The Emporia State football team finally has found a No. 1 quarterback.
Sophomore Andre Sloan El, who took all 34 snaps against Southwest Baptist last week, was declared the full-time starter this week by ESU coach Garin Higgins.
The starting nod still hasn’t gotten Sloan El a free ride from Higgins — especially after the quarterback gave the ball away twice in the red zone against Baptist.
“He still made mistakes last week,” Higgins said. “As we get down throughout the schedule, those mistakes are going to cost us.”
On ESU’s first possession of the second half, Sloan El threw an interception after the Hornets moved to the SBU 6. In the fourth quarter, he fumbled the ball at the Baptist 14-yard-line.
Sloan El still made up for it with ESU’s best performance from a quarterback this season.
He completed 12 of 24 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. ESU’s passing offense had only 153 combined yards in its first two games against Western State and Central Oklahoma.
“Definitely,” Sloan El said after the game, “we had something to prove.”
Sloan El connected with Sean Partridge for 38- and 37-yard touchdown passes, helping ESU rally from a 28-14 deficit.
The Hornets offense produced 28 points on Saturday, which almost tripled the combined output of the previous two games (10 points).
“It was overdue,” Partridge said. “We should have been chipping in like this the whole season.”
It will be the first time in awhile that ESU will not have two quarterbacks splitting the duties.
Last year, Purkeypile and Justin Whitworth shared the No. 1 spot, and in the first two games this year, the snaps had been split almost 50-50 between Sloan El and Purkeypile.
“That’s not to say Ben Purkeypile is not going to help this football team. We feel like he’s still important to this football team,” Higgins said. “When he gets his opportunity, he needs to make the best of his opportunity, because there’s going to come a time when he has to step on that field and do what he’s supposed to do to help us win a game.”
Sloan El has emerged after battling some health issues.
He had surgery to remove intestinal blockage in July, and two weeks ago returned to the hospital for evaluation after experiencing more problems. He hasn’t had difficulties since.
“I finally had a full week of practice out there (last week),” Sloan El said, “for me to gel with the receivers and get the timing down right.”
He might need to continue his production if the Hornets offense is to be successful against Fort Hays State on Saturday.
The Tigers have allowed just 40.3 rushing yards per game but are eighth in the MIAA in passing defense, giving up 251.3 passing yards per contest.
Emporia State (3-0, 1-0 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (2-1, 0-1 MIAA)
7 p.m., Lewis Field Stadium, Hays
ESU has won the last six meetings between the schools and the last five in Hays .... ESU’s defense is first in the MIAA in points allowed (12.7 points per game), while Fort Hays State’s defense is second (13.7 ppg) ... The Tigers’ Jason Hill leads the league with five sacks ... Four of FHSU’s five offensive linemen are listed at 300 pounds or heavier ... FHSU’s Bryan Haynes is second in the MIAA in kickoff return average (37.5 yards per return) ... ESU safety Jake Richter is fourth in the league in tackles (9.3 per game).
footballeyes (anonymous) says...
Wow, the offense scored 4 TD's against the worst defense in the country and know the qb is the hero? I have been watching this supposed qb battle since Higgins arrived, and there is no question whatsoever that his mind was already made up regarding that position- wouldn't matter if our old qb's name was Manning- he would not get a fair shake. In watching this team and the whole new staff it is apparent that the coaches on the defensive side are well prepared and know what they want to do, the offense has no identity and really doesn't know what it is capable of. After 3 games a couple of things are apparent- the o-line (Coach Higgins pride according to comments before the first game of the year) is incapable of playing at the high school level, much less D2 football; and Sloan gets a free ride every week in practice and in games, Purkeypile would not have had a chance for 2 turnovers in that game because he would have been pulled, even if- like at UCO, the ball hits his receiver right in the hands and bounces into a defenders- that's the qb fault despite having the defense in his face soon as the snap bounces off the turf to him? Is that a fair competition? And #1 is supposed to be this great running qb, his avg carry is 2.5 yards, take out his 1 long 23 yarder and the avg is 1.5 yds per carry. I hope someone is happy with the new face of Hornet football, because this fan believes ESU is in for a long season and will lose to FHSU if the off. is ran like it was last week.
September 22, 2007 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )