Shorthanded, and short on the talent it takes to compete with a team like Northwest Missouri, Emporia State can at least take solace in the idea that this one could’ve been worse. When you’ve just played the fifth-ranked team in the country and lost your seventh straight game, maybe that’s the way to go.
Most of Saturday’s 45-12 loss at Welch Stadium presented the same issues that have been repugnant to Hornet fans all season long, and reminder after reminder that ESU isn’t in the class of Northwest or any of the MIAA’s other top teams.
But hey, the Hornets were missing their starting quarterback and two of their top three running backs, not to mention both of their kickers — and still, they managed to strike first with a well-orchestrated opening touchdown drive and stayed with Northwest until at least halfway through the second quarter, when the Bearcats led by just a 10-6 margin. Plus, wide receiver Danny McEvoy had a career game.
Small victories? They’re lurking in the murk if you want to fish for them. Otherwise, this was just another numbing loss for a team that’s had its fill of those; this one to an opponent that’s now beaten ESU 15 straight times.
“There’s a lot of teams that (played Northwest and) struggled as we did today,” ESU coach Garin Higgins said. “Last week, we just didn’t play well. But today, it didn’t have anything to do with anything we couldn’t get going. They’re just a good football team.”
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bobhornet (anonymous) says...
I hope Kent Weiser is putting the final touches on Coach Higgins's pink slip. I wouldn't mind it if Michael Lane was preparing one for Weiser, too.
This "season" is nothing less than a debacle for ESU.
October 19, 2009 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )