Box Score

October 24, 2009-Emporia State’s Kevin Smart had a career high 206 yards rushing and scored the game winning touchdown in overtime to give the Hornets a 30-24 overtime win at Truman on Saturday. The win snapped a seven game losing streak this season and a 15 game road losing streak in MIAA play for ESU.

The Hornets scored 12 points off of Bulldog turnovers beginning with a 22 yard field goal by Dustin Andrews following a TSU fumble. The field goal capped an 11 play, 75 yard drive and gave ESU a 3-0 lead with 6:58 left in the first quarter. It was the first made field goal by ESU in 14 games dating back to last season.

The Bulldogs took a 7-3 lead on Albert Coker’s 48 yard punt return with 2:46 left in the quarter.

Matt Rosenhamer intercepted Phillip Davis with 16 seconds left in the half and Andre Sloan El hooked up with Danny McEvoy on am 18 yard touchdown pass to give ESU a brief 9-7 lead with :05 left in the half. The extra point attempt was blocked and Terrance Byrd returned it for the defensive PAT and a 9-9 tie at the half.

After the teams traded three and outs to start the third quarter, ESU retook the lead on a 41 yard pass from Sloan El to Dominic Mirocke. Andrews PAT attempt missed leaving the Hornets with a 15-9 lead with 10:05 left in the third. Vanness Emokpae then capped a ten play, 63 yard drive with a 17 yard touchdown run and Mickey Masucci’s extra point gave the Bulldgos a 16-15 lead with 5:48 left in the third.

The Hornets retook the lead on Smart’s three yard touchdown run. Smart carried the ball for all three plays of the 60 yard drive, beginning with a 53 yard tote on first down. Sloan El’s rush attempt for two failed leaving ESU with a 21-16 lead.

The Bulldogs retook the lead on their first drive of the fourth quarter, going 70 yards on 13 plays eating 6:02 off the clock. Emokpae capped the drive with a two yard rush and then added the two point conversion for a 24-21 Bulldog lead with 8:08 left in the game.

ESU would get the ball back with 4:06 left on Julian Dozier’s fumble recovery at the ESU 25 yard line. Sheldon Smith was forced to go at quarterback after both Andre Sloan El and Tyler Eckenrode were unable to go due to injuries. Smart and Smith combined to cover 59 yards on the ground before ESU, the worst team in the MIAA on third down conversions, called timeout at the TSU 16 with 1:12 left in the game facing a third down and ten. Smith connected with Adam Schiltz on a 12 yard gain to the Bulldog four yard line. After three rushes lost a total of five yards, Andrews came on and connected on a career long 26 yard field goal to tie the game at 24 with :17 remaining.

The overtime began with ESU’s Chris Woods intercepting Caleb Roberts in the endzone on third down. The Hornets kept the ball on the ground for six plays in their half of the extra period and scored the game winner on Kevin Smart’s five yard run on third and one.

Smart’s 206 yards were part of 375 rushing yards by ESU who ended the game with 515 total yards. Slaon El went 11 of 22 for 121 yards and two touchdowns and added 85 yards rushing on 13 carries before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. Smith had 62 yards on nine carries and completed his only pass for 12 yards and a third down conversion.

Nathan Linsey had a game high 14 tackles for the Hornets. Matt Rosenhamer had nine tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery.

The Hornets return to Jones Field at Welch Stadium for their final two games starting next Saturday. Missouri Western will be the Homecoming opponent with kick-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

NOTES:

The win was ESU’s first fourth quarter comeback win in 27 games, since defeating Southwest Baptist 35-28 on September 15, 2007 in Emporia.

It is the first time ESU has rallied from a fourth quarter deficit to win a road game since a 35-31 win at Southwest Baptist on September 23, 2006.

Smart’s 206 yards are the most rushing yards by a Hornet since Tyler Paul gained 244 against Southwest Baptist on October 25, 2003.

Andrews became the first Hornet to hit two field goals in a game since Matt Perry connected on four against Missouri Southern on September 27, 2008.

###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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