The Eastern Kentucky University football team held its first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium, with just 21 days remaining before the 2024 season opener on the road against Mississippi State.
“One big positive today was the energy that we had,” said head coach Walt Wells. “We’ve got some players with athletic ability, and they are doing things the right way. We have to continue to develop and understand our systems both offensively and defensively. I’m very pleased for a first scrimmage, but we still have things to clean up.”
The EKU defense set the tone early, making multiple stops. On the fourth drive, Gabe Fletcher recorded a sack (with the play blown dead before the quarterback was hit), and Garnell Wilds Jr. made a great break on a stop route to intercept a pass.
The offense responded on the next drive, with two swing passes to Jalen Montgomery combining for 31 yards. This set up Patrick Nations for a 29-yard field goal, which he successfully converted.
On the following drive, starting at the 50-yard line, wide receiver Jayden West took charge with three receptions totaling 35 yards, culminating in a five-yard touchdown reception at full vertical extension at the goal line for the offense’s first touchdown of the day.
The defense got their payback two drives later when defensive lineman Ryan Jackson broke through and forced a fumble in the backfield. Linebacker Kaden Smith scooped up the loose ball and returned it 27 yards for a scoop-and-score.
The final highlight of the scrimmage came on the 16th drive, as quarterback Colbey Lamberth led a 10-play, 50-yard drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Banks at the front corner pylon through two defenders.
EKU will have two more scrimmages before they kick off the season on Aug. 31 at Mississippi State.
