The Colonels got win number one on the season by taking down a UAC Conference foe in West Georgia. EKU looked as good as they have in a while and defensively put up a masterpiece. They never trailed in the game and controlled the field position aspect of the game all night. Matt Morrissey ended the game with 277 yards and two touchdowns but also had two touchdowns called back due to penalties. There were a lot of good and a couple of negatives, here are my EKU week three pros and cons.
Pros
Quick Scores:
The Colonels kicked a field goal on their first drive and scored a touchdown on their third drive. Getting on the board early is important, especially with a solid defense. It was great to see them score early this week.
Defensive Variety:
EKU has always subbed several players throughout the game, but Defensive Coordinator Jake Johnson showed several different packages this week. I have been critical of Coach Johnson’s lack of package variety over the years, but I was very encouraged by what I saw on Saturday. We saw the base defense, four down linemen, and three safeties. The defense put personnel on the field to match what the offense was trying to do… and it worked masterfully.
Offensive Play Calling:
Coach Andy Richman called what I think was his best game since I have covered the team. The execution was not perfect, but the playcalling was very good. The offense has been predictable in recent history, but tonight I felt like they showed a lot of potential. Take away some drops and penalties; EKU would have put up 40 points.
Jalen Montgomery:
Losing Braedon Sloan in the offseason looked like a major loss in the return game, but Montgomery showed that he could fill Sloan’s shoes. Jalen returned one kickoff for 42 yards, and he had a punt return of 22 yards. Both plays put EKU in great field position. He also had a 46-yard reception on the first drive.
Cons
Failed to take advantage:
The Colonels had great starting field position most of the night. Three times EKU started on the good half of the field, and each of those three possessions ended in punts. Penalties or sacks ended those drives but thankfully did not impact the outcome.
Lack of buffet:
The press box still does not have a buffet.
Penalties:
EKU had several bad penalties on Saturday. A few 15-yard penalties. Some holding penalties on key plays ended the momentum of the offense. They had a personal foul that was offset late in the game, you would like to see players just point to the scoreboard and walk away.
Final Thoughts
It was great to see EKU win a home conference game on Saturday. The players played well, the coaches prepared and executed well, and the fans showed up. The Colonels have two more very winnable home games coming up, make plans to be there!
Tune in to the Sports Stove Local Hour on Sunday night at 6:00 as Jonathan Duff and I will recap the win, and preview next week’s game. We will be joined by two other EKU football players. Follow me on Twitter/X for more EKU opinions. All photos used were taken by members of the EKU staff.
