2017 Emporia State Hornets football team

2017 Emporia State Hornets football
2017 Emporia State Hornets football
Conference	Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Record	6–5 (6–5 MIAA)
Head coach	Garin Higgins (11th season);
Offensive coordinator	Matt Nardo (4th season)
Co-defensive coordinators	Mike LoPorto (10th season); Bryan Nardo (6th season);
Home stadium	Francis G. Welch Stadium

2017 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings

Team	W		L	W		L
No. 8 Fort Hays State $^	11	–	0	11	–	1
No. 16 NW Missouri State ^	9	–	2	9	–	3
Central Missouri #	8	–	3	9	–	3
Central Oklahoma #	7	–	4	8	–	4
Pittsburg State #	7	–	4	8	–	4
Washburn #	6	–	5	7	–	5
	6	–	5	6	–	5
Lindenwood	4	–	7	4	–	7
Missouri Western	4	–	7	4	–	7
Nebraska–Kearney	3	–	8	3	–	8
Northeastern State	1	–	10	1	–	10
Missouri Southern	0	–	11	0	–	11

$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Central Missouri: Mineral Water Bowl, Central Oklahoma: Heritage Bowl, Pittsburg State: Live United Texarkana Bowl, Washburn: C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl) Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2017 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2017 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937.^[1] 2017 was the 120th season in school history.^[2] The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his 16th season overall, and 10th season at Emporia State.^[3] Emporia State has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.^[4]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Northwest Missouri State	No. 4	Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO	L 34–0	8,055
September 7	7:00 p.m.	Nebraska–Kearney	No. 15	Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS	W 45–13	5,013
September 16	6:00 p.m.	at Missouri Southern	No. 14	Fred G. Hughes Stadium Joplin, MO	W 36–29	4,608
September 23	2:00 p.m.	Central Missouri	No. 15	Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS	L 31–37	5,023
September 30	2:00 p.m.	at Central Oklahoma		Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	L 52–53	3,845
October 7	2:00 p.m.	Northeastern State		Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS	W 44–7	4,702
October 14	1:00 p.m.	at Lindenwood		Harlen C. Hunter Stadium St. Charles, MO	W 41–30	2,751
October 21–22	2:00 p.m.	Pittsburg State		Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS	L 10–27	4,663
October 28	2:00 p.m.	at No. 7 Fort Hays State		Lewis Field Stadium Hays, KS	L 34–7	4,519
November 4	2:00 p.m.	Missouri Western		Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS	W 30–27	3,805
November 11	2:00 p.m.	Washburn		Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS (rivalry)	W 26–20	4,095
Homecoming Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[5]

Preseason

The Hornets entered the 2017 season after finishing with an 11–2 overall, 10–1 in conference play the previous season under Higgins.^[6] On August 1, 2017 at the MIAA Football Media Day, the Hornets were chosen to finish second in both the coaches and media polls.^[7]

On June 1, 2017, the Hornets were ranked No. 4 in Street & Smith's National Preseason Ranking Poll, and landed in the same spot by Lindy's Sports on June 23, 2017.^[8]

On August 14, the American Football Coaches Association released its poll, with the Hornets ranked No. 4 in the nation, the highest in school history.^[9]

Game summaries

Northwest Missouri State

Emporia State at Northwest Missouri State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
#4 Emporia State	0	0	0	0	0
• #1 Northwest Missouri State	3	10	14	7	34

Date: August 31
Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MO
Game start: 7:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:02
Game attendance: 8,055
Game weather: Clear, 70°F
Referee: Dwight Neibling

Nebraska–Kearney

Nebraska–Kearney at Emporia State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Nebraska–Kearney	7	0	6	0	13
• #15 Emporia State	21	10	7	7	45

Date: September 7
Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS
Game start: 7:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:39
Game attendance: 5,013
Game weather: Clear, 68°F
Referee: Scott Hardin

Missouri Southern

Emporia State at Missouri Southern

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• #14 Emporia State	9	10	7	10	36
Missouri Southern	6	13	3	7	29

Date: September 16
Location: Hughes Stadium, Joplin, MO
Game start: 6:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:39
Game attendance: 4,608
Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 89°F
Referee: Craig Helser

Central Missouri

Central Missouri at Emporia State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Central Missouri	7	0	14	16	37
#15 Emporia State	14	7	3	7	31

Date: September 23
Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:23
Game attendance: 5,023
Game weather: Sunny, 88°F
Referee: Dwight Neibling

Central Oklahoma

Emporia State at Central Oklahoma

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Emporia State	7	14	17	14	52
• Central Oklahoma	7	22	0	24	53

Date: September 30
Location: Wantland Stadium, Edmond, OK
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:20
Game attendance: 3,845
Game weather: Partly cloudy, 75°F

Northeastern State

Northeastern State at Emporia State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Northeastern State	0	0	0	7	7
• Emporia State	13	21	10	0	44

Date: October 7
Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:05
Game attendance: 4,702
Game weather: Sunny, 73°F
Referee: Craig Helser

Lindenwood

Emporia State at Lindenwood

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Emporia State	14	0	6	21	41
Lindenwood	0	7	7	16	30

Date: October 14
Location: Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, MO
Game start: 1:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:18
Game attendance: 2,751
Game weather: Partly cloudy, 86°F
Referee: Scott Hardin

Pittsburg State

Pittsburg State at Emporia State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
• Pittsburg State	7	7	10	3	27
Emporia State	7	0	3	0	10

Date: October 21
Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:42
Game attendance: 4,667
Game weather: Cloudy, rain, windy, 72°F
Referee: Lonnie Brickman

Fort Hays State

Emporia State at Fort Hays State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Emporia State	0	0	0	7	7
• #7 Fort Hays State	7	6	14	7	34

Date: October 28
Location: Lewis Field Stadium, Hays, KS
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 2:52
Game attendance: 4,519
Game weather: Sunny and cool, 53°F
Referee: Scott Hardin

Missouri Western

Missouri Western at Emporia State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Missouri Western	10	7	3	7	27
• Emporia State	7	3	7	13	30

Date: November 4
Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS
Game start: 2:00 pm CDT
Elapsed time: 3:09
Game attendance: 3,805
Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 89°F
Referee: Sean Johnston

Washburn

Washburn at Emporia State

Team	1	2	3	4	Total
Washburn	7	10	0	3	20
• Emporia State	7	16	3	0	26

Date: November 11
Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS
Game start: 2:00 pm CST
Elapsed time: 3:04
Game attendance: 4,095
Game weather: Overcast, 48°F
Referee: Dwight Neibling

Personnel

Coaching staff

Along with Higgins, there are 10 assistants.

Name	Position	Seasons at ESU	Alma Mater
Garin Higgins	Head coach	11	Emporia State (1992)
Matt Nardo	Off. Coordinator/Halfbacks	4	Ohio (2005)
Mike LoPorto	Co-Defensive Coordinator/defensive line Coach/Academic Coord.	10	Emporia State (2010)
Bryan Nardo	Co-Defensive Coordinator/linebackers Coach	6	Ohio (2008)
Nathan Linsey	Secondary/special teams Coordinator	6	Emporia State (2010)
Anthony Koehling	Offensive line Coach	3	Ohio (2013)
Antwon Crutcher	Defensive line	2	Ohio (2016)
Daniel Siehndel	Defensive Secondary Coach	2	Southeast Missouri State (2015)
Austin Willis	Running backs/Strength & Conditioning Coach	1	Emporia State (2014)
James Floyd	Inside Receivers Coach	1	Northern Colorado (2016)
Jarrett Sstastny	Offensive line Coach	1	Emporia State (2017)
Reference:^[10]

Roster

2017 Emporia State Hornets football team roster

Players

Coaches

Offense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
WR	`2`	Morris Williams II	Sr
WR	`4`	Jordan Reed	Jr
WR	`5`	Justin Brown	Jr
WR	`6`	Louis Dailey	Sr
RB	`9`	Kai Callins	Jr
WR	`10`	Jaylon Radel	Jr
WR	`11`	Mitchell Foote	Jr
QB	`12`	T'Quan Wallace	So
QB	`14`	Braxton Marstall	Jr
QB	`15`	Pat Briningstool	Fr
QB	`16`	Ethan Anderson	Fr
WR	`18`	Anthony McGee	Jr
SB	`24`	Denzel Strong	Jr
RB	`25`	Ricky VanWeezel	So
RB	`26`	Landon Nault	Jr
RB	`34`	Brett Osbern	So
RB	`37`	J.J. Rivers	So
SB	`38`	Johnathan Lewis	Fr
SB	`43`	Luke Berblinger	So
SB	`44`	Nick Oliver	Jr
OL	`53`	Jake Warehime	Sr
OL	`61`	Marlon McKeithen	Jr
OL	`62`	Cole Cruz	Sr
OL	`63`	Brance Watts	So
OL	`64`	Hayden Reed	Fr
OL	`66`	Wyatt Malcom	Fr
OL	`67`	Dylan Gall	Sr
OL	`69`	Joe Pomatto	Sr
OL	`70`	Andrew Lillich	Jr
OL	`71`	Zack Fasbender	Jr
OL	`72`	Dane Riley	Sr
OL	`74`	Thomas O'Grady	Sr
OL	`75`	Estevan Arana	So
OL	`76`	Austin Unterreiner	So
OL	`77`	Braden Janzen	Jr
OL	`78`	Stephen Williams	So
OL	`79`	Tyler Banta	So
SB	`80`	Trenton Ball	Jr
WR	`81`	Kirvin Parks	So
WR	`82`	Tyler Harris	Fr
WR	`83`	Corey Thomas	Fr
WR	`84`	Blake Pennington	Fr
WR	`85`	Seth Surface	So
WR	`86`	Sean Talley	So
WR	`87`	Carson Proffitt	Jr
WR	`88`	Travon Jones	Jr
WR	`89`	Zach Cahill	Fr

Defense

Pos.	#	Name	Class
DB	`1`	Marcus Houghton	Sr
DB	`3`	Ace Mayze	Sr
LB	`7`	Gabe Cleveland	Sr
DB	`8`	Gary Woods II	So
LB	`17`	Orlando Sheets	Jr
DB	`19`	Dillon Lohr	So
DB	`20`	Jarett Strode	Sr
DB	`21`	Marquise Johnson	Jr
DB	`22`	Roscoe Gatewood	So
DB	`23`	Asher Goldston	Jr
DB	`28`	A.J. West	Sr
DB	`29`	Cole Baird	Fr
DB	`30`	Kelin Gordon	Fr
LB	`31`	Remington Whitley	Sr
DB	`32`	Corey Jackson	Jr
LB	`33`	Randall Friday	Fr
DB	`35`	Steve Ray	Fr
LB	`36`	Logan Thompson	So
LB	`41`	Patch VanWeezel	Fr
DB	`42`	Cody Savage	Jr
DB	`45`	Kyle Rinck	Fr
DB	`46`	Dan Courtwright	Fr
DB	`47`	Ramsey Stramel	Sr
LB	`50`	Klayton Goering	Fr
LB	`51`	Darric Cashier	Jr
DE	`52`	Donovan Walker	Sr
DE	`54`	Logan Powell	Jr
DE	`55`	Patrick Dugan	Sr
LB	`56`	Will Mengarelli	Fr
LB	`57`	Luke Meyer	Fr
LB	`58`	Immanuel Cason	Jr
LB	`59`	Jace McDown	Fr
DL	`60`	Mark Golubski	Fr
DL	`65`	Ryan Smith	Jr
LB	`68`	Chad Glademan	Fr
DL	`73`	Camren Proby	So
DE	`90`	Parker Bass	Jr
DE	`91`	Marcellus Edwards	Jr
DL	`93`	Marek Thompson	So
DE	`94`	Ugonna Nwarie	Sr
DE	`95`	Tre'Vaun Ammons	So
DL	`96`	Jon Denton	Jr
DL	`97`	Isaiah Miles	Fr
DE	`98`	Jackson Maase	So
DL	`99`	Dyllan Haworth	Fr

Special teams

Pos.	#	Name	Class
K	`40`	Dakota Weaver	Sr
LS	`48`	Reid Buckingham	Sr
K	`49`	Justin Marcha	Sr
K	`92`	Austin Morton	Sr

Head coach

Garin Higgins

Coordinators/assistant coaches

See #Coaching staff

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible

Injured
Redshirt

Roster
Last update: August 1, 2017

References

^ "Emporia State University Athletics - Facilities - Welch Stadium". Retrieved July 18, 2016.
^ Weast, Donald (August 29, 2016). "#24 Emporia State Football Opens Up Against #1 Northwest Missouri" (Press release). Emporia State University Athletics. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
^ "Higgins, Garin". Retrieved May 17, 2016.
^ "Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Conference History". Themiaa.com. May 21, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ "2017 Football Schedule". Emporia State University. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
^ Weast, Don (August 1, 2017). "Hornet Football Receives Highest MIAA Preseason Ranking in History" (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Slaughter, Josh (August 1, 2017). "NWMSU Tops MIAA Preseason Football Polls" (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ Weast, Don (June 23, 2017). "Another Top Four Preseason Ranking for Emporia State Football" (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2017.
^ "DII football poll: Six takeaways from the preseason rankings". August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
^ "Coaching Staff". Emporia State Athletics. Retrieved August 1, 2017.

[1] "Emporia State University Athletics - Facilities - Welch Stadium". Retrieved July 18, 2016.

[2] Weast, Donald (August 29, 2016). "#24 Emporia State Football Opens Up Against #1 Northwest Missouri" (Press release). Emporia State University Athletics. Retrieved August 29, 2016.

[3] "Higgins, Garin". Retrieved May 17, 2016.

[4] "Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association – Conference History". Themiaa.com. May 21, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2017.

[5] "2017 Football Schedule". Emporia State University. Retrieved April 6, 2025.

[6] Weast, Don (August 1, 2017). "Hornet Football Receives Highest MIAA Preseason Ranking in History" (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2017.

[7] Slaughter, Josh (August 1, 2017). "NWMSU Tops MIAA Preseason Football Polls" (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2017.

[8] Weast, Don (June 23, 2017). "Another Top Four Preseason Ranking for Emporia State Football" (Press release). Retrieved August 1, 2017.

[9] "DII football poll: Six takeaways from the preseason rankings". August 14, 2017. Retrieved August 16, 2017.

[coachingstaff-10] "Coaching Staff". Emporia State Athletics. Retrieved August 1, 2017.

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Emporia State Hornets football
Venues	Jones Field at Welch Stadium (1937–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Washburn
Culture & lore	Corky the Hornet Timeline of college football in Kansas
People	Head coaches NFL draftees
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