Junior quarterback Gunnar Gundy makes a pass while the ESU offensive line holds off the NSU line.
No. 18 Emporia State football hosted Northeastern State on Saturday Oct. 5, beating NSU 48-14 for a Homecoming win.
The first punt from the River Hawks was downed at the Emporia State six yard line, and the Hornets went 94 yards in 13 plays to prepare the first touchdown of the game. Junior quarterback Gunnar Gundy finished out eight yards to score the first touchdown of the game, 7-0. After a three and out by NSU, the Hornets took advantage of their opportunity with a 79 yard drive capped by Gundy’s second touchdown with 3:58 left in the quarter. With 18 seconds left, Gundy scored from a yard out to give the Hornets a 21-0 lead.
The River Hawks started the second quarter off with a touchdown pass with 11:06 left in the quarter. ESU answered with an eight play, 75 yard drive to take the score 28-7 with 9:04 left in the half. Followed by a 22 yard completion from Gundy, wide receiver and redshirt senior Zion Jones would score his first career touchdown. To put the Hornets in a further lead 35-7, Gundy hit redshirt senior stinger back Tommy Zimmerman at the six yard line as he ran into the endzone for a 12 yard touchdown.
With nine seconds left in the half, Sage Sieperda picked up the ball to go 49 yards for another ESU touchdown, putting the Hornets up 42-7 at the end of the half.
ESU went 60 yards in 15 plays to begin the second half, and settled for a 33 yard field goal from junior punter/kicker Caden Dodson, raising the score 45-7 in the third quarter. In response, NSU drove 66 yards capped by a 14 yard touchdown pass. ESU responded with another field goal from Dodson from 26 yards out, making the score 48-14 with 2:52 left in the third quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, leaving the Hornets to claim the game 48-14.
Gundy finished the game 40 of 56 for 404 yards, with two touchdowns and added three rushing scores. Sophomore wide receiver Trenden Collins pulled down nine catches for 71 yards, and graduate student wide receiver Tyler Kahmann had 74 yards on five catches. Sophomore running back Diego Cearns had 64 yards on 14 carries, making him the team’s leading rusher. Defensive back Kobe Holley, a redshirt senior, had five tackles during the game, a current team high.