EDMOND, Okla. —
The bench was torture for Emmanuel Howard.
The senior — a former All-Conference selection — didn’t start against Central Oklahoma on Saturday. Coaches said he didn’t earn it.
“It bothered me a lot,” Howard said. “I was just telling myself that when I get in there, I need to go in and perform.”
Perform he did on Saturday, as the senior intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown in helping ESU to a 17-7 upset victory over the Bronchos.
It was all part of a groundbreaking day for the ESU defense. The Hornets defense forced six turnovers — including five interceptions — scored two touchdowns and held UCO scoreless on 14 of 15 possessions.
Suddenly, an ESU team without an identity coming into the season seems to have found one — along with some swagger to go with it.
“We’re thinking, defensively, we’re going to keep doing our jobs, so bring it,” ESU cornerback Travis Lee said. “That’s what we’re thinking.”
“I think those guys on the defensive side are developing an attitude,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said. “They’re playing with so much fire right now, and the thing about it is they have so much confidence.”
For the second straight game, the ESU defense made up for the offense’s deficiencies.
And, this week, the Hornets’ production was even worse.
ESU won despite gaining just 67 yards on offense the entire game — its lowest amount since joining the NCAA in 1991.
“We’ll take a win any way we’ve got to get it,” Higgins said. “If it means the defense scores 14 points, so be it. I don’t care.”
ESU’s defensive dominance started with Howard.
UCO drove to the ESU 20 on its first possession, but on a third-and-3, Ryan O’Hara put too much air on a pass into the end zone.
After a leap, Howard came down with it in the end zone to halt the Bronchos’ threat.
In the second quarter, Howard gave ESU the lead.
Facing pressure, O’Hara tried to throw a quick pass out in the flat to Rick Montgomery.
Howard read it the whole way, leaving his own coverage to step in front of the pass before returning it 40 yards for a touchdown.
“I’m surprised he didn’t see me over there,” Howard said with a laugh.
Lee added to the defense’s tally with less than a minute to go in the half.
Again UCO threatened, moving the ball to the ESU 5.
Locked in man coverage, Lee saw his receiver turn around. He decided to do the same.
The ball came right to him.
“I started kneeling in the end zone — just to play smart ball,” Lee said, “but I saw a crease, so I took it.”
The cornerback — who ironically runs the 100-meter dash for the ESU track team — sprinted down the sideline 100 yards for the Hornets’ second touchdown.
The 100-yard interception return was the first in ESU history and the first in the MIAA since 1972.
ESU’s defense wouldn’t surrender the lead.
Though the Hornets gave up a touchdown run in the fourth quarter — the first TD allowed of the season — they clamped down after that.
David Diener and A.J. Brinkman recorded interceptions on consecutive possessions, and after a 35-yard field goal by ESU’s Johnny Torres, the Bronchos were stopped on four consecutive plays to secure the Hornets’ victory.
“We have the attitude that, if we have to, we will win games,” Howard said. “If we have to carry our offense, we will do that.”
That was definitely the case Saturday.
The Hornets had just 29 yards passing — also a low since joining the NCAA — and mustered only 14 second-half yards in an offense that seemed content with playing conservative to let ESU’s defense win the game.
“That was good defense (by UCO),” Higgins said. “I knew going in they were going to give us some problems.”
ESU improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2003.
UCO (1-1) came away disappointed after a promising start to the season.
The Bronchos defeated No. 11 Abilene Christian, 27-17, in Week One.
That victory looked more impressive Saturday, as ACU defeated Division I-AA Texas State, 45-27. Texas State was ranked No. 19 in the I-AA poll.
ESU will play its first home game on Saturday, taking on Southwest Baptist at Welch Stadium.
Higgins said his team would return as a confident bunch.
“I’m just so proud of this football team because we want to be tough, we want to be physical, we want to play with enthusiasm, and we’re doing that right now,” Higgins said. “We’re finding ways to win football games.”
And also finding ways to prove their skeptics wrong.
“Everyone’s doubting us,” Lee said, “and we’re proving ourselves every week.”
Emporia St. 17, Central Oklahoma 7
Saturday at Edmond, Okla.
Emporia State 0 14 0 3 — 17
Central Oklahoma 0 0 0 7 — 7
Second Quarter
ESU — Emmanuel Howard 40 interception return (Johnny Torres kick), 8:46
ESU — Lee 100 interception return (Torres kick), :25
Fourth Quarter
UCO — Maurice Little 11 run (Chad Susman kick), 1:44
ESU — Torres 35 field goal, 3:16
GAME STATISTICS
ESU UCO
First downs 7 15
Rushes-yards 37-38 42-150
Passing yards 29 129
Comp-Att-Int 5-15-1 10-24-5
Total plays-Yds. 52-67 66-279
Punts-Avg. 9-42.0 6-42.3
Fumbles-lost 1-1 2-1
Penalties-yards 8-65 11-93 INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING — ESU: Justin Wieser 19-33, Jake Richter 1-16, Seville Ko 2-8, Jake Lynch 2-6, Lucas Sullivan 4-2, Ben Purkeypile 5-(-11); UCO: Maurice Little 15-93, Ben Birmingham 15-75, Da’Marean Pullen 2-8, Ryan O’Hara 9-(-25).
PASSING — ESU: Ben Purkeypile 3-10-1 20, Andre Sloan El 2-5-0 9; UCO: Ryan O’Hara 10-24-5 129.
RECEIVING — ESU: Lucas Sullivan 2-14, Paul Nichols 1-10, Jarad Biggs 1-7, Sean Partridge 1-(-2); UCO: Marcellus Parker 4-67, Maurice Little 2-23, Ryan Gallimore 2-21, Rick Montgomery 2-18.
PUNTING — ESU: Johnny Torres 9-42.0; UCO: Ryan Massengale 6-42.3.
RECORDS — ESU 2-0, UCO 1-1.