September 20, 2008-Emporia State rolled up 371 yards of total offense on the MIAA’s top defense on the way to a 24-13 victory over Ft. Hays State on Saturday afternoon on Jones Field at Welch Stadium.

The Hornets took the opening kickoff and drove to the Tigers 11 yard line before settling for a Matt Perry field goal to take a 3-0 lead. FHSU answered with an 11 play, 71 yard drive of their own to take a 7-3 lead on Anthony Smith’s 14 yard touchdown from Mike Garrison.

ESU retook the lead on a nine yard touchdown pass from Andre Sloan El to Sean Partridge to cap a six play 73 yard drive. FHSU tied the score on a 26 yard field goal by Nathan Rausa to end the first quarter scoring.

The Hornets took the lead for good on a 29 yard touchdown run by Sloan El. The run capped a 94 yard, 11 play drive. Sloan El connected with Partridge on a 30 yard completion on third and 17 during the drive.

Derek Lohmann intercepted a Garrison pass and returned it to the FHSU nine yard line with 1:04 left in the half. Zach Rampy, who came in at quarterback for Sloan El on the previous series, connected with Lucas Sullivan for a one yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left in the half.

FHSU ate up 9:10 of the third quarter on a 17 play, 76 yard drive that culminated with a Rausa 21 yard field goal to pull within 24-13 with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Hornets went three and out to start the fourth quarter giving the ball to the Tigers at their own 46 yard line. On first down Matt McClain stripped the ball from Jacobb Irvin and Katrel Larkins jumped on it to give ESU the ball back. The Hornets would take 4:12 off the clock before Rampy threw the first interception by a Hornet quarterback this year.

On the ensuing drive, ESU twice sacked Garrison and forced an incomplete pass on fourth down to get the ball back with 4:14 left in the game. The Hornets would run out the clock, thanks in part to a roughing the kicker penalty on FHSU with 1:30 left in the game.

ESU will return to Jones Field at Welch Stadium next Saturday to take on Missouri Southern. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES
ESU’s 251 rushing yards in the game is nearly twice as many yards as FHSU had given up on the year.

###HORNETS###

Upcoming Events

• ESU vs. Washburn
Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. Jones Field at Welch Stadium

Recent Scores

• WU 56, at ESU 35 (Nov. 7, 2009)
• #23 MWSU 29 , at ESU 6 (Oct. 31, 2009)
• ESU 30, at TSU 24 OT (Oct. 24, 2009)
• #5 NWMSU 45 , at ESU 12 (Oct. 17, 2009)
• at PSU 44 , ESU 14 (Oct. 10, 2009)
• UNO 34 , at ESU 13 (Oct. 3, 2009)
• at FHSU 40, ESU 20 (Sept. 26, 2009)
• at MSSU 34, ESU 13 (Sept. 19, 2009)
• #13 UCM 24, ESU 21 (Sept. 12, 2009)
• Augustana 32, ESU 21 (Sept. 5, 2009)
• ESU 48, SWOSU 17 (Aug. 27, 2009)

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