Kentucky State football will host Senior Day and honor cancer survivors this Saturday, October 26, as they face the Allen Yellow Jackets (1-6, 0-5 SIAC) at 1 p.m. inside Alumni Stadium in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, wear pink, and join the community tailgate hosted by Elaine Allen LLC before kickoff. The tailgate will feature giveaways, pink T-shirts, and the chance to enjoy the pre-game atmosphere. Cancer survivors will be admitted to Saturday’s game for free.
The Senior Day ceremony will take place inside Alumni Stadium, starting 20 minutes before kickoff.
Series at a Glance
This will mark the fourth meeting between Kentucky State and Allen, with the Thorobreds leading the series 2-1. Kentucky State’s victories have both come in the Commonwealth, beginning with a 45-0 shutout in 2003 and a 41-22 win during the 2022 season.
Scouting the Yellow Jackets
Allen is led by first-year head coach Cedric Pearl, who has guided the team to one win against non-conference opponent Point University (35-10 on September 21). The Yellow Jackets are 0-5 in SIAC play. In their most recent outing (October 19), Allen suffered a 34-27 overtime loss to Benedict.
From the Stable: Thorobreds at Home
Kentucky State has been strong at home recently, winning two of their last three games on their home turf. Their successful home stretch began with a 24-20 Homecoming win over Central State on October 5 and continued with a narrow 23-21 victory over Benedict on October 12.
In their latest game on October 19, Kentucky State fell to Tuskegee University, 38-24, in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SIAC) matchup. Despite the loss, Thorobreds’ quarterback Denim Johnson set a career high with 361 passing yards and one touchdown, as the team recorded a season-high 465 yards of total offense.
Tuskegee (4-3, 4-1 SIAC) opened the game with a 90-yard drive, culminating in Raequan Beal’s 63-yard touchdown pass to Quavo Beckford. Kentucky State (2-6, 2-4 SIAC) quickly responded when Johnson connected with Tyler Bercy for a 23-yard touchdown, tying the game at 7-7.
Tuskegee regained control with two late first-quarter scores—a 23-yard touchdown pass from Beal to Beckford and a 93-yard fumble return by Kaquan Kimber—taking a 21-7 lead. The Thorobreds trimmed the deficit to 21-14 on a one-yard touchdown run by Cedric Ward in the second quarter.
After a 43-yard field goal from Tuskegee’s Lorcan Ryans, Kentucky State’s Landon Grover hit a 34-yarder, making it 24-17 at halftime. In the third quarter, Ren Spivey Jr. extended Tuskegee’s lead with a nine-yard touchdown run.
Tuskegee secured the win in the fourth quarter with a one-yard scoring run by Chase Sellers. Kentucky State’s Jaun Gainous found Kale Anderson for a 27-yard touchdown pass, but the Thorobreds couldn’t complete the comeback.
Kentucky State will look to turn things around at home on Saturday, aiming to celebrate their seniors with a win and provide a memorable day for cancer survivors in attendance.
