ESU FALLS TO MSSU 19-18

Box Score

September 27, 2008-Emporia State outgained Missouri Southern by 79 yards, but had to settle for a school record four field goals from Matt Perry in a 19-18 loss to the Lions on Saturday in Emporia.

The Hornets took an early lead on Perry’s 36 yard field goal to cap a 13 play, 40 yard opening drive. After the Lions missed a 35 yard field goal on their first possession, the Hornets went 68 yards on nine plays before Perry hit a 29 yard field goal to give ESU a 6-0 lead. The lead would go to 9-0 when Perry hit a career best 39 yarder with eight seconds left in the first quarter. The Hornets went 19 yards following a Renard Johnson fumble for the field goal.

Southern cut the lead to 9-7 on a 18 yard touchdown run by Toderick Hunt to start the second quarter. On ESU’s first play following the kick off, Sean Partridge took a reverse 69 yards for a touchdown. The point after missed and ESU led 15-7 at the half.

Missouri Southern took the opening drive of the second half and went 62 yards in 12 plays to pull within 15-13. MSSU went for two and missed the conversion pass.

The Lions took the lead on Hunt’s third touchdown of the game following a 43 yard fumble return by Terrance Scott. The two point attempt was knocked down and Southern led 19-15. ESU’s Andre Sloan El was injured on the fumble return.

Zach Rampy replaced Sloan El at quarterback and took ESU on a 70 yard, ten play drive. Perry pulled the Hornets within a point at 19:18 with 10:19 left in the game. ESU would force three and outs on the next two possessions but the offense could not convert themselves. Rampy failed to convert on fourth and one with 3:06 left in the game, giving the ball back to MSSU at the ESU 36 yard line. The Lions drove to the Hornet ten before Blake Ringwall broke up a fourth down pass in the endzone to give ESU a last chance. The Hornets turned the ball over on downs when Nick Teer and Alex Ouji sacked Rampy on fourth down.

With the loss ESU falls into a five way tie for fifth place in the MIAA. The Hornets will begin a three game road trip next Saturday at Central Missouri. Kick-off from Warrensburg is set for 1:30 p.m.

NOTES:
Matt Perry’s four field goals tied Justin Gray’s school record set against MWSU in 2004. His five attempts set a school record.
Seville Ko gained 109 yards on 15 carries for ESU. It was his first 100 yard rushing game since gaining 106 against Truman last season.
ESU played without starting tailback Adrian Abner, who missed the game with an ankle injury, and defensive lineman A.J. Brinkman who was out with a shoulder injury.