GAME UPDATE: NW Missouri State 24, ESU 7 — FINAL
ESU loses 7th straight
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 01:37 p.m., November 3, 2007
Updated 10:03 p.m., November 3, 2007
Without hesitation, Emporia State coach Garin Higgins complimented his team for containing Xavier Omon after Saturday’s game against Northwest Missouri State.
It’s scary to think what might have happened if Omon hadn’t been slowed down — at least somewhat — by ESU’s defense.
Though he had just four carries for 1 yard in the first quarter, the Northwest running back finished with 25 rushes for 230 yards, helping the No. 6 Bearcats to a 24-7 victory Saturday at Welch Stadium.
“That just shows you what happens,” Higgins said, “when you’ve got a playmaker like that.”
The senior Harlon Hill candidate paced the Bearcat offense despite struggling in the first quarter.
In four first-quarter carries, two went for a loss and a third went for no gain.
The Northwest offense struggled early along with its star back. The Bearcats (8-1, 8-0 MIAA) punted on their first two possessions, and the first quarter ended in a scoreless tie.
It was the first time that Northwest — which had outscored its opponents 120-23 in the first quarter — failed to score in the opening quarter this season.
“We,” Higgins said, “did the best job we could do.”
ESU’s best wouldn’t be enough over the final three quarters.
Omon broke runs of 39, 40, 55 and 42, pushing himself over the 200-yard mark for the third time this season.
The senior had 120 yards in the fourth quarter alone.
“He’s a heckuva running back. We knew he was a good running back,” ESU linebacker Nathan Linsey said. “Those four plays he busted, we didn’t have the guy in the right spot.”
ESU still was able to keep it close for a half with the help a turnover and one long drive on offense.
After falling behind 10-0 in the second quarter, the Hornets showed some life on offense.
In its no-huddle set, ESU went 84 yards on 13 plays, with quarterback Eric Runge contributing a 2-yard TD run that helped trim the lead to 10-7.
Including penalties, the drive had 18 plays and took 5 minutes, 37 seconds off the clock.
“That shows everyone how good we can be,” Runge said, “and how close we are (offensively).”
ESU’s Aaron Stubblefield intercepted a pass at the end of the half to keep his team within three.
“That was kind of the goal earlier this week — hang around, and don’t let them jump out big on us,” Linsey said. “Our defense played extremely well in the first half.”
The Hornets — without an offensive playmaker like Omon — couldn’t close the gap in the final 30 minutes.
In seven second-half possessions, ESU gained just 93 yards, punting five times, fumbling once and turning it over on downs the other time.
“It’s maintaining consistency,” Runge said. “Just because we make the plays on one drive doesn’t mean we can let up.”
Meanwhile, ESU’s defense did all it could to keep the Hornets in the game.
Travis Lee, Jonathon Harris and Jeff Hoag all had second-half interceptions, but ESU’s offense never was able to capitalize.
The Bearcats, who came in leading the MIAA in scoring and total offense, won despite having four turnovers to the Hornets’ one.
“I honestly think the defense played their best game of the year. I really do,” Higgins said. “I know they gave up some big plays and hurt us, but, hey, (Northwest is) a very good football team.”
Omon had a 3-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left in the third quarter to make it 17-7, then Mike Peterson caught an 8-yard TD for Northwest’s final score.
Linsey, who had been limited in playing time after suffering an ankle injury in the first game, had 10 tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss. He entered the game after Blake Ringwall left with an injury.
Senior Jake Richter led ESU with 11 tackles in his final home game.
Seville Ko added 19 carries for 76 yards, while Runge — in his second week as starter — was 12-for-32 for 96 yards.
ESU (3-7, 1-7 MIAA) suffered its seventh straight loss after winning its first three games.
“We stuck with them. We played well,” Linsey said. “Just a few plays here and there we needed a stop and to make a few plays.
“It’s been the story of our year — we just haven’t made plays when we need to.”
Northwest Mo. State 24, Emporia State 7
Saturday at Welch Stadium
No. 6 NWMSU 0 10 7 7 — 24
Emporia State 0 7 0 0 — 7
Second Quarter
NWMSU — Tommy Frevert 26 field goal, 10:28
NWMSU — Xavier Omon 5 run (Frevert kick), 7:15
ESU — Eric Runge 2 run (Johnny Torres kick), 1:31
Third Quarter
NWMSU — Omon 3 run (Frevert kick), 00:23
Fourth Quarter
NWMSU — Mike Peterson 8 pass from Joel Osborn (Frevert kick), 2:13
GAME STATISTICS
NWMSU ESU
First downs 22 19
Rushes-yards 35-225 46-133
Comp-Att-Int 24-35-4 12-33-0
Passing yards 230 96
Total plays-yards 70-455 79-229
Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1
Penalties-yards 11-92 9-81
Punts-average 5-39.6 9-33.9
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — NWMSU: Xavier Omon 25-230, Mike Peterson 1-12, Sheldon Cook 4-7, Kendall Wright 1-(-9), Joel Osborn 4-(-15); ESU: Seville Ko 19-76, Eric Runge 14-19, Justin Wieser 7-18, Sean Partridge 2-12, Andre Maupin 2-5, David Hamman 1-4, TEAM 1-(-1).
Passing — NWMSU: Joel Osborn 24-34-4 230, TEAM 0-1-0 0; ESU: Eric Runge 12-32-0 96, Johnny Torres 0-1-0 0.
Receiving — NWMSU: Kendall Wright 9-86, Mike Peterson 5-60, Abe Qaoud 5-60, Paris Elam 2-10, Sheldon Cook 1-6, Brian Shannon 1-5, Xavier Omon 1-3; ESU: Paul Nichols 4-36, Justin Wieser 3-21, Jarad Biggs 2-19, Dominic Mirocke 1-13, Seville Ko 1-5, Lucas Sullivan 1-2.
Punting — NWMSU: Michael Stadler 5-39.6; ESU: Johnny Torres 9-33.9.
Time — 2:54. Att — 4,902.
Records — NWMSU 8-1, 8-0 MIAA; ESU: 3-7, 1-7 MIAA.