The Emporia Gazette

May 27, 2012

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All week, Seville Ko had heard the whispers about the Emporia State offense.

They weren’t too much fun to listen to, either.

“Everyone around campus has been saying, ‘Where’s the offense? Where’s the offense?’” the ESU running back said.

Though once lost, the Hornets offense was found on Saturday — and just in the nick of time.

ESU rallied for two touchdowns in the final six minutes, taking a 35-28 come-from-behind victory over Southwest Baptist at Welch Stadium.

The Hornets improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2003.

“I think everybody on the offense,” ESU wide receiver Sean Partridge said, “took it upon themselves to put the game in their own hands.”

Partridge — along with quarterback Andre Sloan El — were the first ones to make a play in the fourth quarter when the Hornets needed it.

Trailing 28-21 with 5:26 left in the game, ESU took over at the SBU 37 after a punt.

On the first play of the drive, Sloan El made his best throw of the day.

The sophomore — in his first start — dropped back to pass, receiving pressure from his blind side.

Sloan El looked at two other receivers before seeing Partridge downfield.

“I saw him breaking on his post route,” Sloan El said, “and I knew he was going to be wide open.”

The quarterback threw the ball just as he was being hit. From his back, he thought he had underthrown it.

He turned out to be wrong.

The pass sailed deep, with Partridge catching up to it at the last second.

The receiver full extended on a dive in the end zone, cradling it in for a touchdown.

“I just saw ’Dre get smoked. I was like, ‘Man, how’d he throw it?’” Partridge said. “For the situation, that was a great pass. That was all ’Dre.”

Meanwhile, Sloan El celebrated the pass from his backside after getting hit.

“I knew the crowd was going wild and the guy on the intercom was screaming,” Sloan El said. “I kind of knew it was a touchdown.”

Ko ran in the game-winner on the next ESU possession.

The junior received a handoff up the middle and was greeted by a welcome sight: green grass.

The back sped through the hole, going 47 yards for a touchdown.

An Emmanuel Howard interception — his second of the day — and a four-and-out forced by ESU’s defense clinched the victory.

“We win as a team and we lose as a team,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said, “but I feel like both sides of the football did something today and earned this victory.”

Though it surrendered 28 points, the ESU defense could certainly claim its share of the win on Saturday.

It all came from a change of philosophy at halftime.

After blitzing SBU quarterback Steven Gachette frequently in the first half — and watching him run for yards and also throw short passes effectively — the ESU coaches decided to send fewer people after him.

On some plays, the Hornets sent only two rushers to put pressure on Gachette.

The change worked wonders, as SBU scored no points and had just 99 total yards in the second half.

Howard provided his second consecutive two-interception game returning his first one for a touchdown in the first half. The pick and 41-yard return was remarkably similar to an 40-yard interception and return for touchdown he had last week at Central Oklahoma.

“They threw it right to me again, but this time it was a little harder to catch,” Howard said. “I was kind of fumbling the ball around.

“As soon as I turned my head to the quarterback, the ball was in my face, so it was just a natural reaction.”

Howard’s two interception returns for touchdowns ties the MIAA single-season record.

Partridge finished with four catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns, while Sloan El was 12-for-24 passing for 242 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

“The kid’s going to get better,” Higgins said of Sloan El. “I think you saw that today.”

Ko, meanwhile, led ESU with 14 carries for 96 yards and two scores.

The junior had been battling hamstring problems all camp and was benched last week after twice going the wrong way on running plays.

“I knew all along with Seville that it might take awhile for him to get going,” Higgins said. “I know Seville’s got some talent. He’s got some athletic ability. I just wanted to make sure we didn’t sit him on the sideline too long.”

Higgins becomes just the second coach in ESU history to start his career with three victories.

Makes it a little easier to ignore all those doubting his offense — and his team.

“We’re 3-0,” a smiling Higgins said. “That’s the only thing that we’re concerned with.”

Emporia State 35, Southwest Baptist 28

Saturday at Welch Stadium

SW Baptist 14 14 0 0 — 28

Emporia State 14 7 0 14 — 35

First Quarter

SBU — Lamarcus Windham 6 pass from Steven Gachette (Jeremy Ware kick), 13:00

ESU — Seville Ko 1 run (Johnny Torres kick blocked), 7:16

ESU — Emmanuel Howard 41 interception return (Justin Wieser run), 7:02

SBU — Steven Gachette 12 run (Jeremy Ware kick), 4:32

Second Quarter

SBU — Lamarcus Windham 2 pass from Steven Gachette (Jeremy Ware kick), 13:26

SBU — Nick Smart 29 pass from Steven Gachette (Jeremy Ware kick), 7:44

ESU — Sean Partridge 38 pass from Andre Sloan El (Johnny Torres kick), 5:16

Fourth Quarter

ESU — Sean Partridge 37 pass from Andre Sloan El (Wayne Gleason kick), 5:19

ESU — Seville Ko 47 run (Wayne Gleason kick), 3:00

GAME STATISTICS

SBU ESU

First downs 16 16

Rushes-yards 29-75 47-170

Passing yards 268 242

Comp-Att-Int 31-45-2 12-24-1

Punts-Avg. 6-32.3 7-32.1

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 7-70 10-77

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — SBU: Desmond Mays 14-45, Steven Gachette 8-14, Jeff Finnell 4-9, Jonathan Creighlow 1-5, Derrick Foster 1-4; ESU: Seville Ko 14-87, Andre Sloan El 13-28, Sean Partridge 1-21, Lucas Sullivan 5-20, Justin Wieser 8-17, Katrel Larkins 3-7.

PASSING — SBU: Steven Gachette 31-45-2 268; ESU: Andre Sloan El 12-24-1 242.

RECEIVING — SBU: Nick Smart 14-125, Lamarcus Windham 9-80, Derrick Foster 3-39, Desmond Mays 3-15, Jeff Finnell 1-12, Tony Holman 1-(-3); ESU: Sean Partridge 4-147, Dominic Mirocke 2-37, Jarad Biggs 2-22, Katrel Larkins 2-20, Justin Wieser 1-9, Seville Ko 1-7.

Att — 5720. Time — 3:04.

Records — SBU 0-3, 0-1 MIAA; ESU 3-0, 1-0 MIAA.