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Emporia State Cruises to 27-7 Win over SWOSU
WEATHERFORD, Okla. (ESU Media Relations) -- Emporia State jumped out to a 21-0 lead at the start of the second quarter and cruised to a 27-7 victory at Southwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday night. It was the tenth straight season- opening win for the Hornets.
The two teams traded interceptions on the first two possessions before the Hornets struck on a 69-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Eckenrode to Charleston Johnson with 8:35 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing Bulldog drive Matt Rosenhamer blocked a punt and Gerald Guerrier scooped it up and went to the endzone for a 14-0 lead. The Hornets capped the opening onslaught with an 11 play, 90 yard drive to go up 21-0 just 51 seconds into the second quarter. The scoring play was a 24 yard touchdown from Eckenrode to Tracey Hageman.
After SWOSU drove to the ESU four on the next drive, the Hornet defense held the Bulldogs out of the end zone. After taking over at their own one yard line, Sheldon Smith fumbled on second down giving Southwestern their second first and goal in two possessions. The Hornets held for two plays before Dwight Pete scored on a one yard dive to cut the lead to 21-7 with 9:31 left in the half.
A muffed snap on a SWOSU punt that punter Cord Gothard finally corralled 27 yards behind the line of scrimmage set up the final score of the half for ESU. Zac King's 35 yard field goal gave the Hornets a 24-7 lead with 2:01 left in the half.
Neither team would score in the third quarter and the Hornets
tacked on the final points with a 37 yard field goal from King with
9:03 left in the game. ESU then controlled the clock, eating
up almost 12 minutes in the final quarter.
As a team ESU outgained SWOSU 391 yards to 177 yards in the
game. Dazor Horton led all rushers with 76 yards on 13
carries while Kevin Smart added 56 yards on 17 carries.
Eckenrode was eight of 20 for 164 yards with two touchdowns and two
interceptions. Johnson had 79 yards on two catches with a
touchdown and Hageman added 31 yards on two catches and a
touchdown. Nathan Linsey had ten tackles to lead ESU and Harold
Ayodele added seven stops with a sack for the Hornets. In
addition to his touchdown on the blocked punt, Guerrier had an
interception returned for 13 yards. Derek Lohmann also had a
interception for the Hornets.
The Hornets return to Jones Field at Welch Stadium to play their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 4 against Missouri S&T. Kick off is set for 1 p.m.
