Football | 9/4/2026 2:09:00 PM

Game #2
Emporia State Hornets (1-0, 0-0 MIAA)
at #10 Pittsburg State Gorillas (0-1, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, September 5 | 7:00 p.m.
Carnie Smith Stadium | Pittsburg, Kan.
Series Record: PSU leads 66-35-2 Last Meeting: PSU 42, at ESU 29 (September 27, 2025)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 6:00 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: Michigan Tech
Saturday, September 12 | 1:00 p.m.
Blackcreek Diesel Field at Welch Stadium | Emporia, Kan.

INTO THE JUNGLE
Emporia State begins MIAA play at #10 Pittsburg State. It is the sixth most played rivalry in NCAA Division II. The Hornets are 22-12 all-time in MIAA openers.

LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State football took down Minot State 36-30 in a season-opening win on the road Thursday night. The teams traded scores through the first quarter and a half as the Beavers led 12-7 with 7:49 left in the second quarter.  The Hornets scored the next 22 points to go up 29-12 with 2:59 left in the third quarter. Minot State started the fourth with a touchdown and scored again following a successful onside kick to get within 29-24 with 7:37 left. Ben Harris hit Ethan Schultze for a 75 yard touchdown on the next ESU play to go up 36-24. MSU scored again with 1:25 left for the final score. Ben Harris threw for 237 on 25-41 passing with two touchdowns while Camden Crooks gaineed 103 yards on 18 carries. Ethan Schultze had 81 yards and a touchdown on four receptions, while Trenden Collins had eight receptions for 71 yards and a score as eight players tallied a catch in the game.  Defensively, Landon Boss led the way with 17 tackles, two tackles for loss and forced fumble. 

THE COACHES
Garin Higgins is the winningest coach in Emporia State history with a record of 119-90 in 19 seasons at his alma mater. He has a career record of 170-99 in his 25th year as a head coach. He is the winningest active coach in the MIAA and has the fifth most wins among MIAA coaches in history. He has led the Hornets to the post season in eight seasons with three NCAA Playoffs and a national semifinal appearance in 2015. 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 4-11 against Pitt State.
Tom Anthony is 18-7 in his third year at Pittsburg State. He is 1-1 against Emporia State.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 1-0 on the season after a 36-30 win at Minot State. The Hornets had 433 yards of total offense to rank 37th in the nation after the first week, but gave up 507 yards. Five different Hornets scored a touchdown against the Beavers. Ben Harris was 25 of 41 for 237 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown. Camden Crooks ran for 103 yards to rank second in the MIAA. Landon Boss had a career high 17 tackles to rank second in the nation. Jordan Cartwright averaged 44.6 yards per punt to rank 18th in the nation. Brandon McCary hit all four of his PAT attempts. 

SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 0-1 on the season after a 42-14 loss to #1 Ferris State. The Gorillas were held to just 257 yards of total offense while giving up 520 yards, 385 on the ground. Jake Wolff went 27 of 38 for 213 yards while Dylan Van had a team high 44 rushing yards on five carries.

THE SERIES
This is the 104th meeting between the schools, making it the sixth most played active rivalry at the NCAA Division II level. Pitt State leads the all-time series 66-35-2. 

LAST TIME VS. PITTSBURG STATE
Emporia State had over 600 yards of offense but could not overcome 395 rushing yards by Pittsburg State in a 42-29 Gorilla victory.
The Hornets fell behind 14-0 but would score the next 16 points to take a 16-14 lead with 5:41 left in the first half.  Pittsburg State scored the next 21 points. Emporia State would get within 35-23 early in the fourth quarter but would turn the ball over on downs three times in the second half.  Ben Harris went 39 of 61 for a career high 429 yards and two touchdowns. Malik O'Atis had ten catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.  

KNOW THE FOE
The Hornets and Gorillas meet up in the sixth most played active rivalry in NCAA Division II. Once a branch school of Kansas State Teachers College, Pittsburg State leads the all-time series 66-35-2. The last four of the last five games have all been one score contests. 
At least one of these teams has advanced to the post season in 14 of the last 15 seasons with Emporia State going to the playoffs three times with five bowls while Pittsburg State has made six playoff appearances and three bowls. Both teams made the postseason in 2013, 2022 and 2023. The only time neither team made it was 2019. 

UP NEXT
The Hornets make their home debut on Saturday, September 12 against Michigan Tech. Kick-off from Blackcreek Diesel Field at Welch Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.

Complete Notes available here

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