Expect to win is one of EKU Head Coach Walt Wells favorite mantras, but coming off a poor performance a week ago at Austin Peay, EKU football was in need of a win, and they got one. On a perfect Saturday night, the Colonels faced off for the first time ever, against Southern Utah.
First Quarter
Needing a fast start, the Colonels defense held SUU to a quick three-and-out, and the Offense took advantage quickly as well. A 30-yard pass to Cornelius McCoy set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Parker McKinney on the first drive.
Good things continues to happen for EKU when SUU drive stalled out at the 14-yard line and they missed their Field Goal attempt. The EKU offense could not convert the miss into points and had a turnover on downs.
Second Quarter
The Thunderbirds got on the board with a methodical 64-yard drive capped off with a 5-yard TD run following a John Blunt Jr pass interference penalty in the endzone.
McKinney and the offense used big pass plays of 28-yards to McCoy and 22-yards to Dak Allen to get down the field quickly, and finished off the drive with QB Parker McKinney’s second rushing TD of the game.
SUU answered immediately with another TD drive, and it appeared it was going to be a back-and-forth game with the defense unable to get a stop.
On the next drive, TE Dak Allen went down with a non-contact knee injury. Parker McKinney looked inspired and completed the drive with his third rushing TD of the night. The defense got a stop on the ensuing SUU drive and the Colonels went into the half leading 21-14.
Third Quarter
The second half last week was EKU’s downfall, the first drive of the half this week was a three-and-out by the offense which led to their first punt of the game. The defense responded by forcing SUU into a three-and-out also with a huge third-down tackle by TK McLendon.
The offense was driving but a pass off the hands of Jyran Mitchell got intercepted and snuffed the momentum. Matthew Ballentine was ejected with 7 minutes to go in the 3rd Quarter, due to a targeting penalty, and SUU responded with a nifty end-around play that scored on a 10-yard run.
EKU scored their first points of the second half when Parker McKinney found Braedon Sloan wide open for a 34-yard touchdown.
Fourth Quarter
The back-and-forth continued 8 seconds into the fourth quarter when SUU tied the game at 28. EKU went three-and-out putting the pressure on the EKU defense. The D answered by holding SUU to a field goal attempt, and they missed their second attempt of the night.
Parker McKinney kept breaking records (see Game Notes at the end of the article) but it was RB Braedon Sloan who went 27-yards to put EKU on top 35-28. The Defense then made a huge stand by stopping SUU on fourth down, when Saftey Joseph Sayles made a great open-field tackle. The EKU offense was able to run the rest of the clock out, and finish the game on top.
EKU was in need of a win, and now they are in need of some rest as they head into an off week.
Game Notes
- Parker McKinney surpassed TJ Pryor as the all-time EKU leader in all-purpose yards
- Parker McKinney had his first multi-touchdown game on the ground for his career
- Parker McKinney became the EKU all-time passing yard leader. He now holds every EKU passing record
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