The Colonels won the second game in as many weeks by taking down Morehead State 42-13. Coach Walt Wells had to manage a nearly two-hour weather delay, but he had his team rolling all night long. There were several positives for the second week in a row, but still room to improve as well. Here are my EKU week four pros and cons.
Pros
Turnovers:
The EKU defense’s goal of a shutoff may have been snipped in the first quarter, but they dominated all night. Specifically, the Colonels were able to create three turnovers and an additional forced fumble which MSU recovered. Jaheim Ward and Gave Stephens forced fumbles, while Vito Tisdale intercepted a tipped pass, and Mike Smith Jr grabbed another interception. The Colonels have forced six fumbles on the season (only five according to the official stats, but…) and got their first interceptions of the year.
Gabe Stephens:
Redshirt Junior Linebacker Gabe Stephens was a force to be reckoned with on Saturday night. Stephens is making the most of his opportunities in his second year as a Colonel. He tallied five tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble against MSU.
Home Win:
One of the goals Coach Wells set for the Colonels was to go undefeated at home. So far, so good. EKU is 2-0 at home with a third straight home game next Saturday. In both home wins, the defense has looked very good, and the offense is starting to click.
Cons
Penalties:
While EKU has landed two straight wins, they have five penalties this week including two painful ones. Vito Tisdale was called for a late hit on the QB in the first quarter. Not long after, Jaheim Ward was flagged for an illegal block behind the play on a Jalen Montgomery 100-yard kick-off return. Jackson House was later called for an illegal block on another Montgomery return. The Colonels had five penalties for 65 yards on Saturday. In the win over West Georgia, EKU had seven penalties for 75 yards.
Fair Weather Fans:
EKU fans seem to be afraid of rain. When the game entered a weather delay in the first quarter, my first thought was “Everyone will go home.” While only half left for home, it is still a shame that so many fans will not stick around to support these young men. Maybe grab a Coke and a hotdog, hang out, and cheer on the Colonels until the clock expires. Several of these players have given several years to our community, and many others will, so… just stay for the whole game.
Final Thoughts
It was great to see the offense put up six touchdowns! Dequan Stanley had two, Matt Morrissey ran one in, and three different running backs found the end zone (Joshua Carter, Brayden Latham, and Telly McCallister). The defense had another great showing, and the return game continues to shine with Jalen Montgomery. Next Saturday the Colonels host Robert Morris.
Tune in this Thursday at 8:00 to the Sports Stove Local Hour as Jonathan Duff and I will recap the game, and talk with Gabe Stephens and Dequan Stanley. Follow me on Twitter/X for more EKU opinions. All pictures used in this article were taken by members of the EKU staff.
