on the board with 3:13 left in the quarter.
McCary hit his second field goal of the game with 9:22 left in the second quarter when he connected from 30 yards out to give Emporia State a 19-3 lead.  Neb.-Kearney answered with another Kiernan field goal, this one from 26 yards out, to pull within 19-6 with 5:18 left in the half.
The Lopers became the first team to score in the third quarter against Emporia State this season when Kiernan connected on his third field goal of the day.  His 25 yarder with 1:22 left in the period pulled UNK within 19-9.
The overall time of possession favored Neb.-Kearney 35:01 to 24:59, but Emporia State was able to hold onto the ball for 9:24 in the fourth quarter to seal the win. They started their final drive at their own seven yard line and gained two first downs while eating 4:43 off the clock before punting with 26 seconds left.

A LOOK AT THE STATS
The Hornets held the Lopers without a touchdown, the first time they have kept an opponent from the endzone since defeating Angelo State 17-12 in 2024.
Gabe Roland led all tacklers with 10 stops.Clem McCullough had nine tackles with one for a loss while Aidan Hicks was credited with eight stops, 1.5 TFL and a break up. Landon Boss had eight tackles, one for a loss, and a scoop and score of 50 yards. Cord Coffee and Christian Westbrooks each had a sack and the Hornets combined for 10.0 tackles for loss.
Offensively Camden Crooks gained 126 yards on 19 carries. Jamison Sarver went 20 of 33 for 140 yards with Ethan Schultze his top target with five catches for 35 yards.
 
UP NEXT
The Hornets will go into their bye week with a 4-0 record. Their next action will be on Saturday, October 3 against Missouri Western.  Kick-off for the MIAA Television Game of the Week is set for 1:07 pm.
 
NOTES:
Emporia State held an opponent with out a touchdown for the first time in 25 games. It was the first time they had held an MIAA opponent with out a touchdown since a 38-0 win over then MIAA member Northeastern State on September 16, 2023.
Boss became the first Hornet to return a fumble for a touchdown since Sage Sieperda returned one 49 yards against Northeastern State on October 5, 2024.