EKU rallies from 35-13 deficit to stun Central Arkansas
Eastern Kentucky scored 25 unanswered points to stun Central Arkansas 38-35 on Saturday in Conway, Ark.
Parker McKinney scored on a 40-yard run midway through the fourth quarter and Joseph Sayles blocked Hayden Ray’s attempt at a game-tying field goal.
The Colonels (5-1, 2-0) trailed 35-13 after Central Arkansas (2-4, 1-2) used Darius Hale’s 6-yard TD run to cap a five-play, 75-yard drive with 8:13 left in the third quarter.
Patrick Nations started the EKU run at the 3:11 mark with his third field goal of the game. Kmare Carey set up the next score when he forced and recovered a fumble by Christian Richmond on the ensuing kickoff at the Bears’ 15-yard line. Four plays later, McKinney connected with Jayden Higgins for a 5-yard TD and hit Jaden Smith for the 2-point conversion to pull the Colonels within 35-24 heading to the final quarter.
After a three-and-out by Central Arkansas, McKinney directed a seven-play, 62-yard drive — ending with Kyeandre Magloire’s 4-yard TD run — in 100 seconds. The two-point try failed and left EKU trailing 35-30 with 13:08 remaining in the game.
McKinney came up with his go-ahead TD run on the Colonels’ next possession and then connected with Smith for the two-point conversion and a 38-35 lead. The Bears drove down to the EKU 28-yard line before the drive stalled with 2:14 left to play, setting up Sayles’ block.
McKinney completed 24 of 40 passes for 224 yards with two TDs and one interception. He also ran for 65 yards on six carries.
Pappas-Byrd connection boosts Morehead State
Mark Pappas threw touchdowns of 17 and 16 yards to BJ Byrd in the third quarter and Morehead State defeated visiting Butler 31-8 on Saturday.
Pappas, who also threw four interceptions, connected with Byrd to make it a 24-0 advantage. Pappas finished 25-for-39 passing for 223 yards and two touchdowns.
Earl Stoudemire ran for 148 yards on 15 carries, Issiah Aguero tallied 107 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown and Chance Harris scored a touchdown. Byrd caught nine passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles (3-2, 2-0 Pioneer Football League).
Lindsey Wilson blanks Georgetown
For the first time in program history, NAIA No. 1-ranked Lindsey Wilson recorded back-to-back shutouts. The Blue Raiders defeated No. 13 Georgetown 35-0 on Saturday a week after routing Thomas More 47-0.
The defense for Lindsey Wilson (5-0, 2-0) had 11 tackles for a loss for a total of 57 lost yards, including eight quarterback sacks. Georgetown was held to two first downs in the first half and nine overall.
Blue Raiders QB Cameron Dukes, a senior out of Bullitt Central High School, was 17 of 30 for 189 yards and three touchdowns.
Murray State rallies, too
Damonta Witherspoon pulled in a 16-yard touchdown pass to ignite a fourth-quarter comeback, then set up the game-winning field goal with a 21-yard catch in the final minute as Murray State came from 15 points down in the final period to beat Southeast Missouri State 32-31 on Saturday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
