Hornets beat Bulldogs, 35-24
By C.J. Moore
Originally published 01:08 p.m., October 25, 2008
Updated 03:57 p.m., October 25, 2008
Final
Emporia State took advantage of three Truman turnovers in a 35-14 victory on Saturday at Welch Stadium on Homecoming.
The Hornets scored a special teams’ touchdown and their first defensive touchdown of the season to go along with three touchdowns from Andre Sloan El — two passing and one rushing — to end their four-game losing streak.
Sloan El led the Hornets with 97 rushing yards and had 148 passing yards. The ESU defense held an opponent scoreless in the second half for a second straight week and came from down 10 points at halftime on Saturday. Emporia State improves to 4-5 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA.
6:22 left in the fourth quarter
Truman’s Matt Ticich fumbled and Emporia State took advantage three plays later on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Andre Sloan El to Danny McEvoy. Emporia State leads 35-24.
Sloan El hit a wide-open McEvoy on a double move, set up by Sloan El’s pump fake.
2:22 left in the third quarter
In 10 seconds, the Hornets scored 14 points to take a 28-24 lead.
After Andre Sloan El scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, ESU’s Kurt Webster forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and Kameron Gee returned the fumble 32 yards for a touchdown to the Hornets their first lead.
Sloan El’s quarterback sneak capped an 80-yard, 18-play drive for Emporia State that took 9:25 off the clock.
Sloan kept the drive alive with several scrambling runs and Seville Ko dragged several defenders to extend the drive on a third down in the red zone.
The 9:25 scoring drive was the most time the Hornets have taken on a scoring drive since they joined the NCAA.
2:34 left in the second quarter
Truman’s Anton Bernard scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to put Truman up 24-14.
The Bulldogs slowly drove 56 yards down the field, taking 13 plays and 5:24 on the scoring drive.
10:19 left in the second quarter
Truman’s Mickey Masucci kicked a 25-yard field goal to give Truman State a 17-14 lead.
The Bulldogs had a good field position, starting at the ESU 44 thanks to a unsportsmanlike penalty on Kaden Adams following Chris Poston’s touchdown.
47.5 seconds left in the first quarter
Truman State responded to Emporia State’s first touchdown by driving the ball easily down the field to take the lead 14-7 on a 3-yard touchdown run by quarterback Matt Ticich.
The Bulldogs went 58 yards in seven plays on the scoring drive.
3:37 left in the first quarter
Danny McEvoy caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Andre Sloan El to tie Truman at 7-all.
After a two-yard punt by Truman’s Max Kleckner, Emporia State got the ball on the Truman 42, setting up the Hornets 42-yard touchdown drive.
Sloan El completed 3-of-4 passes for 40 yards on the scoring drive. The touchdown was the first points the Hornets have scored in the first half since Sept. 27 against Missouri Southern.
13:37 left in the first quarter
Emporia State is off to a bad start on homecoming. Truman State quarterback Matt Ticich connected with Albert Cooker for a 73-yard touchdown on the third play of the game to give Bulldogs a 7-0 lead.