Emotions flow as Hornets win 35-31 thriller over Southwest Baptist
By Jesse Newell
Monday, September 25, 2006
BOLIVAR, Mo. — Dave Wiemers’ nightmare ended with tears of joy.
After the final seconds ticked off the clock of Emporia State’s 35-31 victory against Southwest Baptist, the Hornets finally saw their coach past the chain-link fence. The barrier wouldn’t separate them much longer.
The players streamed through the end zone gate, giving their congratulations to the man who had just performed the toughest coaching assignment of his life: letting his players do it on their own.
“That was priceless, seeing him over there with the biggest smile on his face, tears in his eyes,” ESU quarterback Ben Purkeypile said. “That’s by far one of the most memorable moments here at Emporia State.”
“It’s just one feeling you can’t get anywhere else but football,” ESU wide receiver Jermaine Barnett said. “It was truly amazing.”
Because Wiemers had used an uncertified player for five plays in the previous game — when his team was up by 38 and when he was trying to reward a kid for going hard in practices — the coach accepted the penalty of a one-game suspension.
Forced to listen to a radio broadcast outside the stadium, he was left to suffer as his players fell behind late in the fourth quarter — and cry when they came back against all odds.
“The game was as painful of a thing as I’ve ever done,” Wiemers said. “But that’s not the story tonight. The story’s our kids and their composure and their poise, and the fight to come back and win a tough game on the road.”
If only the coach could have seen it.
Trailing 31-28 with only 2:58 remaining, ESU faced a do-or-die scenario with the ball at its own 22.
Without their head coach, starting tailback or momentum, the Hornets simply got it done.
Tailback Justin Wieser — who had carried it only twice in the game and fumbled once on an exchange from quarterback Justin Whitworth — took a draw play 10 yards.
On the next snap, he broke it open for a 34-yard run to the right side, putting the Hornets on the Bearcat 37.
It was here, finally, when Barnett received his chance to help win the game.
“I was kind of putting myself in the zone,” Barnett said, “because I knew we were going to need a big play.”
And what a big play it was.
Southwest Baptist came with a corner blitz, leaving Barnett one-on-one with the defender to the outside.
ESU quarterback Ben Purkeypile read it immediately, lofting a ball to the end zone for the receiver.
Though for a second it looked overthrown, Barnett quickly caught up to it, but he couldn’t extend to catch it as the defender grabbed his inside arm.
It didn’t matter. In stride, Barnett cradled the ball in his left arm for a one-handed grab, pulling out his other hand later to secure it.
“I was telling myself all game that once I get that big bomb play, I’m going to make that play,” Barnett said. “That’s what I did.”
The 37-yard touchdown strike sent the ESU sideline in a frenzy and also gave the team a 35-31 advantage with 2:22 remaining after Jeff Edwards’ extra point.
Though the Hornet defense had been gouged for 343 passing yards and four touchdowns by SBU quarterback Robert Clardy, it came up with the stand it needed in the final two minutes.
After an incomplete pass, ESU cornerback Brandon Stribling knocked receiver Robert Woodson back for a one-yard loss.
Clardy completed a five-yard pass to Nick Smart, then faced a 4th-and-6 from his own 22.
After being flushed from the pocket, Clardy delivered a pass deep down the left sideline to a streaking Woodson, who was two steps behind the final defender.
“It was actually my man that was getting deep,” ESU safety Jake Richter said. “When I saw that ball, I could tell it was deep and there wasn’t much I could do.
“I knew we had it then.”
The ball sailed two steps too far, ending the Bearcats’ hopes with 48 seconds remaining.
“It’s over, and we’ll go on,” said Larry Wiemers, ESU interim coach and also Dave’s father. “It’s just a whole lot better to win this game. It would have been real tough if we would have lost this one.”
ESU rallied twice even before the dramatic ending.
Trailing 24-21 early in the fourth quarter, the Hornets drove 77 yards on 11 plays to set up a third-and-goal at the SBU 4-yard-line. On a play-action, Whitworth turned to his left and spotted an open Lucas Sullivan. He turned his body to throw it, but the pass was deflected by linebacker Terry Jones.
Though he matched the ESU record of 51 consecutive made extra points later in the game, Edwards came up wide on a 21-yard field goal attempt that would have tied it with 7:31 remaining.
Linebacker Matt Demicoli came up with ESU’s defensive play of the game on the next snap.
With SBU wide receiver Jeremy Packer still juggling a catch, Demicoli flew to the ball to jar it loose.
As it fell to the turf, Demicoli wrapped both arms around it, bringing it in for an interception on the Bearcat 28.
Sean Partridge made a one-handed circus catch on an underthrown ball for 19 yards, and three plays later Purkeypile found Barnett in the back of the end zone from nine yards out for his first of two scores.
SBU went 72 yards on six plays to regain the lead at 31-28 before ESU’s final offensive drive.
“That was a dogfight, and we ended up coming out on top,” Richter said. “But SBU played their (butts) off.”
The Hornets had success offensively by fully committing themselves to the run.
Attempting 50 rushes as compared to only 15 passes, ESU finished with 316 yards on the ground against the MIAA’s worst statistical defense.
“We felt like we could run the ball on them and physically wear them out,” Larry Wiemers said. “The problem was we couldn’t get them stopped on defense.”
Starter El Ray Henry led the way, rushing 16 times for 138 yards and three touchdowns. He saw limited action in the second half after suffering back spasms.
Seville Ko added 16 carries for 77 yards, while Wieser posted 42 yards on just four attempts.
Clardy finished 26-of-39 for 365 yards against the Hornet defense.
The ESU victory sets up a pivotal matchup against No. 13 Pittsburg State next Saturday at Welch Stadium.
And, this time, Dave Wiemers shouldn’t have to go through the agony of not being there.
“It was like a bad dream,” Wiemers said. “I’m one of those guys... I have the dream all the time that my team’s playing and I can’t get there. Saturday, it just kind of was reality.”
Wiemers, admittedly, can rest a little easier now.
His nightmare is over. It finished with a happy ending.
“I bawled like a baby,” Wiemers said. “I love these kids. I’ve got two little boys at home, and with the exception of those two and my lovely wife, I love these kids.
“I adore them. They’re like my own, and I want them to be so successful.”