Central Missouri QB Korrodi torches Hornets for 348 yards; ESU falls, 48-21
By Jesse Newell
Monday, November 6, 2006
WARRENSBURG, Mo. — Central Missouri’s Toby Korrodi had everything but the kitchen sink thrown at him by the Emporia State defense on Saturday.
He threw everything but interceptions right back at it.
The UCM quarterback added to his illustrious career on Saturday, completing 18-of-24 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns as the Mules rolled to a 48-21 victory over the Hornets.
“We really didn’t have an answer,” ESU coach Dave Wiemers said. “We dumped the whole playbook out there today and just couldn’t get them slowed down.”
Korrodi led Central on touchdown drives of 72, 96, 72 and 55 yards in the first half alone. The only possession on which he Mules didn’t score in the first 30 minutes was on a kneel-down just before the break.
The senior was both proficient and efficient, completing 9-of-10 passes for 198 yards and two scores before halftime.
“They threw it all over,” Wiemers said. “We didn’t get a whole lot of pressure. It was pretty much easy pickings for him in the secondary.”
Though ESU had a resurgence on offense, it wouldn’t be nearly enough to keep up with Korrodi.
Just as they had the week before against Washburn, the Hornets jumped out to the early advantage.
On the second play from scrimmage, running back Seville Ko waited for his blockers, then cut through the middle of the defense for a 48-yard gain. He completed the drive six plays later, running it in from four yards out on a second-and-goal to help make it 7-0 ESU.
A crucial play came on the next possession, as Central elected to go for it on a fourth down-and-4 from the ESU 22.
Though a stop could have helped set the tone for ESU, Korrodi completed a pass over the middle to Matt Jacobsen, who ducked under a potential tackle and scrambled into the end zone for a 22-yard score.
On the next possession, the Hornets failed on a fourth-down conversion of their own.
After driving 75 yards on 13 plays, ESU faced a fourth-and-1 from the UCM 4-yard-line. Ben Purkeypile rolled out on a play action, but with no one open decided to attempt to run for the first down.
Though he appeared to be close, the ESU quarterback failed to get a generous spot from officials. The ball ended up inches short, giving possession back over to Central.
Korrodi needed just five plays to march the Mules to a touchdown, throwing three completions before Will Caldwell broke a 37-yard touchdown run to the left side.
ESU failed to convert a second fourth-down attempt two possessions later when trailing 21-7. On a fourth-and-2, Ko was tripped up after a one-yard gain, giving it to Central on the ESU 45.
Korrodi hit an open Chad Ridley in stride for a 55-yard touchdown strike on the next play.
“As far as a thrower, he’s as good as you’ll see anywhere in America,” Wiemers said. “He may be a Sunday guy if he wants to be.”
Purkeypile led ESU on an impressive drive at the end of the half. He completed 6-of-9 passes on the possession for all 77 yards, capping it with a 29-yard connection to Sean Partridge down the right seam.
“He played great today. He was flat-out money on pretty much all of his passes,” ESU receiver Ryan Hulings said. “We were moving up and down the field. Just every now and then, we’d hit a brick wall.”
The ESU defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half, but Kendal Ricketts intercepted a pass for Central to keep the Hornets from getting any closer.
“There was a little window in there where maybe we could have taken advantage of some things and cut it down to a touchdown,” Wiemers said. “We didn’t get it done.”
The loss ruined career days for a pair of Hornets.
Hulings had 11 catches for 139 yards, making the most of numerous wide receiver screens thrown his way.
“We just decided to pass it a little more this week,” Hulings said. “I just made some plays. It worked.”
The senior also contributed a 69-yard kickoff return in the second half. He finished the game with an astounding 318 all-purpose yards.
“I love Ryan Hulings,” Wiemers said. “That kid goes out and plays well every week. He showed what he can do today.”
Also performing well was Purkeypile.
The quarterback had his best game as a Hornet, completing 25-of-45 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore had 218 passing yards going into the halftime break.
“He really made some good throws — stuff he hasn’t done all year,” Wiemers said. “It was nice to see him do those things.”
After an 11-carry, 89-yard first quarter, Ko had just seven carries for nine yards the rest of the way.
Partridge finished with 59 yards receiving and both touchdown receptions for ESU.
The Hornets had to go without two of their top players. Wide receiver Jermaine Barnett and defensive lineman A.J. Franklin were both suspended for violation of team policy.
“There’s a standard and a conduct we want our kids to follow,” Wiemers said. “They stepped across the line there. We’ll probably bring them back next week and hopefully teach them what to do.”
The loss was the Hornets’ sixth straight, dropping them to 3-7 overall. The setback gives ESU seven losses for only the second time since 1985.
“Everybody’s just tired of losing,” Hulings said. “Everyone’s down.”
ESU will face Missouri Southern at home next week in the final game of the season.
“As a senior, I want to go out with a win,” Hulings said. “I don’t want to go out on a seven-game losing streak. I just want to go out and win for all the seniors — for the whole team.”
“It’d be nice to just have that feeling,” ESU linebacker Matt Demicoli said. “I haven’t had that in awhile.”