Eastern Kentucky University earned its second consecutive victory over a ranked opponent with a 31-24 win over No. 16 Central Arkansas (UCA) on Saturday. The win marks the first time since 2008 that EKU has defeated two ranked teams in a single season.
Game Recap
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with EKU and UCA exchanging leads throughout. UCA took the lead early, scoring a 23-yard field goal after a strong offensive drive in the first quarter. An EKU special teams error then set the Bears up for another touchdown, a five-yard pass in the red zone, to extend their lead. However, EKU responded quickly with a 39-yard touchdown run by Brayden Latham to make it 7-3. After a three-and-out by UCA, Jalen Montgomery’s 54-yard punt return set up a 12-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Calwise Jr. to give EKU a 14-10 lead.
The Bears regained the lead at 17-14 with a 17-yard touchdown reception midway through the second quarter, but EKU answered with a field goal to tie the game at 17-17 going into halftime.
Key Plays
- EKU opened the second half with a bang, as tight end Caeleb Schlachter returned a pooched kick 73 yards for a touchdown, marking the first time the Colonels had scored on a kickoff return since November 2021.
- UCA answered quickly with a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 24-24.
- The game remained tied until late in the fourth quarter when a pair of scrambles from quarterback Matt Morrissey and a personal foul penalty on UCA set up Joshua Carter for a three-yard touchdown run to give EKU a 31-24 lead with 2:24 remaining.
- With UCA driving late, the Colonels’ defense held strong, forcing a turnover on downs after a fourth-down throw from UCA’s third-string quarterback was incomplete at the EKU 21-yard line, sealing the win for the Colonels.
Defensive and Special Teams Standouts
- The EKU defense played a pivotal role, forcing two turnovers and limiting UCA to just 3-of-12 on third-down conversions.
- Special teams also came up big, with punter Jacob Baker averaging 49.2 yards on five punts and downing two inside the 20-yard line.
- In the return game, Jalen Montgomery’s 54-yard punt return and Schlachter’s 73-yard touchdown return were crucial to the victory.
Notable Performances
- Joshua Carter rushed for the game-winning touchdown and finished with 70 yards on 19 carries.
- Matt Morrissey contributed to the game-winning drive with key scrambles, finishing with 128 passing yards and one touchdown.
- Mike Smith Jr. added to the defensive effort with an interception in the third quarter.
- The defense, led by linebacker Frank Lee IV and defensive back Jaylen Houston, stood tall when needed most, with key stops in the game’s final moments.
Next Up
The Colonels (6-4, 4-2) will travel to Clarksville, Tenn., to face longtime rival Austin Peay on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. ET.
