Bulletin Archive
Former junior quarterback Gunnar Gundy hands the ball off to graduate student running back Billy Ross Jr. at the 2024 season opener on Aug. 29 against the Washburn Ichabods.
Emporia State Football will host their first game of the 2025-26 season on Aug. 28 at Welch Stadium. With a 7 p.m. kickoff, this will be Hornet Football’s first meeting with the Minot State Beavers. The season-opener is set to be broadcast for television on KMCI, 38 The Spot.
Last season, the Hornets went 5-4 in the MIAA and 7-4 overall. Minot State finished 4-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and 5-6 over the season.
ESU football captain CJ Adams told The Bulletin he’s most excited about playing the game with “the brothers I’ve worked so hard with.” For team officer Elon McKenzie, it’s changing the narrative for the Hornets that he’s looking forward to.
“I’m most excited to change the narrative about us being a middle of the pack team and go accomplish the team goals we set, which is winning the conference and making the playoffs,” McKenzie said
McKenzie and Adams shared different perspectives on how they feel this season’s team compares to last season’s. McKenzie acknowledges that this year’s team is young, fast and full of energy.
“Us getting in-game reps together early on in the season will be an exciting opportunity to showcase the future of Hornet football,” he said.
Adams, however, highlights the confidence of this year’s team.
“We have more depth in certain positions where we needed it most, and our confidence is through the roof,” he said.
As far as recognition goes, the two pointed to teammates they feel are sometimes overlooked on the field but they believe play crucial roles on the team. That person for McKenzie is senior kicker Caden Dodson, who he calls “a jack of all trades as a kicker” and “Mr. Reliable.”
For Adams, it’s stinger back and tight end Zach Stein, a redshirt sophomore.
“He gets his nose dirty when having to help block with the offensive line but he also has to run routes for us as well. Definitely one of the most crucial roles that most people don’t see on this team,” Adams said.
As the season starts, the team’s mindset is a little different this year, according to Adams. It’s about focusing on the now rather than what’s behind them or what’s ahead.
“W.I.N (which stands for ‘what’s important now’) is our team slogan, and with that, we are just taking it one day at a time,” Adams said. “Not looking into the future or reflecting on the past. As long as we got better throughout that specific day, then the rest will speak for itself. We are locked in and ready for this season.”
Heading into the first game, the “vibe…is electric in the locker room and around the guys,” McKenzie told The Bulletin.
“As I said, we are a young, hungry football team that’s very talented, and I believe we will exceed expectations set for us this season,” he said.
Inside the locker room on game day is a different story.
“Majority of the players have their headphones on/in listening to music while stretching or sitting down ready to go out onto the field,” said Adams. “Before we head out, we watch our hype video and everybody starts to yell and shout to get the juice flowing in the locker room.”
McKenzie sees the readiness in the players before they hit the field.
“The energy before the game in the locker is extremely tense with a nice calmness to it. The tension and focus is easily seen on everyone’s face as we know what we have to do for the game,” he said.
Minot brings “a challenge” the Hornets haven’t faced since McKenzie was brought on to the team last fall, he told The Bulletin. He said the team is excited for the Thursday night challenge.
“We know what they do very well, and they know our identity and what we do very well, so it will come down to who shows up and executes (on) Thursday,” he said.