Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 19th-ranked Emporia State Hornets scored 24 points in the third quarter and racked up 564 yards to pull away from Nebraska-Kearney, 52-34, Saturday afternoon in Kansas.
 
This was the regular season finale for both teams. With the win, ESU (9-2) should receive a bid to this year's 28-team NCAA Division II playoffs. The field will be announced Sunday afternoon.
 
UNK had season-highs in points and yards (453) to grab an early 14-7 lead and trail just 28-27 early in the third.
 
However, E-State went 87 yards in 13 plays to open up a 38-27 lead and then turned an interception into more points, getting a 12-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Brent Wilson with 44 seconds left in the quarter.
 
An All-American and Harlon Hill Trophy candidate, Wilson finished 18 of 30 for 353 yards, five TD's and no INT's. He wasn't sacked and totaled 61 rushing yards on five carries.
 
Besides the late score in the third to make it 45-27, Wilson's scoring tosses came from 3, 47, 51 and 65 yards out. He threw completions to seven different teammates, led by senior receive Kavaski Ervin (five recep., 125 yds., two TD's).
 
Emporia started the scoring after picking off senior QB Bronson Marsh (Millard South H.S.) on the third play from scrimmage. Wilson directed a 25-yard drive that ended with his first TD toss to Ervin.
 
UNK scored the next 14 points, getting a one-yard run by Marsh and a 23-yard scoring strike from Marsh to senior receiver Cougar Williams (Hanford, Calif.).

 
Finishing with 167 yards on a career-high 31 carries, Marsh scored on 4th & 1 from the Hornet two-yard line with four seconds left in the half. The ensuing PAT was missed, allowing ESU to lead 21-20.
 
After junior WR Anthony Buffalomeat caught a 65-yard TD pass from Wilson to start the third quarter, Marsh ran for another score, this time from 10 yards out. UNK's final points came with 11:21 left in the game. A 12-play, 69-yard drive ended with another 23-yard reception by Williams, who totaled 115 yards on seven grabs.
 
Besides its aerial attack, Emporia rushed for 207 yards on 43 carries, led by reserve back Landon Nault (69 yards).
 
In his final game as a Loper, Marsh was 26 of 40 for 266 yards, two scores and three INT's. Besides Williams, senior co-captain Dalton Sealey (Hastings) had six catches for 99 yards and redshirt freshman back Luke Quinn (Scottsdale, Ariz.) totaled 80 yards on 14 touches and a kick return.  
 
Defensively, Sargent junior inside linebacker Tyke Kozeal had 16 tackles (10 solo), giving him 176 for the season. He's ranked in the Division II top five all season in tackles.
 
Among other Lopers, safety Dillon Loschen (Columbus) had nine stops, end Peyton Lange (Elkhorn) had three solo tackles with Omaha sophomore back Devontay LeFlore having UNK's only TFL.