GAME UPDATE: Truman 33, ESU 30, FINAL OT
ESU loses sixth straight
By Jesse Newell
Originally published 01:46 p.m., October 27, 2007
Updated 04:59 p.m., October 27, 2007
OVERTIME PERIOD
Truman won the toss and chose to play defense first.
After a two-yard run, a negative 1-yard pass and an incompletion, Torres tried a 41-yard field goal for ESU.
It landed short.
Truman's Masucci kicked a 33-yard field goal to win the game.
FIRST HALF
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — After receiving the opening kickoff, Truman needed just five plays to go 70 yards for the touchdown.
Matt Ticich capped the drive with a 38-yard touchdown pass on a post route to Steve D'Antonio.
The point-after made it 7-0 with 13:17 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing possession, ESU went 42 yards on 10 plays, but Johnny Torres missed a 38-yard field goal at the end of the drive.
ESU quarterback Eric Runge had four rushes for 39 yards on the first Hornet possession.
After the teams exchanged punts, Matt Demicoli came up with a big play for the ESU defense, intercepting a deflected pass by Ticich on the Truman 40.
ESU's offense capitalized. Runge converted a crucial fourth-and-1 with a 1-yard scramble, then later found a wide-open Paul Nichols on a busted play for a 15-yard TD pass to make it 7-6.
Torres missed the extra point to keep ESU down by 1.
ESU put together a 12-play, 41-yard drive midway through the second quarter but came away empty-handed.
The Hornets drove all the way to the Truman 20, but Runge's play-action pass to Nichols — who received some contact downfield — on fourth-and-3 fell incomplete. No flag was thrown on the play.
After an ESU defensive stand, the Hornets drove 56 yards on 10 plays for a go-ahead touchdown.
Runge completed the drive, gunning a 5-yard TD pass to Jarad Biggs on a stop route.
The Hornets were the beneficiaries of some good luck on the two-point conversion, as Runge's pass was tipped, but right tackle Josh Koerkenmeier caught it off the deflection and ran into the end zone to make it 14-7.
ESU's defense came up with a game-changing play on the final pass of the half.
Truman drove all the way to the ESU 25 with 11 seconds left, but Ticich's pass was tipped up in the air then intercepted by Hornet cornerback Travis Lee.
The ESU track star avoided three would-be tacklers, returning the interception 90 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown with no time left.
Torres' PAT gave the Hornets a 21-7 lead at half.
ESU's second half didn't start well, as a high snap sailed over Runge's head and was recovered by Truman's Richard Schroeder on the ESU 14.
The Hornets defense stood strong, however, stopping the Bulldogs on third-and-5 from the 9.
Truman's Mickey Masucci made a 26-yard field goal to trim the ESU lead to 21-10.
After the Hornets went three-and-out, Truman drove 48 yards, but again stalled inside the ESU 10.
The Bulldogs once again settled for a field goal, as Masucci's 26-yarder sailed through the uprights to make the score 21-13.
ESU's offense sustained another long drive, going 50 yards on nine plays, but the Hornets were again let down by their kicking game.
Torres missed his third kick of the day, pushing a 32-yard field goal attempt wide left.
On the ensuing possession, Torres' counterpart chipped away at the lead with another field goal, as Masucci's 38-yarder made it 21-16.
ESU responded with a 61-yard TD drive, sparked by a 34-yard run to start the possession by Justin Wieser.
The sophomore back also had the final run of the drive, going 15 yards up the middle for the score.
Runge's run attempt for the two-point conversion failed, keeping the score at 27-16.
Truman made it a one-possession game with a TD drive midway through the fourth quarter.
D'Antionio finished off the 48-yard drive, catching a 20-yard TD pass from Ticich to make it 27-22 with 7:57 left in the game.
Ticich's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.
ESU added to its cushion on the next drive, going 45 yards to set up a Torres 26-yard field goal attempt.
The third time was a charm, as Torres put through his first field goal of the day to make it 30-22 with 4:11 left.
Truman answered quickly, scoring on a 48-yard pass from Ticich to Kendrick Blue to make it 30-28.
On the two-point conversion, Truman's Tommy Long fell down but still was able to catch a Ticich pass from his knees to tie the score at 30 with 2:47 left.
ESU went three-and-out, and a shanked punt by Torres gave Truman the ball at the ESU 49.
Three pass plays later, Truman moved the ball to the ESU 20.
An intentional grounding call moved the ball back, and Masucci attempted a 41-yard field goal with 22.5 seconds left.
He missed it wide left.
ESU knelt once to take it to overtime.
nuggets (anonymous) says...
There are two types of champions...the ones with the winning score and the ones with the winning heart. The 2007 Emporia Football players have demonstrated that they have winning hearts...How do you measure a winning heart?...By your own greatness...Only those with winning hearts can travel up the road to winning championships...ease on up the road ESU
October 28, 2007 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
playersfan (anonymous) says...
Nicely put Nuggets, it's been great getting to know these fine young men. To the players-If your self-esteem falls overboard, throw out a rescue line, wherever you're at. Don't be your own worst critic; be your own best ally. Because you're worth it, that's why. And that's that!
We are proud of you guys!
October 28, 2007 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gregorymed (anonymous) says...
nice effort by qb eric runge...he is doing as much as he can.
October 29, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )