Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Emporia State scored the first 24 points in a 58-35 win over Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

ESU (2-0, 2-0 MIAA) has now won five in a row over the Lopers (0-2, 0-2 MIAA) but Kearney still leads the all-time series, 11-6.

This marks the first 0-2 start for the Lopers since 2008 and, dating back to last year, the first three-game losing streak for the blue and gold since 1998.

Not only did the pass happy Hornets click all day offensively – rolling up 501 yards and averaging 6.6 yards per play – they also scored two defensive touchdowns.
Emporia got out to a 24-0 first quarter lead as they scored on four straight drives, covering 42, 58, 81 and 59 yards. While the first scoring drive lasted 12 plays and took 4:02 off the clock, the next three drives were just a combined 10 plays.

The scoring drives featured a variety of short passes, misdirection plays and a couple of deep throws that appeared to be runs at the start.

After throwing for a career high 414 yards in last week's 41-18 win over Fort Hays State, Emporia senior QB Tyler Eckenrode went 30 of 43 for 367 yards, four TD's and no INT's. He also rushed eight times for a team-high 51 yards.

Eckenrode's favorite target was senior WR Shjuan Richardson, who caught 15 balls for 204 yards three TD's. His scoring grabs covered 25, 36 and 42 yards and he added an 18-yard run as well.

UNK tried to get back into the game in the 2nd quarter as redshirt freshman QB Aric Kaiser (Broomfield, Colo.) threw scoring passes to senior WR Adam Lehner (Hastings) and sophomore RB Daniel Rankin (Peoria, Ariz.).

However, with the Lopers trailing 34-15, Hornet defensive back Josh Taylor picked up a Loper fumble at the Kearney 35-yard line and raced untouched into the end zone.

Midway through the third quarter, Emporia senior defensive linemen Tyrone Weaver tipped an attempted screen pass by Kaiser, caught the ball himself and rumbled 32 yards for a score.

Besides Eckenrode and Richardson, Emporia got 33 rushing yards from running back Jordan Tice and 70 receiving yards, on four catches, from sophomore receiver Austin Willis.

On defense, Emporia got 13 tackles, including a sack from linebacker Ben Carlson, nine stops from linebacker Jordan Sanders and two TFL's from linemen Aaron Mathews

In his second collegiate contest, Kaiser went 16 of 33 for 148 yards, two TD's and two INT's. He also was sacked three times but finished with a positive three yards rushing.

Next, senior RB/WR Tommy Flanagan (Golden, Colo.) had six catches for 50 yards and one TD and also threw, on a half back pass, a scoring strike to junior WR Dillon Goltl (McCook).

That play worked again the fourth quarter when junior RB Shad Bride (St. John's, Ariz.) found sophomore WR Dillon Schrodt (Lincoln North Star) from six yards out.

Before leaving due to injury, Lehner made five grabs for 58 yards with Anselmo-Mera graduate Stephan Rush running nine times for 52 yards.

On special teams, Florida senior O'Neill Chambers had a big day, returning four kick offs for 99 yards (long of 56) and bringing back two punts for 60 yards (long of 53). He also had two catches for 29 yards.

Defensively, Central City senior free safety Sam Kuck made a team-high 13 tackles with junior OLB Jack Douglas (Weeping Water) returning to action and have eight tackles.

UNK is at nationally-ranked Missouri Western State next Saturday night. That contest starts at 6:00 p.m. and is the “MIAA Game of the Week” and will be seen on live television in Kansas and  Missouri.