Hornets try to get back on track against gambling Griffons
By C.J. Moore (Contact)
Friday, October 17, 2008
If Vegas figured lines for Division II football, Emporia State’s opponent on Saturday, Missouri Western, would be giving the oddsmakers fits.
The Griffons have been a tough team to figure out this season. Their conference record (1-4) has them tied for last place in the MIAA, and last week they were blown out 42-14 at Nebraska-Omaha.
But then consider the Griffons were two yards away from scoring a last-minute touchdown to beat Pittsburg State in a 46-40 loss, and they also led conference-leader Northwest Missouri by eight points entering the fourth quarter before losing 42-35. Plus, the UNO score is deceiving as the Griffons were within seven points in the fourth quarter before the Mavs scored 21 unanswered points.
“They’re the best 2-5 team in the country,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said.
It’s only appropriate that the unpredictable Griffons play with a gambler’s mentality. They have an MIAA-high 19 turnovers, but they also lead in takeaways — again 19. They’re led by sophomore quarterback Drew Newhart, who is second in the conference with 13 touchdowns and has a conference-worst 12 interceptions.
“He sometimes has trouble when you disguise your coverage, so if we can move around and keep him guessing what coverage we’re in, we should have a good day,” ESU cornerback Travis Lee said. “And maybe we can have an opportunity to get some interceptions and turnovers and take one to the house.”
The Emporia State secondary, while inexperienced, has been one of the strengths of the defense this season. Nichols averages 235 yards per game passing, but the Hornets have had only two opponents throw for more than 235 — Central Missouri went for 309 and UNO passed for 239. The ESU defense has held three opponents under 130 passing yards — including limiting Washburn to 115 last week.
Lee, a junior, usually plays opposite two true freshmen: Cameron Gee and Quincy Williams, and three freshmen safeties help out in coverage.
“I think they’ve played outstanding,” Higgins said. “As far as the experience that they have, they’ve done a good job.”
Lee led the team in interceptions last season, but has yet to get a pick this season with most quarterbacks usually trying to attack the freshmen corners.
“Since we’re freshmen, they want to test the waters on us, but we’re a pretty confident group and we feel like we can take any shot anyone has to give us,” Gee said. “We don’t lack confidence. We’ve noticed they don’t throw at Travis, but we’re ready when the balls come our way because we expect them.”
The ESU secondary should expect plenty of opportunities on Saturday. The Griffons are last in the league running the football and Nichols attempts 31.3 passes per game. Nichols favorite target is Cedric Houston, who leads the MIAA with 76.9 yards per game receiving.
Houston is the Griffons deep threat and he burned the Hornets twice last season, catching touchdown passes of 62 and 75 yards in a 52-21 win for the Griffons.
Lee said while they’re always looking for Houston over the top, Nichols will patiently use the short passing attack until he sees an opportunity to go deep.
“I think their main focus is the counter attack, to wait on you to make a mistake,” Lee said. “The way it looks on film is a lot of their yards have come from blown coverage. If we can limit our mistakes, then we can shut them down.”
ESU offense has chance to get back on track
Emporia State’s offense has struggled during its current three-game losing streak, particularly in the last two games. The Hornets did not score in the first three quarters against Central Missouri and Washburn, and the fingers can be pointed in many different directions.
But one major change the last two weeks has been the disappearance of the running game. The Hornets averaged 193.6 yards in the first five games on the ground, but they ran for only 79 and 105 yards the past two weeks.
Higgins points to execution, but part of the problem has been the health of ESU’s top rushers. Starting tailback Adrian Abner missed two games with a high ankle sprain and then returned last week against Washburn to run for 11 yards on six carries, leaving the game early because he “tweaked” his ankle again.
Abner did not practice Monday and Tuesday this week, and participated Wednesday in individual drills. On Thursday, he said he would practice and not sit out from contact drills.
Abner said he struggled moving laterally against Washburn, but he the ankle is feeling better and he said he feels somewhere between 85 and 90 percent.
“I was watching film from last week and I didn’t look like myself,” Abner said. “I wasn’t making the moves that I usually make. This game I’ll be making the same moves.”
Abner and Seville Ko’s backup Brian Murphy also has missed time with a hand injury and will be ready to play on Saturday.
The Griffons are last in the league in most defensive statistics, including rushing defense — they give up 226.4 yards per game.
For the Hornets to take advantage of the Griffons’ weakness, they’ll have to be better on third down — they were 1-for-13 on third-down conversions against Washburn — and they’ll also need to put points on the board before the fourth quarter.
“We’ve got to get some confidence on offense,” Higgins said. “When we do well offensively, we get off to some pretty good starts.”
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