The No. 11 Emporia State Hornets fell 36-7 to Fort Hays State on Nov. 2 at Welch Stadium with multiple lightning delays throughout the game.
With 9:34 left in the first quarter, the Tigers went 60 yards on ten plays before Fort Hays kicker Carson Ardnt kicked a field goal from 30 yards. ESU gained a first down but the snap went over quarterback Gunnar Gundy’s head to set up a second and 33.
Fort Hays took a 5-0 lead with just less than eight minutes left in the first quarter after a snap went over punter Caden Dodson’s head and through the endzone for a safety on fourth and 22 from ESU’s own 27. The initial lighting delay transpired and both teams went to their locker rooms.
In resuming the game, both teams traded punts to end the first quarter. The Tigers began the second quarter with a 12-0 lead from a 43-yard touchdown by Shane Watts. With 4:40 left in the half, Gundy threw a pass to Tyler Kahmann for a 45 yard touchdown to make the score 12-7.
The Tigers responded as Watts ran 69 yards to complete a touchdown and put them in the lead 19-7 to end the half.
The second lightning delay occurred as the teams were on their way out of the locker rooms to begin the half. After the delay, the Tigers took a 26-7 lead with 13:14 left in the third quarter. With another seven yard touchdown, the Tigers would make the score 33-7 with 3:28 left in the quarter.
Myles Menges grabbed a deflected pass with 2:24 left in the third to give the Tigers the ball back. ESU’s defense forced a 28-yard field goal attempt from FHSU that was blocked by Tyler Schultze with 50 seconds left in the quarter.
The Hornets got to the Tiger 44 yard line in the fourth quarter but were not able to convert on fourth down. In the next play, ESU could not get a first down after a fourth yard stop and punted the ball back to FHSU. With 3:23 left, the Hornets forced a three and out to get the ball back, but the Tigers were able to recover the ball after the ball slipped from ESU quarterback Chase Ricke’s hand as he prepared to throw.
FHSU went on to bring the score to 36-7 from a 36-yard field goal with 1:13 left to claim the victory.
