GAME UPDATE: ESU 35, Southwest Baptist 28 — FINAL
ESU uses fourth-quarter rally to improve to 3-0
By Jesse Newell
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Southwest Baptist wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, driving 55 yards on seven plays for a touchdown.
LaMarcus Windham capped the drive, catching a 6-yard TD pass from Steven Gachette.
Jeremy Ware's extra point made it 7-0 SBU just two minutes into the game.
ESU picked up an offensive TD on its second possession, driving 73 yards on 10 plays. Seville Ko finished the drive with a 1-yard plunge over the top of the pile.
Johnny Torres' extra point was blocked, keeping the score at 7-6.
The Hornets defense came up with its third touchdown in two weeks on the next SBU drive, as Emmanuel Howard stepped in front of a Gachette pass and returned it 41 yards down the left sideline for a score.
Justin Wieser ran in the two-point conversion for a 14-7 lead.
SBU responded on its next drive going 56 yards for a tying TD. Gachette's 12-yard TD run, along with Ware's extra point, tied it at 14 with 4:32 left in the first quarter.
The Bearcats scored again on their next possession with a 12-play, 64-yard touchdown drive.
Windham caught his second TD pass from Gachette — a 2-yard reception — and Ware's PAT made it 21-14 with 13:26 left in the second quarter.
SBU made it three straight possessions with a score on its next drive. On a third-and-1, Gachette hooked up with Nick Smart for a 29-yard touchdown pass.
Ware's PAT made it 28-14 SBU with 7:44 left in the second quarter.
ESU got it back down to a one-possession game on its next drive. The Hornets went 64 yards on five plays, as Andre Sloan El hit Sean Partridge for a 38-yard touchdown pass.
Torres' point-after made it 28-21.
After a 70-yard reception by Sean Partridge, ESU drove all the way to the SBU 7 on its final possession of the half, but the Hornets came away empty-handed. Torres lined up for a 30-yard field goal, but the ESU coaching staff elected for a fake on the fourth-and-10.
Katrel Larkins was dragged down just two yards past the line of scrimmage.
After the turnover on downs, SBU kneeled the ball to take a 28-21 lead into half.
ESU finally tied it up in the fourth quarter. Sloan El delivered a 37-yard touchdown pass to a diving Partridge with 5:19 left in the fourth quarter.
Wayne Gleason kicked the PAT to tie it 28-28.
The ESU defense stepped up, stopping SBU on a 4th-and-2 at the ESU 45.
Two plays later, Seville Ko went untouched up the middle for a 47-yard touchdown run, giving ESU the lead with 3:00 remaining.
Gleason's PAT made it 35-28.
Howard came through again for ESU on SBU's next play from scrimmage, as he intercepted a Gachette pass to give the Hornets possession of the ball.
After an ESU punt, the Hornets defense held SBU to a four-and-out to seal the win.
For live stats of this game, <A Href=http://www.emporia.edu/athletics/livestats/football/xlive.htm>click here</A>