ESU loses 52-7
By C.J. Moore
Originally published 01:22 p.m., November 8, 2008
Updated 03:00 p.m., November 8, 2008
Final
Emporia State’s finale did not go as badly as last year’s 62-0 loss, but it wasn’t much better.
The Gorillas scored 45 unanswered points in a 52-7 win on Saturday at Welch Stadium. Emporia State finishes the season 4-7 overall and 2-7 in the MIAA.
For complete coverage of Saturday’s game, check Monday’s Gazette.
11:04 left in the fourth quarter
Pittsburg State’s back up quarterback John McCoy ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Gorillas a 52-7 lead.
4:30 left in the third quarter
Harrison Kush scored his second straight touchdown on a 6-yard pass from Mark Smith to give Pitt State a 45-7 lead.
Kush dove at the goal line and just barely got the ball in on 3rd and goal.
11:10 left in the third quarter
Mark Smith connected with Harrison Kush for a 26-yard TD pass to give the Gorillas a 38-7 lead.
Emporia State went backwards on its first drive and has not been able to move the ball — or move it forward — on its last several drives.
Halftime
Emporia State played one of its best first quarters this season and was tied at 7 with Pittsburg State at the end of the quarter. Then the Hornets turned around and played one of their worst second quarters.
Andre Sloan El threw two interceptions — including a pick-6 — and Pittsburg State leads 31-7 at halftime.
The Hornets have been outgained 207 to 117. The big difference has been the Gorillas ability to convert on third down — 6 for 9 conversions — and their ability to take care of the ball, winning the turnover battle 2-0.
53.2 seconds left in the second quarter
Pitt State’s Mark Smith threw a 10-yard TD pass to Martin Burke to give Pitt State a 31-7 lead.
4:58 left in the second quarter
Pitt State kicker Jared Witter made a 45-yard field goal to give the Gorillas a 17-7 lead.
9:17 left in the second quarter
Andre Sloan El threw his second interception and Caleb Sanders returned it 23 yards for a touchdown to give Pittsburg State a 21-7 lead.
10:18 left in the second quarter
Andre Sloan El threw an interception to Chadd Snyder that led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Brandon Clark to give Pittsburg State a 14-7 lead.
The Gorillas went 49 yards in eight plays on the scoring drive. Emporia State nearly had a goal line stand, stopping the Gorillas on first and second down near the goal line, but the Gorillas ran the option on third down and scored easily.
5:40 left in the first quarter
ESU quarterback Andre Sloan El found a wide open Lucas Sullivan in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-all.
Sloan El converted both the Hornets' third downs on the drive, the first a 40-yard scramble that moved the Hornets into Pitt State territory.
8:22 left in the first quarter
Pittsburg State’s Mark Smith scored on a 8-yard touchdown run to give the Gorillas a 7-0 lead.
The Gorillas took 6 minutes, 38 seconds off the clock, going 79 yards in 13 plays. They converted all three of their third downs on the drive, including a 3rd and 11.
cheese (anonymous) says...
Is ESU ever going to be good again??
November 8, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatasheep69 (anonymous) says...
YES!!!
November 8, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olathe08 (anonymous) says...
Is ESU ever going to be good again? ha ha ha.
If the Athletic Director remains with this Coaching Staff, then the answer is no.
The Coaching Staff has used the same philosophy from last year and obviously it has not worked. Today's game proves the Coaches inability to coach. Pitt State has the knowledge to use their players strength and used plays that worked. ESU coaches have abandoned the running game from the beginning. History will tell you that the running game is vital to winning. The winning team always has a good running game. I have not seen a passing team that wins championships. I think the Coaches need to evaluate their game plan and include a power running game. I guarantee that if they change ESU's Option Offense to a running offense team, they will win. Of course, you have to get rid of these Coaches first. I don't like these Coaches because they lied to and humiliated their players. Some of these players will not return next year if the Coaches remains. Mark my word.
Look at ESU's history with Brian Shay & Tyler Paul. Enough said.
November 8, 2008 at 9:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatasheep69 (anonymous) says...
I bet you're right. In fact I know of 15 players that will not return next year. Marcus Mead, Michael Fulton, Emad Moqbel, Seville Ko, Sean Partridge, Lucas Sullivan, Johnny Torres, John Waechter, Luke Costello, AJ Brinkman, Matt McClain, Blake Green, Ryan Anstaett, Kaden Adams and Bryan Tarkington.
We're proud of you all, Hornets.
November 8, 2008 at 10:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
1st and most important problem is the lack of funds going into the program. We have the toughest D2 Conference in the Nation, Just look at the rankings. Without funds in the program , we will neve beat a D2 team like pitt or northwest. Virtually impossible , we might get close or even squeak one out , but out of 10 games we might win one. Sad but true. No money no Championship and it will not matter who the Coach is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
November 8, 2008 at 11:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olathe08 (anonymous) says...
I have to disagree with usayulovegod. Funding has nothing to do with play calling. We have players that are talented, our coaches just dont know how to use or expose their talents on the field. We need coaches that would use the talent we currently have and believe in their players.
November 9, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
I understand your frustration , I was at the game yesterday and they kept having the quarterback run the ball and it was sad , I asked where was KO and they were just using him on Kick returns ,
November 9, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
getright1985 (anonymous) says...
Have you seen Higgins over all coaching record and you think the problem is the staff? Be serious now.... if the team was worried about playing instead of fighting over who's having a party that night, Emporia could be something. you can't expect a man to bring in a new staff and expect excellence in just two years with a team that has talent but doesn't use it. once the team get's on track with the coach maybe then they'll do something.
November 9, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eatasheep69 (anonymous) says...
olathe08- What do you mean by "we"? Judging from your comments I doubt if you are part of the team, or even its supporters for that matter.
I am a supporter of this team and this coaching staff. I surely don't want to be identified as "we" with you.
GO HORNETS!
November 9, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hornetfan00 (anonymous) says...
no money=no win......players that booze=no win...... predictable quarterback=no win....delay of game=no win.... should I go on?
November 10, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joejoe2 (anonymous) says...
Olathe08 has a kid on the team that is not good enough to play. That is why he is so bitter. Should of gone to a KCAC school and your son could of been a hero.
November 10, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
In order for a football team to win it must have talented players, iron-clad discipline, motivation, and direction. It must also have a balanced offensive attack, balanced defense, and exceptional special teams play.
I see "none of the above" with the current ESU team. A team with a one dimensional attack (no running game) is an unbalanced team. A team without balance is easy to "push over". 52 to 7 is pretty much a push over.
November 10, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olathe08 (anonymous) says...
Bjnemp-you are right on. One dimensional will not get it.
Joejoe2 - all you have to do is look at the stats. There is a running back who had over 106 yards in less than 3 quarters in the Missouri Southern game and then the coach takes him out because he fumbled. The quarterback can fumble, throw interceptions, etc and he stays in, the center can't snap a ball to save his soul, makes costly penalties and he stays in the game, another running back got 5 yards that game and he started the UCM game. Now where is the logic behind that decision? These are POOR coaching decisions. Justin Weiser is another player who was not utilized to his full potential this year (check his stats the previous year). The coaching staff wanted to use their new studs no matter what the results. They also needed a more mature O line. The "freshmen" couldn't block so well. Go to the ESU website and look at the stats for the last 3 years and you will see who performed and who didn't. You will also see that the coaches chose not to utilize these players at the expense of the team and the school. Not only did they not utilize them they treated them like dirt. Stats speak the truth - not you or the coaches. Maybe your kid is a "new stud" on the team. If the coaches can treat older talented players like crap you better watch out for your kid. Their actions speak volumes about their character.
November 10, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joejoe2 (anonymous) says...
Olathe08 BOO HOO BOO HOO. It will be nice when all the whiners are out of here and the real kids that can establish a winning tradition and not just whine about playing time.
November 10, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ef6 (anonymous) says...
To win, you have to run the ball. To run the ball, you need some sort of an offensive line to blow a hole in the defensive front. Over the last six games, ESU couldn't run inside or out. Coaching may have something to do with that, but what I saw was an offensive line that couldn't sustain blocks if their lives depended on it. It's different than last year's OL that just looked disinterested. This year, they weren't big enough or fast enough as a unit to make a difference. I don't know how much Steve Underwood's injury played into that, but the line wasn't anywhere close to the same after that.
The other concern I saw was the regression of ASE after his injury. His reads were awful after he got hurt.
The defense needs a big, mean, fast front. They should be OK at LB and in the secondary, but if that front four didn't disrupt things the defense really struggled.
November 11, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deepthoughts (anonymous) says...
They are young and they are small. The coaches are building a program - give him some time.
November 11, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
"ESU quarterback Andre Sloan El found a wide open Lucas Sullivan in the back of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-all."
At least they didn't go for two...
November 11, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bnnvlved (anonymous) says...
Only time will tell how the small college record will transfer to wins in the MIAA. To say ESU 's had no choice but to go with the Youth Movement is to ignore what the Jrs. and Seniors had proven. (see MIAA stats. and post season honors) from last year. To say ESU had to play the Coach's new recruits says you haven't followed the careers of the upper classmen. If you attended practices, talked to the whole team, and have football knowledge, you will see the glaring favoritism. Young players learned on the field at the expense of ESU's fan's and record. ESU had a older group of players bigger, stronger, and more experienced, knowing they could have made a difference. These players are fine young men who did not whine or complain publicly. These players just kept waiting for there promised playin time. They were told they would get oppurtunities to play. So please don't disrespect these players with your comments, they have all ready had too much disrespect from the coach. We will lose alot of this years jrs. to lack of respect. If you doubt them, check the stats. and then next year, check the roster. Only those who have been involved and know about the scholarship cuts and broken promises, can say what the Youth Movement was really about.
November 11, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DJrocksthemic (anonymous) says...
I wonder what upperclassmen you are talking about. The statistics are led by upperclassmen: Sloan El and Ko led in rushing, Partridge was the leading reciever. On the defensive side of the ball it seems they were decimated by injuries, sometimes it seemed they were playing everybody that was healthy.
November 12, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
footballeyes (anonymous) says...
I agree with olathe08 about this coaching staff- I said the same things last year and got blasted for it. Again- ESU will not win with a staff that lacks so much- both in knowledge and character.
November 17, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rogergreen (anonymous) says...
does not matter , I agree no $$$$ no championship !
November 19, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )