By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Emporia State opened up a 21-0 lead on the way to a 38-23 MIAA win over Washburn University Saturday at Welch Stadium in the 119th version of the Turnpike Tussle.
ESU jumped out to a three-touchdown lead after scoring drives of 70, 72 and 80 yards, with the final score coming at 9:08 left in the second quarter.
Washburn junior Trenton Brehm kicked three field goals in the Ichabods' 38-23 MIAA road loss to Emporia State Saturday. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
Emporia State got on the board on a 4-yard Kingsley Bennett run at the 9:54 mark of the opening quarter and Hornet quarterback Braden Gleason hit Tyler Kahmann for a 39-yard TD and Tommy Zimmerman for 32-yard score to put ESU up 21-0/
Washburn got on the board with 6:47 left to go in the first half when Connor Searcy scored on a 3-yard run, capping a 48-yard drive to trim the Emporia State lead to 21-7.
The Hornets (5-2 overall, 4-2 MIAA) quickly scored on the ensuing drive, going 75 yards in four plays in 60 seconds to push their lead back to 28-7 on a 1-yard Gleason pass to Jaylen Varner.
Washburn (1-6, 0-6 MIAA) wrapped up the scoring just before the half with a 34-yard field goal by Trenton Brehm.
Brehm also opened the scoring in the second half, connecting on a 40-yard field goal to finish off an 11-play drive after the Ichabod defense forced a Hornet punt on its first drive of the half. The field goal for Brehm tied his career long set last season, also against the Hornets.
After the Ichabod defense forced another Hornet punt, Washburn needed just one play to score as freshmen Sam Van Dyne and D.J. Bell hooked up for a 69-yard touchdown strike, cutting the ESU lead to 28-20.
The Hornets came back to stretch their lead to 31-20 with 14:47 to play in the game after a 30-yard Caden Dawson field goal.
Then, after an Ichabod punt, ESU pushed its lead to 38-20, capping an eight-play, 47-yard drive with 10:36 remaining as Gleason and Kahmann hooked up for a 15-yard TD..
Brehm then finished off a 14-play, 69-yard drive with his third field goal of the day, a 26-yard field goal with 5:27 left.
On the ensuing kickoff, WU recovered the onside attempt, but was whistled for touching the ball prior to its going 10 yards and ESU would run out the clock for its third straight win over the Ichabods.
Washburn was limited to 42 yards rushing as Percy Mitchell and Taylon Peters both had 15 yards.
Eight different Ichabods caught a pass, with Bell leading with 79 yards on two catches. Shawnee Heights product Tyce Brown had a team-high five receptions.
Van Dyne finished 18 for 41 passing for 256 yards.
Julius Jackson had a career-high 12 tackles for lead the Ichabod defense, while Camden Spencer and Patrick Altenor each had eight stops.
Brehm tied career highs with his three field goals in the game and his 40-yard make
ESU outgained the Ichabods 519 yards to 298, running 83 plays compared to 74.
Gleason connected on 42 of 49 passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns while Kahmann had 11 catches for 175 yards and Varner 13 catches for 109 yards.
Washburn will return home for back-to-back games starting next Saturday at Yager Stadium hosting Fort Hays State.
