EMPORIA, Kan. - The Lincoln football team executed some big plays in its 2023 season opener, but the Blue Tigers fell to Emporia State, 56-10, on Thursday night (Aug. 31).

The Blue Tigers dominated the running game on both sides of the ball, as Lincoln rushed for 237 yards while holding the Hornets to just 91 yards on the ground. Quarterback Xzavier Vaughn scored LU's first touchdown of the season on an 85-yard keeper on Lincoln's first offensive play of the year, and ended the night with 124 total rushing yards while averaging 17.9 yards per carry. LaMarco Yates rushed for 64 yards and Dawan Lomax gained 50 yards on the ground as the Blue Tigers averaged 6.4 yards per carry.

Vaughn, who also passed for 133 yards, scored the touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 early in the first quarter, and Emporia State led by just 14-7 halfway through the second quarter. The Hornets scored twice to go ahead by 21 at halftime, and ended up controlling the second half. Lincoln's other score of the evening came on a 43-yard field goal by Mo Alwaely in the third quarter, the longest field goal by a Blue Tiger kicker since 2018.

Winston Ausmer caught a team-high eight passes while Aderias Ealy led the receiving corps with 61 yards to go with 34 kick return yards. Alwaely averaged 60.3 yards on kickoffs, and Clayton Winkler averaged 33.9 yards on punts, with two pinning Emporia State inside the 20. 

Defensively, Bryant Coley and Michael Harrison tied for the team-lead with nine tackles apiece, and David Kinard recorded a sack while Donte Moore made a tackle for loss. Ian Hackney added eight tackles, Moore finished with six, and Elijah Juarez and TJ Jasper each made seven tackles. Jamahreon Smith, Cory Macon and Wes Hollie finished with five tackles each.

Lincoln will open its home slate on Saturday, Sept. 9 by hosting Missouri Western under the lights at Dwight T. Reed Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CDT.