The memories aren’t good for senior Matt Demicoli.
Whenever he thinks about last year’s game against Northwest Missouri State, the Emporia State linebacker can’t help but remember it like a nightmare.
“I remember it being ugly and being over with very quickly,” Demicoli said of ESU’s 49-17 loss to NWMSU last year. “When they got on us, they kept on us. We didn’t fight back.”
Demicoli and the rest of the Hornets are hoping for a better outcome Saturday, as ESU takes on the No. 6 NWMSU at Welch Stadium.
It will be the final home game for Demicoli and 12 other ESU seniors.
“They’ve got a great opportunity in front of them,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said. “We’re going into the game thinking we can win.
“That’s what we’ve talked to our kids about. That’s how you’ve got to be. It’s been happening all along in college football all year.”
The biggest key for ESU might be withstanding Northwest’s first punch.
The Bearcats have been outstanding in the first halves of games this season, outscoring their opponents 120-23 in the first quarter and 199-66 in the first half.
“If we can stay within a few points the whole game and have a chance in the fourth quarter, that’s all we’re going to ask for,” Demicoli said.
NWMSU hasn’t been as dominant in second halves. The Bearcats hold a 35-27 advantage in third quarters and a 74-65 edge in fourth quarters.
ESU also will have to find a way to limit Northwest’s high-powered offense.
The Bearcats are tops in the MIAA in scoring offense (39.3 points per game) and total offense (451.1 yards per game).
“This,” Higgins said, “will be the best offense we’ve seen all year.”
That unit includes senior running back Xavier Omon, who leads the league in rushing with 156.6 yards per game. He also leads the nation in scoring (16.5 ppg).
ESU defensive coordinator Ken Gordon and defensive line coach Spence Nowinsky have seen Omon before, as they faced him the last two years as assistants at Minnesota State-Mankato. Higgins also saw him as an assistant at MSU-Mankato in 2005.
“He was good then,” Higgins said, “but he’s so much better now.”
On offense, ESU once again will be led by quarterback Eric Runge.
The sophomore, making his first collegiate start under center last week against Truman, was 7-of-14 for 40 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 19 times for 86 yards.
“I thought he did an excellent job last week of doing everything we asked of him,” Higgins said.
The Hornets will look to utilize much of the same gameplan, using their running game and high-percentage passes to try to control time of possession.
Demicoli said a victory would go a long way toward helping the Hornets’ spirits. ESU has lost six games in a row after winning its first three.
“It would be huge,” Demicoli said. “It would be a big stepping stone for how the program’s going to start turning around for next year.”