Finally.
It had been three years since the Emporia High Spartans had experienced a home victory.
But thanks to a defense that stood tall at critical moments and an offensive that produced just enough big plays — including one highlight-reel catch — the Spartans walked off the turf at Welch Stadium 14-7 victors over Washburn Rural Friday night, giving EHS its first home victory since 2003 and coach Bill Lowe his first home win as the Spartan head coach.
“This is the best way to prove that we are a different team,” sophomore defensive lineman Ricky Coreas said. “The coaches have taught us a lot of stuff, and now the whole town knows what we can do. This win means a lot.”
The victory certainly didn’t come easy.
The game was still in question with less than a minute and a half to go, as Washburn Rural (0-3 overall, 0-3 Centennial League) was at the Emporia 35-yard line with 1 minute, 16 seconds left in the game on a drive that began at the Rural 19-yard line.
After a failed fourth-down conversion try by Emporia (2-1 overall, 2-0 Centennial League), the Junior Blues picked their way into Spartan territory thanks to a steady dose of quarterback Jordan Ochsner. In 11 plays, Ochsner rushed for 22 yards and passed for another 22 to drive the Junior Blues down the field.
But that’s when the Emporia defense stiffened.
Brandon Childs broke up a first-down pass intended for Tyler Swope, and then the Spartan defensive line came away with two huge sacks to stop Washburn Rural cold.
The first came from James Sparks, as defensive end Miles Ringgold forced Ochsner inside, allowing James to come away with a seven-yard sack. Washburn Rural rushed up to the line to run the third-down play, and this time, it was Ricky Coreas who got to Ochsner, dropping him for an 8-yard loss.
“It was great getting back there and getting the sack,” Sparks said. “It probably wouldn’t have happened if Miles wasn’t containing out there. If (Ringgold) never cut (Ochsner) back inside, he might have broken containment and I wouldn’t have had the sack.
“It was everybody doing their job on defense.”
Facing fourth-and-25, Ochsner heaved a pass downfield that flew well over the head of Kyle Winkley and fell harmlessly to the turf, giving EHS the ball and the victory.
“We knew we were going to get it done in the end,” senior defensive back Tyler Ast said. “We’ll take a win any way we can get it. We know we have to get better in several areas, but we’ll take the win, especially over Washburn Rural.”
The defensive stand to cap the game was indicative of most of the game, as neither team had much success offensively throughout the contest.
After a scoreless first quarter, Washburn Rural looked as if would break through first when it went on a 70-yard drive that began at the Washburn Rural 5-yard line. The highlight of the drive came on a 58-yard run by running back Nolan Peters, who started in place of injured starter Zach Smith, Washburn Rural’s leading rusher. Brandon Childs made the touchdown-saving tackle at the 23-yard line.
But the Emporia defense came up with the first big play of the night, five plays later. At the 25, Ochsner hit tightend TJ Leonard for a 19-yard reception.
But EHS senior safety Robert Keisler stripped the ball out of Leonard’s hands, popping the ball up into the air and into senior linebacker Dillon Cox’s arms. Cox returned the interception from the 6-yard line to the 19, where the Spartans took over.
With less than two minutes left in the half, Emporia High then drove the ball into Junior Blues territory to the 36-yard line, but after an incomplete pass and a rush for no gain, it looked like the Spartans’ drive might stall.
That’s when wide receiver Billy Malone provided perhaps the highlight of the year so far.
Facing a third-and-10, EHS quarterback Taylor Euler dropped back and fired a pass downfield intended for Malone. It looked as if Euler had led Malone too much, but Malone dove as the ball came down and made a finger-tip catch to haul in the pass at the 2-yard line.
“I knew I had a chance at it,” Malone said. “It was a miracle that I caught it though. It’s the greatest feeling ever. I’m speechless. You just have to be confident.”
Said Lowe of the catch: “I couldn’t believe it. First, he ran as hard as he could go with those big strides, and then you could just see the desire he had to go get it. He just laid out with every inch of his body, and he got it by an inch. That was a great effort by a senior that really stepped up.”
Two plays later, Noonan ran it in from the 1 to give the Spartans the lead, 7-0, heading into halftime.
Emporia built on its lead not long into the third quarter thanks to a crucial turnover on special teams that gave the Spartans a short field.
After a three-and-out by the Spartans offense, Eric Wells’ punt was fielded by Blaine Mathews at the 20-yard line, who began to run to his left. But sophomore Sheldon Patton laid a hit on Mathews that forced the ball out of his arms, and junior Ryan Bass recovered the fumble at the 19.
Euler scored on a quarterback keeper five plays later to put Emporia ahead, 14-0.
“The fumble in our territory was a killer,” Washburn Rural coach Derick Hammes said. “It provided them with a short field and in the end, it was something we couldn’t overcome.”
Washburn Rural got its lone score immediately following Emporia’s second score, as the Junior Blues used a 73-yard, 12 play drive capped by a six-yard touchdown run by Mathews to make it 14-7.
But from there, both teams’ offenses stalled out while the defenses stood firm, and Emporia held on for the victory.
“I’m just happy about our kids. I’m really proud of the way they responded to adversity and just hung in there and kept fighting,” Lowe said. “We won a game at home, my goodness. That’s what’s nice.
“Last year we had two close games just like that, and we lost them both. We found a way to get it done. It was an ugly game, but I’m really proud of the kids because they made some plays when they had to.”