Emporia State football swept the MIAA’s weekly player awards following its 58–38 Homecoming victory over Central Missouri, the university announced on October 26.
Quarterback Jamison Sarver, defensive back Clem McCullough and kick returner Corey Turner II received the offensive, defensive and special-teams honors. The recognition gives the Hornets a notable three-unit achievement heading into their October 31 trip to Northwest Missouri.
The Emporia State Athletics announcement says it is the first conference-wide sweep by one school since 2019. ESU previously collected all three categories in 2018, when its special-teams award was shared.
Three awards reflect three different contributions
| Hornet | MIAA honor | Key performance |
|---|---|---|
| Jamison Sarver | Offensive Player of the Week | 304 passing yards and four touchdown passes |
| Clem McCullough | Defensive Player of the Week | Two interceptions, including a touchdown return |
| Corey Turner II | Special Teams Player of the Week | A 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown |
KVOE’s October 26 sports report also documented the sweep and the individual honors. Together, the awards show how the Homecoming result extended beyond the passing game.
Sarver leads the offense in a high-scoring win
Sarver completed 28 of 40 passes and matched his career high with four touchdown throws, according to the university’s account. His performance helped ESU reach its highest single-game points total since November 2023.
The offensive award fits the headline score, but the other two selections explain why a three-player sweep is distinctive. A defense creating points and a return unit producing a touchdown can alter a game without adding another offensive possession.
That is the broader significance of the announcement: the conference recognized decisive contributions across the roster rather than awarding several variations of the same offensive achievement.
Turnover and return touchdowns change the game
McCullough’s interception return gave the Hornets the lead late in the first half. The university credits it as a 100-yard touchdown return and also records a second interception later in the game.
Turner supplied the opening spark after halftime, taking the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a score. KVOE noted that he became the first Hornet to return a kickoff for a touchdown since 2014.
Those plays help explain the balance of the award selections. The final margin was 20 points, while the defensive and special-teams scoring gave the home crowd two of the game’s defining moments.
Northwest Missouri is next on October 31
ESU’s official release lists the next game for Saturday, October 31, at Northwest Missouri, with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium in Maryville, Missouri. The release identifies Emporia State as No. 8 and Northwest Missouri as No. 11.
The weekly honors recognize the Central Missouri performance; they do not settle the next matchup. Fans should use the official football schedule for any subsequent changes and game-day information.
For Emporia, the immediate news is a conference award sweep after a productive Homecoming weekend, with a ranked road opponent arriving next on the calendar.