#24 EMPORIA STATE FOOTBALL OPENS UP AGAINST #1 NORTHWEST MISSOURI

Game #1
#24 Emporia State Hornets (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
vs #1 Northwest Missouri Bearcats (0-0, 0-0 MIAA)
 Thurs., Sept. 1 2016 • 7:00 p.m. • Jones Field/Welch Stadium (7,000) • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: NWMSU leads 29-2 Current Streak: NWMSU 22 wins
Last Meeting: at #1 NWMSU 38, #18 ESU 17 (Dec. 5, 2015)
Radio: KFFX-FM (104.9) Pregame 6:00 p.m. TV: None
Live Stats
Internet (Audio): www.kvoe.com Internet (Video): portal.stretchinternet.com/esu
Officials: Announced on Game day
Complete Notes in pdf
Up Next: at Neb.-Kearney • Thursday, Sept. 8 • 7:00 p.m.
 
WAY TO GET THINGS STARTED 
Emporia State begins it's 119th season of collge football with one of the most anticipated matchups in school history.  The #24 Hornets take on the defending national champions and top ranked Northwest Missouri in a rematch of last year's NCAA Division II Super Region-3 Championship game. It is the first time in the 79 year history of Welch Stadium that two nationally ranked teams will meet in the season opener. 
 
HORNETS IN OPENERS
Emporia State is 67-46-5 all-time in season openers and have started the season 1-0 in 14 of the last 15 years.  Coach Garin Higgins is 8-1 in season openers with the Hornets and 13-1 in his career in season openers.  Emporia State has gone 18-7 in MIAA openers since joining the conference in 1991.
 
IT'S A CELEBRATION
The Hornets will be rededicating Jones Field at Welch Stadium following the resurfacing of the turf last spring. The new design features black end zones with hornet nest patterns in the corners, a Power E that span 26 yards at mid-field, and gold yard numbers.  
 
LOOKING BACK AT 2015
Emporia State went 11-3 last season and won their first NCAA Division II Playoff games with victories at Minnesota State-Mankato and Henderson State.  Brent Wilson finished fourth in the voting for the Harlon Hill Trophy as he led Emporia State to the ninth ranked passing attack in the nation.
 
THE?COACHES
Garin Higgins has compiled a career record of 104-59 in 14 seasons as a head coach. He is 53-50 as he begins his tenth season at his alma mater and is 44-26 since the start of the 2010 season. He led the Hornets to the Kanza Bowl in 2012, the NCAA playoffs in 2013 & the national quarterfinals in 2015. He had a 51-9 career record as the head coach 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 0-10 against NWMSU.
Adam Dorrel is 61-8 in his sixth year at Northwest Missouri. He is 6-0 against Emporia State.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
The Hornets advanced to the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals for the first time in school history last season and are set to return 14 starters, seven on offense and seven on defense, along with all of their specialists. Among the returners are four players that have had at least 100 yards receiving in a game, three players that have rushed for at least 100 yards in a game, and two players that totalled over 100 tackles last season. Emporia State went 6-0 on Jones Field at Welch Stadium last season on the way to an 11-3 overall mark.
 
SCOUTING?THE BEARCATS
Northwest Missouri won their fifth overall national championship last season, their third in the last seven years. They are set to return 15 starters from last season with eight on offense and seven on defense.
 
THE SERIES
This is the 32nd meeting in a series that began in 1930 and the third time in the last six games Emporia State has played Northwest. The Bearcats lead the series 29-2 and have won 22 straight. The last Emporia State win was 41-26 in Maryville in 1994. The only Hornet win at Welch Stadium was a 28-27 victory in 1965.
 
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST NWMSU
Playing in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals for the first time in school history, #18 Emporia State fell 38-17 at #1 Northwest Missouri. Brent Wilson went 23 of 38 for 324 yards with a touchdown and added one rushing touchdown for the Hornets.  Morris Williams caught a career high ten passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.  The 324 passing yards were the most given up by the Bearcat defense since 2011.  Jason Tetuan finished with a career high 18 tackles, the most by a Hornet since Jordan Sanders had 19 tackles in the Hornets playoff game at Minn.-Duluth on Nov. 23, 2013.
 
UP NEXT
Emporia State will travel to Neb.-Kearney in week two for a Thursday night game against the Lopers.  Kick-off from Cope Stadium at Foster Field in Kearney, Neb. is set for 7:00 p.m. on September 8.
YOU HAVE TO SCORE TO WIN
The Hornets are 41-8 under coach Higgins when scoring 28 or more points with a 36-3 record in their last 39 games in which they have scored at least 28 points.  Emporia State has averaged 41.5 points per game in their 28 wins and 19.3 points in their 14 losses since the Hornets last posted a shutout - a 13-0 win over Lindenwood in 2012. They played five games against top 25 scoring defenses in the nation last year and averaged 24.8 points in those five games. They averaged 32.3 points in wins against Missouri Western (ranked 22nd in scoring defense), Minnesota State (ranked fifth) and Henderson State (ranked fourth) while being held to just 13.5 points in two losses to the top ranked defense of Northwest Missouri. 
 
RIDING SCHOOL
Quarterback Braxton Marstall (So./Emporia, Kan.) has won the quarterback battle entering the year.  He redshirted last season after being thrown into the fire his true freshman year in 2014. He got his first start at Missouri Western in 2014 and was 24 of 38 for 233 yards and two touchdowns as he led the Hornets to a 30-10 road win. He led the Hornets to 21 second half points against Ft. Hays State as he was 10 for 19 for 102 yards after the break. He completed one pass for 29 yards against Northwest Missouri off the bench as a freshman.  
He only played two games as a senior at Emporia HS due to a collarbone injury.
 
MR. WALLACE
Quarterback T'Quan Wallace (Fr.-RS/Oklahoma City, Okla.) was impressive during the Hornets spring game. He was a three year starter at quarterback for Casady Prep in Oklahoma City. He completed 52 of 99 passes for 1,146 yards and 14 touchdowns in six games before suffering a season ending injury his senior season.  He also scored five times on the ground in those six games.
 
DOUBLE DIP
Quarterback Jaylen Lowe (Jr./Owasso, Okla.) was a contender for the quarterback spot following his red-shirt season at Division I Tulsa before opting to play basketball at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He averaged 13 points and four assists per game as a point guard for the Golden Norse. He is expected to play both sports for the Hornets. He was the first player since 2006-07 to earn first-team Tulsa World All-Metro honors in both football and basketball.
 
BIG FOOTE
Mitchell Foote (Sr./Enid, Okla.) was a first-team All-MIAA and CCA/CoSIDA All-Super Region3 pick at receiver. He led the MIAA with 12 touchdown receptions last season and finished the year with 79 catches for 877 yards, despite sitting out the Neb.-Kearney game with an injury.  He was ranked second in the MIAA in receptions per game and seventh in yards per game. He was 17th in the nation in receiving touchdowns and was second in the nation with two punt returns for touchdown. A total of 60 of his 79 catches on the season went for either a first down or a touchdown, with 30 of his 34 catches on third or fourth down resulting in a first down or touchdown.
He had four receptions for 40 yards in the regional title game at Northwest Missouri. He sat out the Neb.-Kearney game with a foot injury and came back with eight receptions for 116 yards at Minnesota State. He had a team high 67 yards on four catches at Northwest Missouri. He had six receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns against Washburn, including an acrobatic one handed grab in the corner of the end zone. He caught six passes for 69 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Missouri Western. He had a career high 12 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns at Ft. Hays State and had a 66 yard punt return for a TD that gave the Hornets a fourth quarter lead. He had six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown against Pittsburg State. He had 11 receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns at Lindenwood. He caught nine passes for 78 yards at Central Oklahoma. He had eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown against Central Missouri. He had three catches for 50 yards and set a school record with an 88 yard punt return for a touchdown at Missouri Southern. 
He had 35 receptions for 378 yards in ten games with four touchdowns as a sophomore. He had five catches for a then career best 93 yards including a career long 40 yarder at Northeastern State.
As a freshman he caught five passes for 61 yards against Washburn. He had two catches for 43 yards against Northwest Missouri in 2013. He had four receptions for 82 yards against Southwest Baptist. He snagged a five yard touchdown pass the first time he set foot on the field for the Hornets as a freshman against Neb.-Kearney. 
He has 140 receptions for 1,578 yards and 18 touchdowns in 33 career games.
 
THE TIME
Morris Williams II (So./Nashville, Tenn.) exploded on the scene last year, averaging 118.3 receiving yards in the playoffs. On the year he was third in the MIAA in receiving touchdowns, fifth in total receiving yards and 20th in yards per catch. He had four touchdown catches of over 50 yards this year - a 68 yarder at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs, a 73 yarder at Minnesota State, a 51 yarder against Neb.-Kearney and an 80 yarder against Northeastern State.
He had a season high 191 yards on ten catches at Northwest Missouri in the regional final. He had a career high eight catches for 159 yards and a touchdown at Minnesota State. He had four catches for 67 yards with a touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. He had three receptions for 48 yards at Northwest Missouri. He had four catches for 45 yards against Washburn. He had five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown at Lindenwood. He had a break out game with four catches for 147 yards, all in the first half, against Northeastern State.  His 80 yard touchdown reception against the RiverHawks was the fourth longest in the MIAA last season and the longest by a Hornet receiver since Shjuan Richardson had an 81 yard catch against Truman in 2012. He had 28 yards on four receptions at Central Oklahoma. He had a 14 yard touchdown against Central Missouri. He had a 39 yard reception at Missouri Southern.
He transferred to Emporia State from Kilgore College. He had 30 receptions for 509 yards and five touchdowns for the Rangers as a freshman in 2013. His 17.0 yards per catch ranked 19th in the NJCAA in 2013. He had six catches for 152 yards and two scores against Southeast Prep Academy and eight catches for 149 yards and a TD against Cisco.
 
JUST IN CASE
Receiver Justin Brown (So./El Reno, Okla.) was still 15th in the MIAA in touchdown catches despite missing ten games. He had four touchdowns and averaged 89.0 yards per game over the first three games last season. He had seven catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in Edmond before he was lost for the season when he broke his leg on a 12 yard reception down to the Bronchos two yard line on third down. He had seven receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns against Central Missouri. 
As a true freshman last year he had four of his 14 catches go for touchdowns. He had a breakout game with a career high six catches for 77 yards and three touchdowns at Neb.-Kearney. He had a 29 yard reception against Northwest Missouri. He had a 17 yard run against Washburn. He caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown and added a two point conversion against Ft. Hays State. He averaged 15.5 yards in the 23 times he touched the ball as a freshman. 
 
LEANER
Receiver Anthony Buffalomeat (Sr./Lawrence, Kan.) had a career high 99 yards on three receptions against Neb.-Kearney. His 65 yard touchdown against the Lopers is tied for the 17th longest reception in the MIAA last season.  He had two catches for 17 yards against Washburn. He had two receptions for 21 yards at Ft. Hays State. He had two catches for 15 yards against Pittsburg State. He had a career high nine catches for 55 yards at Lindenwood. He made his first career start against Northeastern State and caught two passes for 22 yards with a five yard touchdown catch. He had a 14 yard reception at Missouri Southern.
His first career reception came as a sophomore against Northwest Missouri for ten yards.
 
THE DAILEY SHOW
Receiver Louis Dailey (Jr./Grand Prairie, Texas) will look to provide a spark in his first season with the Hornets.  He had 36 receptions for 502 yards with six touchdowns in 2014 for Kilgore CC.
 
OVER THE MIDDLE
Receiver Jordan Reed (Fr./Edmond, Okla.) had a 56 yard touchdown against Pittsburg State and ended with two catches for 64 yards and one five yard rush against the Gorillas. He had two catches for 12 yards at Lindenwood. He took off his redshirt and had a 16 yard reception against Northeastern State in his first game with the Hornets.
He was an all-city and all-league wide receiver for Edmond Memorial HS where he had 35 catches for 954 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. He ran a 21.78 in the 200m to place third at Oklahoma Class 6A State Championships as a junior.
 
 
SIMPLE AS A-B-C 1-2-3
Receiver Jordan Jackson (Fr.-RS/Bonner Springs, Kan.) had three catches for 40 yards with a 24 yard touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. Two of his five catches last year went for touchdowns. He saw his first action of the year against Northeastern State and caught two passes for 25 yards, including a 21 yard touchdown on his first play from scrimmage.
He was a first-team All-Kaw Valley League quarterback at Bonner Springs HS as he threw for 4,230 yards and 43 touchdowns in his career while gaining 1,468 yards and running for 15 touchdowns on the ground.
 
BROWN AND SERVE
Running back Antonio Brown (Jr./St. Louis, Mo.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection at running back last season. He was 12th in the MIAA in rushing with 674 yards and his five touchdowns rank 13th in the league.
He had 82 all purpose yards against the Bearcats in the regional champoinship game. He had 59 yards on ten carries at Henderson State. He had a 13 yard touchdown catch on a shovel pass at Minnesota State. He had nine carries for 36 yards and a touchdown against Neb.-Kearney. He had a season long 41 yard kick off return at Northwest Missouri. He had nine carries for 43 yards against Washburn and added 33 yards on three receptions. He had 60 yards on 15 carries against Pittsburg State with a touchdown. He had 16 carries for 75 yards at Lindenwood. He had 11 carries for 50 yards against Northeastern State. He gained 54 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown at Central Oklahoma. He had 88 yards on 21 carries with a touchdown against Central Missouri. He had 80 yards on 17 carries at Missouri Southern.
He was tenth in the MIAA in rushing at 61.8 yards per game as a sophomore. He had 64 yards on 12 carries at Missouri Western. He became the first Hornets since Seville Ko in 2006 to have back to back 100 yard rushing days when he had a career high 134 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown at Pittsburg State following a 104 yard effort with a touchdown on 17 carries against Lindenwood. He had 76 yards on 17 carries at Northeastern State with a touchdown. He had 51 rushing yards on 16 carries against Central Oklahoma. He had 103 yards from scrimmage against Central Missouri with 21 carries for 60 yards with a rushing touchdown and a career high 12 receptions for 43 yards. He had 77 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown against Missouri Southern.
He was the Offensive Freshman of the Year in the MIAA and was named honorable mention All-MIAA in 2013. He had 536 rushing yards last year with 463 coming in the final seven games of the year. His nine touchdowns were the most by a Hornet freshman since joining the MIAA. He rushed for 66 yards against Washburn last year with 60 of them coming on ten carries in the fourth quarter. He had 13 carries for 68 yards against Northwest Missouri. He had 109 yards on 14 carries at Missouri Western.  He gained 76 yards on 16 carries with a pair of touchdowns against Lindenwood. He had a career high four rushing touchdowns on 16 carries with 102 yards at Lincoln. 
He has rushed for 1,890 yards and 20 touchdowns with 59 catches for 367 yards and a score in 36 career games.
 
LONG HILL
Running back Landon Nault (So./Kingfisher, Okla.) was ranked tenth in the MIAA in rushing with 727 yards and was tied for 20th with four rushing touchdowns.
He had 35 yards on nine carries in the regional final at Northwest Missouri. He finished with 179 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown at Henderson State.  It was the most rushing yards by a Hornet since La'Darian Page had 201 against Southwest Baptist in 2011 and the most by a freshman running back for the Hornets since Brian Shay gained 210 against Washburn in 1995. It is also the most yards gained by a Hornet in an NCAA Playoff game and the most in a post season game of any type since Tyler Paul had 224 yards in Emporia State's 34-27 overtime win against Winona State in the 2002 Mineral Water Bowl. He had 69 yards on 14 carries against Neb.-Kearney. He was the leading rusher for the Hornets with 21 yards on six carries at Northwest Missouri. He gained 49 yards on 14 rushes at Ft. Hays State. He had a game high 88 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown against Northeastern State. He got his first start and had 69 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries at Central Oklahoma. He had a 44 yard gain against Central Missouri and finished the game with nine carries for 75 yards against the Mules. 
He was the Oklahoma Offensive Player of the Year after gaining 2,199 yards and 45 touchdowns on 249 carries as a senior. He also had 72 receiving yards and a touchdown on 11 catches. He was a Wendy's High School Heisman National Finalist.
 
STRONG ENOUGH
Running back Denzel Strong (So./Independence, Mo.) was 16th in the MIAA in yards per carry among players with at least 50 rushes on the season. He was 21st in the league in total rushing with 406 yards last season. 
He had 13 carries for 41 yards against Neb.-Kearney. He averaged 3.8 yards per carry against Northwest Missouri in the regular season. He had 12 carries for 51 yards against Washburn. He had 88 yards on 15 carries with a long rush of 41 yards against Missouri Western. He had four carries for 19 yards against Pittsburg State. He 42 yards on 11 rushes against Northeastern State. He had a team high 80 yards on seven carries at Central Oklahoma thanks to a season long 70 yard rush. It is the longest run from scrimmage by a Hornet since a 74 yard run by Seville Ko against Ft. Hays State on August 27, 2005. He had two carries against Central Missouri on back to back plays that gave the Hornets a key first down on the way to the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. He came to Emporia State after redshirting at Hutchinson CC. He had over 1300 yards at Van Horn HS.
 
TRIUMPHANT
Running back Kai Callins (So./Guthrie, Okla.) returns to the Hornets after redshirting last season with a knee injury. He had 346 rushing yards with a pair of 100 yard games as a true freshman in 2014.
He had ten carries for 29 yards against Northwest Missouri as a freshman. He had 58 yard on ten rushes at Washburn. He gained 40 yards on 12 carries at Missouri Western. He had 101 yards on 24 carries with a touchdown against Ft. Hays State. He led Emporia State with 107 yards on 11 carries including a 57 yard touchdown run against Missouri Southern. He averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 79 rushes with three touchdowns as a freshman.
He was the MVP of the Oklahoma Class 5A state championship game after rushing for 245 yards and four touchdowns. He was named VYPE Magazine Mr. Football in Oklahoma his senior year.
 
REESE'S PIECES
S-back Reese Richards (Sr./Azle, Texas) returns for his senior year after missing 12 games last season with a neck injury. He had three catches for 15 yards in the first half against Central Missouri before suffering the season ending neck injury. He had three catches for 49 yards at Missouri Southern.
He missed the final three games in 2014 but still earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors at tight end. He was named to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American watch list last year. He finished the season with 14 catches for 210 yards and a touchdown last year. He caught three passes for 45 yards at Pittsburg State. He had three receptions for 33 yards against Lindenwood. He had a career high 104 yards receiving on six catches with a touchdown at Central Missouri.
He had his first career start against Northwest Missouri as a freshman. He had two catches for 31 yards against Southwest Baptist in 2013. He caught a 37 yard touchdown pass at Lincoln.  He had five catches for 93 yards, an average of 18.6 yards per catch, as a freshman.
 
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
Tight end Trenton Ball (So./Midwest City, Okla.) did not play in the playoffs at Northwest Missouri last year with a knee injury. He had one reception for two yards at Henderson State. He had an 18 yard reception against Missouri Western. He got his first reception as a Hornet against Pittsburg State, going for four yards.
He was rated a three star recruit by ESPN.com and listed as the #21 tight end prospect in the country coming out of Carl Albert HS. He was the 14th rated player overall in the state of Oklahoma.
 
NICK OF TIME
Tight end Nick Oliver (So./Overland Park, Kan.) had a career long 18 yard reception at Henderson State last year. He had three receptions for 34 yards on the season.
He was All-Sunflower League pick at tight end for Shawnee Mission South HS and had 330 yards with seven touchdowns on 24 receptions.
 
SQUIER OF BACKS
S-back Brock Squier (Sr./Sanger, Texas) had a six yard reception at Ft. Hays State. He was a transfer from North Texas where he was a defensive back for two years.  He rushed for over 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns while picking up 600 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a senior at Sanger HS.
OFF THE ICE
Guard Jarrett Stastny (Sr./Sanger, Texas) was a third-team All-MIAA selection last year. He earned his third Squarehead Award of the year as the Hornets top offensive lineman against Pittsburg State when he had a season high 11 knockdowns. He also earned the honor against Northeastern State and in the opener against Missouri Southern. He is a two-time All-MIAA performer after earning third-team honors last season. He was named to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American watch list this year.
He was named the Squarehead Award winner against Northeastern State and Missouri Southern last year as well. He was a consensus preseason All-American, earning D2Football.com, Lindy's, BSN, and USA College Football honors as a junior.
In 2013 he was named First-Team All-MIAA on the offensive line and was the only freshman tabbed First-Team. He was a second-team Daktronics All-Region pick and earned third-team all-region honors from Hansen's Football Gazette. He earned the Squarehead Award three times as a freshman. His first Squarehead honor was against Neb.-Kearney and he won the award in the Hornets wins over nationally ranked Missouri Western and Washburn.
 
BUILDING BRICKS
Center Jake Warehime (Jr./Choctaw, Okla.) started all 14 games at center last season. He was the Squarehead Award winner at Northwest Missouri in the regular season. He was first  named the Squarehead Award winner against Ft. Hays State. He went from not on the depth chart to the starting position in the space of a week heading into the Missouri Southern game last year. 
 
BOYS IN THE HALL
Guard Dylan Hall (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) was named the Squarehead Award winner against Washburn. He got his first career start against Missouri Western. He is in his third year with the Hornets and is working at both center and guard. He was an All-Centennial League first-team pick, helping Seaman HS reach the 5A playoffs as a senior.
 
HOOSIER DADDY
Tackle DeAndre Herron (Sr./Avon, Ind) is a graduate transfer from the University of Indiana. He played in the Hornets win at Maryland in his only action with the Hoosiers.  He was a first-team all-conference performer at Iowa Western CC. He was an all-state performer and his team's Most Valuable Player at Avon (Ind.) HS.
 
GREAT DANE
Tackle Dane Riley (Jr./Azle, Texas) has moved into the starting lineup to start the season. He got to start against Northeastern State as a freshman and saw considerable action over the final four games of the season. He was a first-team All-District pick at left tackle for Azle HS. He was credited with 14 pancake blocks as a senior.
 
IN THE CENTER OF IT ALL
Center Joe Pomatto (Jr./Paola, Kan) missed the first four games last year with an injury. He returned to action against Lindenwood. He is in his fourth year with the Hornets after being the first lineman in history to be named Tri-County Spotlight Football Offensive Player of the Year his senior season at Paola HS.
 
THE WEIRDNESS
Lineman Thomas O'Grady (Jr./Topeka, Kan.) saw action in all 14 games last year. He played at Butler CC as a freshman after redshirting at Emporia State in 2013.  He was a first-team All-Topeka pick and second-team All-Centennial League selection for Hayden HS.
 
OFFENSIVE DEPTH
The Hornets have had 18 players catch a pass last season with 14 of them returning this season.  Eight players had a touchdown reception and three with at least four touchdown catches return - Mitchell Foote led the league with 12 while Morris Williams II third with eight and Justin Brown was still tied for 16th with four touchdowns. Emporia State has three running backs - Antonio Brown, Landon Nault and Denzel Strong - in the top 25 of the MIAA in rushing. The Hornets had a rush of 70 yards and a pass completion of 80 yards in the same season for the first time since 2005. The Hornets used 13 offensive linemen in games last year and have used seven different starting lineups on the line. No starting offensive lineman was on the field during the Hornets third quarter scoring drive against Central Oklahoma.
ON THE DEFENSE
The Hornets were third in the MIAA and ranked 28th in the nation in sacks with 40.0 sacks for 263 yards worth of losses. They were second in the MIAA and are 45th in the nation in tackles for loss with 103.0 TFL for 428 yards. They held Henderson State to just 137 yards of total offense on 72 plays and did not allow a touchdown. The 137 yards are the fewest allowed in a game since giving up 137 to Missouri Southern on Nov. 8, 2003. It was the first time since the 2002 season they have had two games in a season in which the Hornets have not allowed a touchdown. They forced Minnesota State into a three and out or turnover in the first three possessions of the game and then again on six straight possessions from midway through the second quarter to midway through the third quarter. They had back to back MIAA Defensive Players of the Week in linebacker Kole Schankie and corner back AJ West. Emporia State was fifth in the league in scoring defense at 26.4 points per game.
 
VICTORY OF THE PEOPLE
Linebacker Kole Schankie (Sr./Madison, Kan.) was named third-team All-MIAA. He was tenth in the MIAA in total tackles, 11th in tackles for loss, and 20th in sacks last season.
He had seven tackles against Northwest Missouri in the NCAA Quarterfinals. He had six tackles and forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage at Henderson State. He recorded 12 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss and half a sack at Minnesota State. He had three tackles and an interception that led to Emporia State's first score against Neb.-Kearney. He had a game high 12 tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss at Northwest Missouri. He had five tackles with a TFL that included a forced fumble and recovery against Washburn. He was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after recording a career high 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a recovery against Missouri Western. He was credited with eight tackles, 2.5 for a loss, two pass break ups and a sack at Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles against Pittsburg State. He was credited with nine tackles at Lindenwood. He had seven tackles and 1.5 TFL against Northeastern State. He was credited with three tackles at Central Oklahoma. He had ten tackles including a sack against Central Missouri.
He had been a key contributor on special teams during his first two years with the Hornets and had eight solo tackles as a sophomore.
 
REVOLUTIONARY
Nickel Josh Monteagudo (Sr./Cape Coral, Fla.) was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick. He was 12th in the MIAA in tackles and 21st in tackles for loss last season.
He had five tackles with two pass break ups at Northwest Missouri in the regional final. He was credited with four tackles, two for a loss, at Henderson State. He had ten stops at Minnesota State. He had five tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with five tackles, four of them solo, at Northwest Missouri. He had five tackles and a pass break up against Washburn.  He had 14 stops against Missouri Western. He was credited with ten total tackles, seven of them unassisted, at Ft. Hays State. He had four solo tackles and five total stops against Pittsburg State. He recorded 11 tackles at Lindenwood. He was credited with eight tackles at Central Oklahoma with 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass break up. He had eight tackles with a sack against Central Missouri. He had seven tackles and an interception return of 14 yards at Missouri Southern. He has moved to linebacker after playing at safety his first two years at Emporia State.
He was credited with 11 tackles and a forced fumble at Pittsburg State as a sophomore. He recorded nine tackles at Northeastern State. He had ten tackles with nine of them unassisted against Central Oklahoma. He was credited with seven tackles and an interception at Central Missouri. He had four tackles against Missouri Southern.
He came on strong at the end of his freshman year with 46 of his 52 tackles in the final seven games of the year. He had eight tackles at Minn.-Duluth in the playoffs. He was credited with eight solo tackles including two for a loss against Northwest Missouri in 2013. He had a career high 12 tackles, nine of them solo, and an interception at Missouri Western.  He had seven solo stops, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble at Lincoln.  He is a transfer from Hutchinson CC where he redshirted as a freshman after originally committing to Ole Miss.
He has 201 total tackles, 125 of them solo, in 35 career games and is averaging 6.8 tackles in four career playoff games.
 
TY THAT BINDS
Linebacker Ty McKenzie (So./Owasso, Okla.) was a mainstay on special teams last season and has moved into the starting rotation this year. He had two tackles against Henderson State. He had a solo tackle against Neb.-Kearney. He had three solo stops against Northeastern State. 
He sat out in 2014 after transferring to Emporia State from Missouri Southern. He was the District 6A-1 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior for Owasso HS. He was the second-leading tackler in 6A in the state of Oklahoma with 148 stops.
CLEVELAND ROCKS
Linebacker Gabe Cleveland (Jr./Eudora, Kan.) had three tackles at Henderson State. He was credited with five tackles against Washburn, three of them solo. He had two solo tackles against Missouri Western. He had a fumble recovery on special teams for the Hornets against Pittsburg State. He had three tackles at Lindenwood. He had seven tackles and a sack for a loss of ten yards against  Northeastern State. He had a tackle for loss inside the Hornets five yard late in the fourth quarter that helped hold Central Missouri to a field goal with 5:35 left.
He is in his fourth year with Emporia State. He was named First-Team All-Class 4A and was a two-time first-team All-Frontier League performer for Eudora HS.
 
REMINGTON STEELE
Linebacker Remington Whitley (Jr./Olathe, Kan.) missed the three games late with a leg injury, but did see time against Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had two tackles against the Bearcats in the regular season. He was credited with two tackles against Northeastern State. He had two tackles at Central Oklahoma. He recorded four tackles at Pittsburg State last year. He began the season with four stops against Missouri Southern.
He was named First-Team All-Sunflower League, earned Sunflower League Football Blog Defensive Player of the Year honors and was an honorable mention all-state pick as a senior for Olathe South HS.
 
LOGAN'S RUN
Linebacker Logan Thompson (Jr.-TR/Sedgwick, Kan.) is in his first year with the Hornets. He played in five games for Kansas State before transferring to Emporia State in the spring.
He was named a First Team All-Kansas 4A linebacker by VarsityKansas.com as he helped Sedgwick HS earn back-to-back league, district and bi-district championships. He recorded over 2,900 total yards and 36 total touchdowns in 12 games as a senior. He was selected to play in the 2013 Kansas Shrine Bowl.
 
A GOOD MAN
Linebacker Brandon Goodman (Sr./Paola, Kan.) was credited with five tackles at Henderson State. He had three tackles at Northwest Missouri in the regular season. He had two tackles against Northeastern State. Last season he had two solo stops against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles with one for a loss at Pittsburg State. He was credited with two tackles at Northeastern State. He had five tackles against Missouri Southern.
He was a first-team All-State selection with 150 tackles his senior year at Paola HS.
 
THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT
Linebacker Curtis Shorts (Sr./Ft. Worth, Texas) had eight tackles in nine games last season. He had three tackles and a quarterback hurry at Henderson State.  He had two tackles and forced a fumble against Northeastern State. He sat out 2014 with an injury. He worked with the practice squad in 2013 after transferring from Abilene Christian. He was a unanimous first team all-district selection with 115 tackles at safety for Lake Worth HS in Fort Worth, Texas.
 
STARE DOWN
Linebacker Jarron Ogles (Sr./Topeka, Kan.) had a solo tackle against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles against Missouri Southern. He is in his third year with the Hornets after transferring from Butler CC. He played in five games for the Grizzlies in 2013. He was a state qualifier in wrestling and an all-city performer in track & field for Highland Park HS.
 
CLEANHEAD
Defensive lineman Eddie Vinson (Sr./Omaha, Neb.) was named third-team All-MIAA last year. He was tied for 20th in the MIAA in sacks and 35th in tackles for loss last season.
He had three tackles and half a sack at Northwest Missouri in the regional championship game. He scored his first career touchdown on a fumble recovery at Henderson State. He had seven tackles, forced the first fumble of the game and later recovered a fumble at Minnesota State. He recorded three tackles and half a tackle for loss against Neb.-Kearney. He had three tackles at Northwest Missouri. He forced a fumble on a sack against Washburn. He was credited with four tackles at Ft. Hays State. He had five tackles and a sack against Pittsburg State.  He had three tackles, 1.5 TFL with half a sack at Lindenwood. He was credited with two quarterback hurries against Northeastern State. He had seven tackles with half a sack at Central Oklahoma after being held to one tackle against Central Missouri. He had eight tackles, 2.0 TFL and half a sack at Missouri Southern. He was named to the USA College Football NCAA Division II Preseason All-American watch list in 2015.
He was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick as a sophomore. He recorded six tackles, five of them solo, at Neb.-Kearney. He had four tackles against Northwest Missouri. He recorded seven tackles against Missouri Western. He had eight tackles, 2.5 TFL, a sack and a pass break up against Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles, a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss at Pitt State. He had four solo tackles against Central Oklahoma. He had six tackles, five of them solo, at Central Missouri. He had five tackles and a sack in his Hornet debut against Missouri Southern. He had 32 tackles and eight tackles for loss for Iowa Western CC as a freshman. 
He has 102 total tackles, 14.0 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks in 25 career games.
A TON OF ABS
Defensive lineman Larenz Abston (Sr./Des Moines, Iowa) had two tackles at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had four assisted tackles, half a sack and two assisted tackles for loss with a forced fumble at Henderson State. He had two solo tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He was credited with three tackles at Northwest Missouri. He had four tackles and 0.5 TFL against Washburn. He had four tackles at Ft. Hays State. He had six tackles with 1.5 sacks and a pass break up at Lindenwood. He had three tackles, two of them for a loss against Northeastern State. He forced a fumble at the Hornets one yard line that was recovered in the endzone against Central Missouri. He had 35 tackles and an interception from his defensive end position at Ellsworth CC in 2014.
 
WALKER, TEXAS RANGER
Defensive lineman Donovan Walker (Jr./Cottleville, Mo.) had three tackles and a 16 yard fumble recovery at Minnesota State. He had four tackles and a solo sack for a loss of nine yards at Lindenwood. He had five solo tackles with three of them for a loss including a sack of ten yards against Northeastern State. He was credited with three tackles and half a TFL at Missouri Southern.
He had three tackles at Neb.-Kearney as a freshman. He was credited with two solo stops against Northwest Missouri. He had six tackles at Washburn and five tackles at Pitt State.
 
LETHAL WEAPON
Defensive linemen DeAndre Glover (Sr./Hempstead, Texas) had a solo tackle and a quarterback hurry at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs and recorded four tackles there during the regular season. He was credited with two tackles against Missouri Western. He had a pair of solo tackles against Pittsburg State. He was credited with two tackles at Lindenwood. He had two tackles and half a sack at Central Oklahoma. He had a sack against Central Missouri. He had 38 tackles with a sack at Kilgore College as a sophomore.
 
THE FIRST DAY
Defensive End Tre'Vaun Ammons (Fr.-RS/Omaha, Neb.) should push for a starting spot after red-shirting last year. He was asecond-team All-Metro selection for Omaha North HS and had 93 tackles as a senior.
 
SPEEDY
Cornerback A.J. West (Jr./Yukon, Okla.) earned third-team All-MIAA honors last year. He is tied for 21st in the MIAA in interceptions and had a total of four take aways on the season.
He had five tackles at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs. He had five tackles and a pass break up at Henderson State. He had four tackles at Minnesota State. He had a career high nine tackles with two pass break ups and two tackles for loss against Neb.-Kearney. He had five tackles at Northwest Missouri. He was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week after returning and interception 59 yards for a score and adding a ten yard fumble recovery against Washburn. It was the fifth longest interception return in the MIAA last year. He had five tackles against Pittsburg State. He was credited with seven tackles, six of them solo, with a tackle for loss at Lindenwood. He had three tackles and an interception against Northeastern State. He had seven tackles and a pass break up at Central Oklahoma. He recorded five tackles and a fumble recovery in the endzone against Central Missouri. He had five tackles at Missouri Southern.
As a freshman he intercepted a pass in the endzone at Missouri Western. He had a career high six tackles with two pass break ups at Northeastern State. He had a 17 yard kick return and a tackle against Central Oklahoma. He had a 20 yard kick return against Central Missouri. He made the move from running back to corner during training camp. 
He earned All-American honors as a true freshman member of Emporia State's men's 4x400m relay team that placed eighth in the nation in 2014.
 
TRE BIEN
Cornerback Tre Dickerson (Sr./Corinth, Texas) earned honorable mention All-MIAA status last year. He was tied for second in the MIAA in passes defended and tied for sixth with four interceptions.
He had nine stops at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs with a pair of pass break ups. He had three pass break ups and two tackles at Henderson State. He had seven tackles at Minnesota State. He had five tackles and an interception against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles, two pass break ups and returned a fumble 23 yards at Northwest Missouri. He had four tackles, an interception and a pass break up against Washburn. He had six tackles and a pass break up at Ft. Hays State. He had two interceptions, two tackles and a pass break up against Pittsburg State. He had a career and team high 12 tackles at Lindenwood. He was credited with five solo tackles against Northeastern State. He had six tackles at Central Oklahoma, five of them solo. He had two pass break ups at Missouri Southern.
He had three tackles and a pass break up against Lindenwood last year. He had four tackles and an interception at Northeastern State.
He earned a provisional NCAA qualifying mark and was eighth in the MIAA in the triple jump in the spring for the Hornet track and field team. He was the 13th best football player in the triple jump across all three NCAA Divisions last year.
JET ENGINE
Cornerback M.J. Mathis (Sr./Crosby, Texas) had two tackles and an interception in the endzone that kept Henderson State from scoring a touchdown. He had a season's best 68 yard kick-off return against Neb.-Kearney. He had two tackles at Northwest Missouri. He had three solo tackles against Washburn. He was credited with two tackles including half a tackle for loss against Missouri Western.
He had four interceptions for Kilgore College as a sophomore to go with 22 tackles.
 
SPARTACUS
Cornerback Jarrett Strode (Sr./St. Charles, Mo.) played in six games this season with seven tackles. He had two tackles at Henderson State. He was credited with two solo stops against Washburn.
He redshirted in 2014 with an injury. As sophomore in 2013 he had nine tackles in eight games. He had a season high four tackles at Lincoln and recorded three solo tackles at Ft. Hays State.  As a freshman he moved into the starting line up late as injuries piled up in the Hornet secondary.  He had two unassisted tackles against TAMU-Kingsville in the Kanza Bowl.  He had four tackles at Washburn.
 
BIDING TIME
Safety J.P. Lohrentz (Sr./Buhler, Kan.) was tied for second in the MIAA in interceptions and was 13th in the MIAA in passes defended with 11 total. Four of his five interceptions came in the playoffs.
He had 11 tackles at Northwest Missouri and averaged nine tackles per game in the playoffs last year. He was credited with four tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception at Henderson State. He had a career high 12 tackles and three interceptions with a fumble recovery for a score at Minnesota State. It was the first three interception game by a Hornet since Derke Lohman had three against Southwest Baptist in 2011.  He had seven tackles and a forced fumble at Northwest Missouri. He recorded seven tackles with an interception and a pass break up against Mo. Western. He was credited with six tackles, five of them unassisted at Ft. Hays State. He had six solo tackles and three pass break ups against Pittsburg State. He had six tackles and two pass break-ups at Lindenwood. He had ten tackles against Central Missouri. He had six tackles and a forced fumble at Mo. Southern.
He is in his fifth year with the Hornets and has found a home at safety after bouncing back and forth between receiver and the defensive secondary for his first three years. He had four tackles against Northwest Missouri as a sophomore.
 
TOP DESIGN
Safety Marcus Houghton (So./McPherson, Kan) had 20 tackles while playing in all 14 games last year. He had five tackles against Neb.-Kearney. He recovered fumbles against Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State in back to back weeks.
He had a career high eight tackles with a tackle for loss at Washburn as a freshman. He had three tackles at Missouri Western. He got his first career start against Lindenwood and had three solo tackles, including one for a loss.
He was a first-team All-Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League performer for McPherson HS.
 
WHAT'S COOKING
Safety Drew Cook (So./Oklahoma City, Okla.) was credited with two tackles against Washburn. He recorded three tackles against Northeastern State.
He was an all-conference performer at Casady HS who had 32 receptions for 495 yards and four touchdowns as a senior receiver before moving to the defensive side of the ball for the Hornets.
 
SAFETY IN NUMBERS
Safeties Gary Woods II (Fr.-RS/Oklahoma City, Okla.) and Ferrando Joseph (Jr.-TR/Corrinth, Texas) will be asked to provide depth in their first year on the field for the Hornets.
Woods was a two-time all-Southwest Prep Conference (includes schools from Oklahoma and Texas) selection at Casady Prep and named second-team Little All-City by the Daily Oklahoman. He has three uncles that played in the NFL Rashaun Woods, D'Juan Woods and Donovan Woods.
Joseph played in 19 games over two years with 17 total tackles at Louisiana-Monroe. He earned first team all-district and second team all-area honors as a wide receiver during his senior season for Lake Dallas HS and had 20 tackles and two interceptions at cornerback.
 
SALTY
Kicker Austin Morton (Jr./Rockwall, Texas) was an AP Little All-American last season and has been named a preseason All-American by Lindy's and the Sporting News despite being just honorable mention All-MIAA. He led the MIAA and ranked fifth in the nation in field goal accuracy and was second in the nation in total field goals made. He was ranked second in the MIAA in kick scoring and third in overall scoring with 122 points after going 56 of 59 on PATs and 22 of 25 on field goals to set Emporia State records last year.
He set the Emporia State single game record with five made field goals in the rain at Henderson State with two of them from over 40 yards out. He broke the single game record of four shared by three players - Eli Kuhns in 2012 against Lincoln, Matt Perry against Missouri Southern in 2008 and Justin Gray at Missouri Western in 2004. He was perfect against Minnesota State going six of six on PATs and three of three on field goals, including a game winning 33 yarder as time expired. It is the first time Emporia State has kicked a field goal to win a game as time expired in 25 years as a member of the NCAA. He was two for two on field goals against Washburn and had a 14 yard reception for a first down on a fake field goal. He was two for two on field goals against Pittsburg State. He was the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week after going seven of seven on PAT and two for two on field goals against Northeastern State. 
As a freshman he led the MIAA and was 26th in the nation in field goal percentage and was 45th in the country in field goals per game. He was MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week after going three for three on field goals at Missouri Western. He went 35 of 38 on PATs and ten of 13 on field goals with a long of 43 yards.
He is ranked second in career field goals made with 32 makes in just two years. He holds the Emporia State single game and season records for most field goals made and is one of two Hornets with multiple seasons of ten plus made field goals. He is 32 of 38 in his career on field goals at Emporia State and has made 91 of 97 PAT attempts. He is fifth in field goals made per game among active Division II players and is eighth in total field goals made among active D-II players.  He is the second ranked junior in total field goals made among active D-II players.
 
MARCHING ON
Kicker/punter Justin Marcha (Jr./Edmond, Okla.) was an honorable mention selection at punter. He is sixth in the MIAA in punting average at 38.8 yards per punt. As a team the Hornets were third in the MIAA and ranked 38th in the nation in net punting at 35.0 net yards per punt. Four of his 55 punts have gone at least 50 yards with long of 64 yards at Central Oklahoma and he forced 12 fair catches. He also kicked off for the Hornets and averaged 58.1 yards per kick with 19 touchbacks on 87 kick offs.
All three of his kick-offs at Northwest Missouri in the playoffs were good for touchbacks. He punted twice at Henderson State for an average of 37.5 yards. He averaged 41.5 yards on six punts at Minnesota State with on blocked. He averaged 39.1 yards on eight punts at Northwest Missouri, forcing three fair catches, and had one blocked. He averaged 39.7 yards on three punts against Missouri Western. All five of his kick-offs went into the endzone at Ft. Hays State. He had a 50 yard punt against Pittsburg State and averaged 37.8 yards on five punts. He averaged 49.0 yards per punt at Central Oklahoma with a career long of 64 yards. His lone touchback against the Bronchos was muffed inside the five yard line before UCO recovered it in the end zone.  He averaged 44.5 yards per punt with a long of 56 yards against Central Missouri. He averaged 43.8 yards on four punts at Missouri Southern.  He also hit a PAT against the Lions.
As a freshman he averaged 56.2 yards with nine touchbacks on 49 kick-offs. He successfully executed two on-side kicks against Neb.-Kearney and another one against Northwest Missouri. He averaged 36.7 yards per punt on 46 punts. He has placed 15 punts inside the 20 and only one touchback while forcing eight fair catches.
 
THE POLLS SAY
The MIAA has three teams ranked in the top 25 in the AFCA national poll and four in the D2Football.com preseason polls, with three other teams receiving votes in the AFCA coaches poll. The Hornets are ranked #24 in the AFCA and Sporting News preseason polls and #12 in the D2Football.com and Lindy's preseason polls.  Northwest Missouri is the consensus #1 team in the AFCA, D2Football.com, Lindy's and Sporting News preseason top 25 polls. Emporia State was 3-2 against teams in the AFCA Top 25 and 4-2 against teams ranked in the D2Football.com poll last year.
 
INJURY REPORT
The Hornets should enter the season healthy with no major injuries to report.
 THE?NFL EXPERIENCE
The Hornets have had 14 players play in one of the major professional football leagues.  Two Hornets have won Super Bowl rings - Kelly Goodburn with the Washington Redskins and Leon Lett with the Dallas Cowboys. Adam Schiltz was on the Tennessee Titans practice squad in 2013 and was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad last year. Schiltz saw action in exhibition games with the Chiefs last year while Austin Willis played in exhibition action for the Buffalo Bills. Harold Ayodele was a part of the Kansas City Chiefs during training camp and saw action in exhibition games in 2011. Garin Higgins has coached three players that have gone on to play in the NFL regular season - Lynn Scott with the Dallas Cowboys, Sam Breeden with the Green Bay Packers, and Patrick Crayton with the Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.
 
HEAD?COACH?GARIN?HIGGINS
Former Hornet Garin Higgins is the 21st head football coach at Emporia State and is the first to lead the Hornets to ten wins in two different seasons. He completed his ninth season by taking his alma mater deeper into the NCAA Division II playoffs than ever before last season. He  ranks third in wins behind Emporia State legends Fran Welch and Larry Kramer. In 2013 he became just the second coach to take the Hornets to the NCAA Playoffs and is one of just six Emporia State coaches to take the Hornets to a post season game of any type. He is 104-59 as a head coach with a 53-50 record at his alma mater. He is 43-26 in the last five seasons and 37-16 over the last 53 games. He compiled a 51-9 record as the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University before becoming the co-offensive coordinator at Minnesota State in 2005. He was the offensive coordinator at Northeastern State in 2006. 
He orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in Emporia State history. The Hornets have gone 32-14 over the last four years after going 19-36 in his first five seasons.  The 19 wins in 2012-13 were the most in back to back seasons since going 19-5 in 1988-89, while Higgins was a quarterback for Emporia State.
With five more wins in 2012 than 2011, he led the Hornets to the biggest improvement in wins from one season to the next in Emporia State history.  He had led the Hornets to within just one game of a post season berth in 2010 and 2011 before winning the Kanza Bowl in 2012. He is one of six Hornet coaches to win at least five games in four straight years.
While at NWOSU, he was named the Central State Football League Coach of the Year five straight years from 2000 through 2004. The Rangers won 31 consecutive games from 1998 through 2000 and were 15-3 against NCAA Division II schools under Higgins.
A native of Blackwell, Okla., Higgins graduated from Emporia State in 1992. He was a four-year letterman for the Hornets and helped lead the team to a national runner-up finish in 1989. He has been involved with four teams that have played for or won national championships as a player, coordinator or head coach. Higgins and his wife Heather, a 1995 graduate of ESU, are the parents of three children - son Halen and daughters Harlee and Gracyn.
 
DID YOU CATCH IT
The Emporia State football game at Northwest Missouri on Saturday, November 7 was selected for the DII Football Showcase on the American Sports Network, giving the Hornets three televised games this season. For the sixth year in a row, the Hornets had a home game featured on the MIAA Television Network in their 45-34 win over Central Missouri in the home opener last year. It was the first of two scheduled appearances on television for Emporia State as they later defeated Lindenwood 20-13 on October 3 on MIAA TV as well. The Hornets are third behind Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri for the most appearances on live television over the last five years. The Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012 game against Missouri Western was the first televised match-up of nationally ranked teams from Jones Field at Welch Stadium. The Hornets have played 21 games on live television since 1997 with nine of the games coming from Welch Stadium.
 
LISTEN & WATCH LIVE
Video webcasts for all of Emporia State's regular season games are available on a pay per view basis from Stretch Internet as part of the conference wide webcast agreement. Each MIAA school receives credit for the games accessed through their portal.
Audio of all Emporia State games are available on KFFX 104.9FM and at www.kvoe.com with Greg Rahe and Ron Thomas providing the call. KFFX is in their 29th straight year as the radio home of Hornet Athletics, the longest active streak between a commercial station and an MIAA school.
 
 
OUTSIDE?THE?CONFERENCE
The Hornets have gone 12-2 in non-conference games under Garin Higgins and are 23-7 outside the MIAA in the 21st century. Since joining the MIAA, ESU is 32-12 in non-conference games and has lost only three games to unranked non-conference D-II opponents since 1996.  The MIAA?has sent eight different schools to the NCAA?playoffs in the last eight years and has had a team in the national championship game eight of the last 11 seasons. 
 
MIAA IN THE POSTSEASON
Since the MIAA first expanded in 1989 and the new teams became eligible for post season play in 1990, the MIAA has won seven national championships and had a representative in 14 of 25 national championship games.  The MIAA has been represented in nine of the last 12 national championship games.  In that time the MIAA is 38-14 in the NCAA Playoffs and 11-6 in bowl games for a combined post season record of 49-20 against non-conference opponents. Emporia State became the sixth MIAA team to win an NCAA Playoff game. The Hornets join Northwest Missouri (2015, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996) Pittsburg State (2011, 2005, 2004, 2001, 1995, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989), Missouri Western (2012), and Central Missouri (2010) as MIAA teams that have reached the quarterfinals.  Last year was the first all MIAA regional final since 2011 and the fifth of all-time. 
All MIAA NCAA Divison II Quarterfinals
2015 at Northwest Missouri 38, Emporia State 17
2011 at Pittsburg State 41, Northwest Missouri 16
2010 at Northwest Missouri 37, Central Missouri 20
2005 Northwest Missouri 21, at Pittsburg State 10
2004 at Pittsburg State 50, Northwest Missouri 36
 
A Hornet win would...
•make Emporia State 1-0 overall, 1-0 in the MIAA;
•be the Hornets fifth straight season opening win;
•be the Hornets first win over a nationally ranked team to open the season;
•make Emporia State 3-29 all-time against Northwest Missouri;
•snap a 22 game losing streak to Northwest Missouri;
•be the Hornets first win over Northwest Missouri since 1994;
•be the Hornets first win in Welch Stadium against Northwest Missouri since 1965;
•make Coach Higgins 54-50 at Emporia State and 105-59 overall.
 
A Hornet loss would...
•make Emporia State 0-1 overall, 0-1 in the MIAA;
•be the Hornets first season opening loss since a 27-17 loss at FHSU in 2011;
•be the Hornets first season opening home loss since a 16-10 loss to FHSU in 2000;
•make Emporia State 2-30 all-time against Northwest Missouri;
•be Emporia State's 23rd straight loss to Northwest Missouri;
•make Coach Higgins 53-51 at Emporia State?and 104-60 overall.
 
WORKING?OVERTIME
• The Hornets are 4-8 in overtime games with wins in four of their last six after dropping their first four extra period contests.
• The quadruple overtime game in 2006 between Emporia State and Pittsburg State?was the first MIAA?regular season game to go to four overtimes and the first involving an MIAA?team since Northwest Missouri's 4 OT?win against Carson Newman in the 1999 National Championship Game.
• The 18 point deficit (28-10) in the second quarter at Minnesota State is the largest deficit Emporia State has overcome to win a game as an NCAA school.
• Emporia State's 17 point deficit at the half against Missouri Southern in 2011 was the largest half-time spread the Hornets have overcome for a win since joining the MIAA.
• Emporia State came from 17-0 down at the end of the first quarter to defeat Ft. Hays State 24-17 to open the 1992 season.