2015 Emporia State Hornets football team

2015 Emporia State Hornets football
NCAA Division II Quarterfinal, L 17–38 at Northwest Missouri State
Conference	Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
Record	11–3 (9–2 MIAA)
Head coach	Garin Higgins (9th season)
Offensive coordinator	Matt Nardo (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Mike LoPorto (8th season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Bryan Nardo (4th season)
Home stadium	Francis G. Welch Stadium
Seasons ←  2014 2016  →

2015 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 NW Missouri State $^		11	–	0					15	–	0
No. 8 Emporia State ^		9	–	2					11	–	3
Central Missouri		8	–	3					8	–	3
Fort Hays State #		8	–	3					8	–	4
Central Oklahoma #		6	–	5					7	–	5
Missouri Western		6	–	5					6	–	5
Pittsburg State		6	–	5					6	–	5
Washburn		5	–	6					5	–	6
Lindenwood		3	–	8					3	–	8
Northeastern State		3	–	8					3	–	8
Missouri Southern		1	–	10					1	–	10
Nebraska–Kearney		0	–	11					0	–	11
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant # – bowl participant (Fort Hays State: Mineral Water Bowl, Central Oklahoma: Live United Texarkana Bowl Rankings from AFCA poll)

The 2015 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2015 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] 2015 was the 122nd season in school history. ^[2] The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his fifteenth overall season, and ninth at Emporia State. ^[3] Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. ^[4]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 3	7:00 p.m.	at Missouri Southern		Fred G. Hughes Stadium Joplin, MO		W 38–20	5,987
September 10/12	7:07 p.m./2:00 p.m.	Central Missouri		Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS	MIAA-TV	W 45–34	5,785
September 19	2:00 p.m.	at Central Oklahoma		Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK		W 38–28	4,502
September 26	2:00 p.m.	Northeastern State		Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS		W 55–14	5,093
October 3	2:37 p.m.	at Lindenwood	No. 23	Harlen C. Hunter Stadium St. Charles, MO	MIAA-TV	W 20–13	2,093
October 10	2:00 p.m.	No. 13 Pittsburg State	No. 18	Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS		W 46–42	6,306
October 17	2:00 p.m.	at Fort Hays State	No. 13	Lewis Field Stadium Hays, KS		L 24–27	3,094
October 24	2:00 p.m.	Missouri Western	No. 19	Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS		W 17–3	6,056
October 31	2:00 p.m.	Washburn	No. 17	Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS (rivalry)		W 47–21	4,821
November 7	6:00 p.m.	at No. 2 Northwest Missouri State	No. 14	Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO	ASN	L 10–44	6,542
November 14	2:00 p.m.	Nebraska–Kearney	No. 19	Francis G. Welch Stadium Emporia, KS		W 52–34	3,897
November 21	1:00 p.m.	at No. 6 Minnesota State *	No. 18	Blakeslee Stadium Mankato, MN (NCAA Division II First Round)		W 51–49	1,104
November 28	1:00 p.m.	at No. 8 Henderson State *	No. 18	Carpenter–Haygood Stadium Arkadelphia, AR (NCAA Division II Second Round)		W 29–3	1,129
December 5	1:00 p.m.	at No. 1 NW Missouri State*	No. 18	Bearcat Stadium Maryville, MO (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)		L 17–38	5,155
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[5]

Game summaries

Missouri Southern

See also: Missouri Southern Lions football

Emporia State at Missouri Southern

1 2 3 4 Total •Emporia State 7 10 21 0 38 Missouri Southern 3 7 10 0 20 Date: September 3 Location: Hughes Stadium, Joplin, MO Game start: 7:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:45 Game attendance: 5,987 Game weather: Clear, 89 °F (32 °C) Referee: John Adams

Central Missouri

See also: Central Missouri Mules football

Central Missouri at Emporia State

1 2 3 4 Total Central Missouri 14 10 7 3 34 •Emporia State 3 21 7 14 45 Date: September 10/12 Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS Game start: 7:07 p.m./2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:05 Game attendance: 5,785 Game weather: Mostly clear, 89 °F (32 °C) Referee: Dwight Neibling

Central Oklahoma

See also: Central Oklahoma Bronchos football

Emporia State at Central Oklahoma

1 2 3 4 Total •Emporia State 7 14 7 10 38 Central Oklahoma 7 7 7 7 28 Date: September 19 Location: Wantland Stadium, Edmond, OK Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:02 Game attendance: 4,502 Game weather: Cloudy, 89 °F (32 °C) Referee: Brian Moore

Northeastern State

See also: Northeastern State RiverHawks football

Northeastern State at Emporia State

1 2 3 4 Total Northeastern State 0 7 7 0 14 •Emporia State 21 21 10 3 55 Date: September 26 Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:48 Game attendance: 5,093 Game weather: Sunny, 80 °F (27 °C) Referee: Danny Harris

Lindenwood

See also: Lindenwood Lions football

Emporia State at Lindenwood

1 2 3 4 Total •#23 Emporia State 7 7 0 6 20 Lindenwood 0 3 7 3 13 Date: October 3 Location: Hunter Stadium, St. Charles, MO Game start: 2:37 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:57 Game attendance: 2,093 Game weather: Cloudy, 56 °F (13 °C) Referee: John Steiger

Pittsburg State

See also: Pittsburg State Gorillas football

Pittsburg State at Emporia State

1 2 3 4 Total #13 Pittsburg State 14 14 7 7 42 •#18 Emporia State 7 15 10 14 46 Date: October 10 Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 3:24 Game attendance: 6,306 Game weather: Sunny, 74 °F (23 °C) Referee: Sean Johnson

Fort Hays State

See also: Fort Hays State Tigers football

Emporia State at Fort Hays State

1 2 3 4 Total #13 Emporia State 10 0 0 14 24 •Fort Hays State 0 6 7 14 27 Date: October 17 Location: Lewis Field, Hays, KS Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:48 Game attendance: 3,094 Game weather: Overcast, 61 °F (16 °C) Referee: Darewin Clardy

Missouri Western

See also: Missouri Western Griffons football

Missouri Western at Emporia State

1 2 3 4 Total Missouri Western 0 0 0 3 3 •#19 Emporia State 0 7 0 10 17 Date: October 24 Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:54 Game attendance: 6,056 Game weather: Mostly clear, 63 °F (17 °C) Referee: Craig Helser

Washburn

See also: Washburn Ichabods football

Washburn at Emporia State

1 2 3 4 Total Washburn 0 7 7 7 21 •#17 Emporia State 13 24 3 7 47 Date: October 31 Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS Game start: 2:00 p.m. CDT Elapsed time: 2:53 Game attendance: 4,821 Game weather: Overcast, 56 °F (13 °C) Referee: Dwight Neibling

Northwest Missouri State

See also: Northwest Missouri State Bearcats football

Emporia State at Northwest Missouri State

1 2 3 4 Total #14 Emporia State 0 10 0 0 10 •#2 NW Missouri State 14 14 9 7 44 Date: November 7 Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MO Game start: 6:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:10 Game attendance: 6,542 Game weather: Clear, 50s°F Referee: Craig Hesler

Nebraska–Kearney

See also: Nebraska–Kearney Lopers football

Nebraska–Kearney at Emporia State

1 2 3 4 Total Nebraska–Kearney 14 6 7 7 34 •#19 Emporia State 14 7 24 7 52 Date: November 14 Location: Welch Stadium, Emporia, KS Game start: 2:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:02 Game attendance: 3,897 Game weather: Sunny, 69 °F (21 °C) Referee: John Adams

Minnesota State—NCAA Division II First Round

See also: Minnesota State Mavericks football

Emporia State at Minnesota State

1 2 3 4 Total •#18 Emporia State 10 14 21 6 51 #6 Minnesota State 14 14 7 14 49 Date: November 21 Location: Blakeslee Stadium, Mankato, MN Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:07 Game attendance: 1,104 Game weather: Cold & sunny, 28 °F (−2 °C) Referee: Bob Rose

Henderson State—NCAA Division II Second Round

See also: Henderson State Reddies football

Emporia State at Henderson State

1 2 3 4 Total •#18 Emporia State 0 16 6 7 29 #8 Henderson State 0 0 0 3 3 Date: November 28 Location: Carpenter–Haygood Stadium, Arkadelphia, AR Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:35 Game attendance: 1,129 Game weather: Rainy, 43 °F (6 °C) Referee: Dan Rankin

Northwest Missouri State—NCAA Division II Quarterfinal

Emporia State at NW Missouri State

1 2 3 4 Total #18 Emporia State 0 10 7 0 17 •#1 NW Missouri State 10 14 14 0 38 Date: December 5 Location: Bearcat Stadium, Maryville, MO Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 2:50 Game attendance: 5,155 Game weather: Clear, 40s°F Referee: Dwight Neibling

Personnel

Coaching staff

Along with Higgins, there are 9 assistants.

Name	Position	Seasons at Emporia State	Alma Mater
Garin Higgins	Head coach	9	Emporia State (1992)
Mike LoPorto	Co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach	8	Emporia State (2007)
Bryan Nardo	Co-defensive coordinator/linebackers Coach	4	Ohio (2008)
Matt Nardo	Off. coordinator/recruiting Coord./Inside & H-backs/Receivers coach	1	Ohio (2005)
Nathan Linsey	Def. Secondary/special teams coordinator	4	Emporia State (2010)
Justin Weiser	Strength and conditioning/running backs	3	Emporia State (2010)
Tony Koehling	Offensive line coach	1	Ohio (2013)
Terence Coleman	Outside Receivers	3	NW Oklahoma State (2000)
Chuck Detwiler	Asst. secondary coach	3	Utah State (1974)
Aaron Matthews	Graduate Assistant – Defensive line coach	2	Emporia State (2014)
Justin Drudik	Graduate Assistant – Defensive backs coach	1	Nebraska–Kearney (2014)
Daniel Goodman	Graduate Assistant – Tight ends coach	1	Emporia State (2014)
Damon Leiss	Assistant coach – Defensive lines and Academics	8	Capella (1984)
Patrick Crayton	Receivers (AFCA internship) [6]	2015 season	NWOSU (2004)
Cale Cochran	Football Operations	2	Emporia State (current student)
Reference: [7]

Roster

2015 Emporia State Hornets football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class WR 5 Justin Brown So WR 6 Kavaski Ervin Sr WR 7 Drake Smithton Sr WR 10 Mitchell Foote Jr QB 13 Ty Reasonor So QB 14 Braxton Marstall So QB 15 Brent Wilson Sr QB 19 Carson Proffitt  Fr RB 27 Antonio Brown Jr RB 40 Kai Callins So H 45 Reese Richards Jr H 46 Connor Thierolf Sr OL 57 Joe Pomatto So OL 60 Garron Anthony Jr OL 62 Jordan Davis  Fr OL 64 Jarrett Stastny Jr OL 67 Dylan Hall So OL 69 Jordan McAdoo Sr OL 72 Dane Riley So OL 73 Eric Pruitt Sr OL 74 Jake Warhime So OL 76 Beau Jenkins Jr OL 78 Braden Janzen  Fr OL 79 Kenneth Sellers Sr H 80 Trenton Ball  Fr WR 81 Logan Clothier Sr WR 82 Anthony Buffalomeat Jr H 86 Nick Oliver  Fr WR 87 Jaylon Radel So	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 2 Brandon Gentz Sr DB 3 Ace Mayze Jr DB 4 Kumani Armstead So DL 9 Eddie Vinson Jr DE 11 Dominique Jones Sr LB 16 Ty McKenzie  Fr DB 18 J.P Lohrentz Jr DB 20 Jarett Strode Jr LB 26 Landon Nault  Fr DB 28 A.J. West So DB 29 Curtis Shorts Jr LB 30 Seth Culp Jr LB 31 Remington Whitley So DB 32 Marcus Houghton So DB 33 Josh Monteagudo Jr LB 34 Jason Tetuan Sr DB 35 Elliot Montgomery  Fr DB 37 Caole Combes So LB 38 Kole Schankie Jr LB 41 Jarron Ogles Jr DB 42 Trey Dickerson Jr LB 44 Jordan Robinson Jr DL 47 Steele Flemming Sr LB 50 Brandon Goodman Jr DE 52 Donovan Walker So DE 54 Logan Powell  Fr LB 55 Gabe Cleveland So DL 56 Lear Schrader Sr LB 58 Immanuel Cason  Fr DB 59 Drew Cook  Fr DE 63 Parker Bass So DL 65 Ryan Smith  Fr DL 90 Nick Vega Jr DL 91 Darian Harris  Fr DE 97 Brandon Allen Sr DL 98 James Junior Sr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class LS 48 Reid Buckingham So K 49 Justin Marcha So K 92 Austin Morton So K 96 Dakota Weaver So	Head coach Garin Higgins Coordinators/assistant coaches Mike LoPorto Bryan Nardo Matt Nardo Nathan Linsey Justin Weiser Tony Koehling Terence Coleman Chuck Detwiler Aaron Matthews Justin Drudik Daniel Goodman Damon Leiss Cale Cochran Patrick Crayton Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: May 22, 2015

References

1. "Emporia State University Athletics - Facilities - Welch Stadium". Emporia State University.
2. History of ESU football Found on page 90
3. "Higgins, Garin" . Retrieved October 13, 2014.
4. "MIAA" . Retrieved October 13, 2014.
5. "2015 Football Schedule". Emporia State University . Retrieved April 6, 2025.
6. McGuire, Corbin (August 15, 2015). "Former NFL veteran Patrick Crayton reunites with Garin Higgins on ESU staff". Emporia Gazette. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
7. "Coaching Staff". Emporia State Athletics. Retrieved May 22, 2015.