PITTSBURG — There was still half a quarter left in the game when the Pittsburg State band started the chant.
“Are we done yet?” Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap. “Are we... ”
The Emporia State players — many with their heads down on the bench — probably felt the same way.
Eight minutes later, it was done — both the season and also the worst loss for ESU since 1967.
In a game that was just as ugly as the final score suggested, PSU humbled ESU with a 62-0 shellacking Saturday at Carnie Smith Stadium.
“It’s definitely embarrassing,” ESU senior safety Jake Richter said. “Whenever you get beat, you don’t put up any points on the board and give up 62, it’s never any fun.
“I really thought we’d show up and play better than that.”
The Hornets were banged up, yes, but even they couldn’t have expected to play as poorly as they did in the season finale.
ESU’s defense gave up touchdowns on seven of PSU’s first nine drives, while the Hornets’ offense went three-and-out on five of its first six possessions.
It all paved the way for the Hornets’ worst loss since a 77-0 defeat to Colorado State when Lyndon Johnson was still president.
“No excuses,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said. “We’re not going to make any excuses. We made our bed, and now we’ve got to lie in it and figure out what we can do to clean up.”
PSU, though out of the playoff race and only playing for pride, put on quite a performance on its Senior Day.
Mark Smith led the Gorillas, passing for a career-high in yards and touchdowns despite not even playing in the fourth quarter.
The junior finished 19-of-24 for 324 yards with five touchdown passes. His previous high for TD passes this season was two.
Smith threw for four scores in the first half alone, helping the Gorillas to a 41-0 halftime lead.
His 254 yards passing in the first half was just three yards shy of his season-high recorded against Missouri Western.
“Everybody seemed like they came out... they weren’t ready for what was going on,” Richter said. “The seniors really wanted to have their day and go out with a bang, but we came out here and got outplayed.”
PSU finished with 583 yards of total offense, compared to 189 for ESU.
The Hornets rushed 40 times for just 87 yards, and drove more than 30 yards on only one possession.
“This isn’t the script,” Higgins said, “that we wanted to have for our last game.”
Richter and Jeff Hoag led ESU with 10 tackles apiece.
For the second straight year, ESU goes into the offseason on the heels of a significant losing streak.
In 2006, the Hornets lost their last seven games to finish 3-8, with coach Dave Wiemers resigning after the season.
This year, ESU dropped its final eight games after winning the first three to once again finish 3-8.
“We’re not going to dwell on this. We’re going to move on,” Higgins said. “We’re going to move forward. We’re going to keep taking our steps forward.
“I think looking at this tells us how far away we are and what we need to do to get there.”
Pittsburg State 62, Emporia State 0
Saturday at Pittsburg
Emporia State 0 0 0 0 — 0
Pittsburg State 14 27 7 14 — 62
First Quarter
PSU — Marques Nelson 6 pass from Mark Smith (Jared Witter kick), 12:06
PSU — Smith 21 run (Witter kick), 3:27
Second Quarter
PSU — Pierce Curran 7 pass from Smith (Witter kick), 13:06
PSU — Brian Barta 4 pass from Smith (Witter kick), 10:36
PSU — Caleb Farabi 4 run (Witter kick), 7:03
PSU — Barta 3 pass from Smith (Witter kick), 00:36
Third Quarter
PSU — Brandon Clark 48 pass from Smith (Witter kick), 10:18
Fourth Quarter
PSU — Brandon Smith 6 pass from Chadd Snyder (Witter kick), 11:51
PSU — Tyler Riggs 8 run (Matt Liess kick), 3:03
GAME STATISTICS
ESU PSU
First downs 11 26
Rushes-yards 40-87 41-203
Comp-Att-Int 13-22-0 23-31-1
Passing yards 102 380
Total plays-yards 62-189 72-583
Fumbles-lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 4-34 5-70
Punts-average 8-30.8 2-37.5
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing — ESU: Colby Rainey 6-29, Seville Ko 11-28, Eric Runge 10-15, Justin Wieser 8-13, Jerrod Sparling 2-6, Andre Maupin 2-2, TEAM 1-(-6); PSU: Mark Smith 10-61, Caleb Farabi 9-39, Tyler Riggs 6-30, Cardell Clemons 6-25, Chadd Snyder 5-21, Trac Hendrix 2-17, Brandon Clark 2-7, Todd Hertzog 1-3.
Passing — ESU: Eric Runge 8-13-0 61, Jerrod Sparling 5-9-0 41; PSU: Mark Smith 19-24-1 324, Chadd Snyder 4-7-0 56.
Receiving — ESU: Andre Maupin 5-47, Jarad Biggs 4-18, Jake Lynch 2-20, Aaron Laflin 1-13, Lucas Sullivan 1-4; PSU: Pierce Curran 7-131, Caleb Farabi 5-56, Brian Barta 4-68, Jake Manning 3-33, Brandon Clark 1-48, Nathan Thomas 1-32, Brandon Smith 1-6, Marques Nelson 1-6.
Punting — ESU: Johnny Torres 7-35.1, TEAM 1-0; PSU: Jared Witter 1-36, Matt Liess 1-39.
Time — 2:44. Att — 7,430.
Records — ESU (3-8, 1-8 MIAA); PSU (8-3, 6-3 MIAA).
playersfan (anonymous) says...
Sorry Jake and to all the seniors. You deserved so much more. For sure you learned about "character". For the seniors of this class, you all are first class "young men."
November 13, 2007 at 10:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
playersfan (anonymous) says...
THE WORST LOST SINCE 1967? WELL, 7 OF THESE PLAYERS RECEIVED MIAA HONORS THIS YEAR, GO FIGURE. JUST THINK WHAT YOU COULD OF HAD IF YOU BELEIVED IN OTHER PLAYERS THAT SAT THE BENCH. THAT'S THE PROBLEM IN MY OPINION, THEY JUST DIDN'T BELEIVE IN THEIR PLAYERS, AND DOUBT THEY ARE SORRY. IT' A COP OUT TO SAY IT'S BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET RECRUITS OR SCHOLARSHIP MONIES. IN MY "OPINION" THEY DO NOT BELONG IN THIS CONFERENCE. ONE THING FOR SURE, THE PLAYERS LEARNED A LOT ABOUT "CHARACTER" THIS YEAR. I HOPE NEXT YEAR WILL BE BETTER, TREAT THE BOYS LIKE THEY ARE YOUR OWN. BE A FAMILY TO THEM. THEN YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY LEAVE SAYING , "I'M GONNA MISS YA MAN!" SO SAD!
November 13, 2007 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
playersfan (anonymous) says...
THEN WILL IT BE AT THE "END OF THE ROAD?"
November 13, 2007 at 11:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
playersfan (anonymous) says...
Did you know that SEVERAL guys on Pitt"s State football team walked on without scholarships? I personally know 3 of these men. And now they are in their 4/5th year playing on first string. So, it's not about scholarships totally. It's about believing and giving chances to succeed!
November 14, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
I truly think that back in the day , Coaches could yell and berate players and some would get better. But today , you cannot get the same response from every player . You have to treat each Player like they were your own kids . You know what motivate one Player might not
motivate another . I truly respect a coach who can coach without some of the bad Language. Give him 2 more years and if it does not work , than hire another coach and another athletic Director . Tired of the old breaking a kid down to make him a better player. Problem is some of these kids have been broken their entire life . So in fact you are doing more harm than good
November 14, 2007 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
playersfan (anonymous) says...
It's called "Life Skills". They are as follows:
1.caring
2.common sense
3.cooperation
4.courage
5.couriosity
6.effort
7.flexibility
8.friendship
9.initaitive
10.integrity
11.organization
12.patience
13.perseverance
14.pride
15.problem solving
16.resourcefulness
17.responsibility
18.AND SENSE OF HUMOR
November 14, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
footballeyes (anonymous) says...
Some coaches "have it" and some don't. Higgins doesn't have it and never will. A good coach will light up a player or the whole team on occasion, and it is effective- but first you much lead by example, remember that attitude reflects leadership. Each year with him at the helm is another wasted season and more harm to the team and animosity amongst the fans. Much more of this and ESU will have neither.
November 14, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
playersfan (anonymous) says...
I think coach #1 is responsible for allowing coach #2 to get way out of hand, I know we can't cry over broken hearts but if we can all learn from this, MAKE A DIFFERENCE NEXT YEAR COACH AND YOU WILL HAVE MORE BELEIVE IN YOU. Then it will be coaching for more than yourselves, the players that wear those helmets.
November 14, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gregorymed (anonymous) says...
Coach Higgins is entitled to recruit his own kids and hire his own coaches. This is what happens when coaching changes occur in college athletics. It seems to me what Higgins has to show is progress in recruiting better players to coach and win in the MIAA. So far what Higgins has brought in and played(i.e., Harris, El Sloan, green, Meade) will not get the job done with this level of competition.....in my opinion as supported by an eight game losing streak. For Christmas, Higgins better be wishing for 4 "special" players to transfer in at semester. Try this ESU coaches......a speed WR, a real O-lineman who can get push, a cover corner, and a 3 technique for the d-line. Awwwww.....christmas wish lists!!!!
November 15, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )