Alva Review-Courier -

August 30, 2018-Emporia State forced four turnovers and scored 14 points off them on their way to a 34-7 road opening win at Northeastern State on Thursday in Tahlequah, Okla. The win sets up a huge early season matchup next Thursday between Emporia State and Pittsburg State, who opened the season with a 21-7 win over Central Oklahoma.

The Hornets scored first when Braxton Marstall hit Tyler Harris for a 21 yard touchdown with 6:45 left in the first half. The one play scoring drive was set up by a the first of three and half sacks by Parker Bass. The Hornets recovered the stripped ball but then turned it over at the RiverHawk four yard line. Emporia State forced a three and out that resulted in an eight yard punt by Northeastern State. Marstall hit Harris on the first play after the punt for the lead.

Emporia State took advantage of another misplay by Northeastern State's special teams on the next possession and the snap from center was bad and the Hornets recovered at the RiverHawk 29 yard line. Eight plays later Landon Nault scored from one yard out to make it 13-0 as Sam Dobbins PAT attempt was blocked.

Northeastern State used a seven play, 94 yard drive to get on the board with 3:17 left in the half. Thirty of the 94 yards came on Emporia State penalties before Cade Yeager found Ryheem Brummitt for 35 yards and a score to pull the RiverHawks within 13-7 at the half.

The teams traded three and outs to start the third quarter. Jordan Reed returned a 35 yard punt by NSU's Brady Ellsworth 33 yards to set Emporia State up at the RiverHawk 41 yard line. Seven plays later Marstall and Harris hooked up for the second time in the game, this time from 13 yards out to take a 20-7 win with 8:23 left in the quarter.

On Northeastern State's first play from scrimmage after the touchdown, Jayce McDown forced a fumble and Bass recovered it to give Emporia State the ball at the RiverHawk 32 yard line. Five plays later Nault scored from two yards out to put the Hornets up 27-7. On the ensuing kickoff Jaylon Radel forced a fumble and Jawill Aldridge jumped on it to set the Hornets up at the Northeastern eight yard line with 6:06 left. After a substitution infraction by NSU, Marstall carried the ball in from four yards out to give Emporia State a 34-7 lead.

Nault had 88 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns while Ricky VanWeezel added a career high 81 yards on 17 carries. Marstall was 17 of 30 for 144 yards with two touchdowns passing and added 46 yards on nine carries with a touchdown on the ground. Harris was the leading receiver with six catches for 56 yards and two scores.

Bass led the Hornet defense with five tackles, all of them behind the line of scrimmage, including a career high 3.5 sacks for a loss of 15 yards. He also forced and recovered a fumble. Gary Woods and Jayce McDown each had a team high six tackles.

The Hornets are back in action on Thursday, September 6 against Pittsburg State. Kick-off from Jones Field at Welch Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m.

NOTES

Marstall's two touchdown passes tied him with Tyler Eckenrode for second all-time in Emporia State history with 60.

Marstall became the third Hornet with over 7,000 yards passing and now has 7,013 career yards.

Justin Brown had three receptions to pass Chet Pobolish (193 catches from 1995-98) and tie Ray Ray Davis (195 catches from 2011-13) for thrid on the Emporia State all-time list.