JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Thirteenth ranked Eastern Kentucky University fell behind 24-0 at halftime and lost 34-0 at No. 1 Jacksonville State University in an Ohio Valley Conference football game on Saturday.
JSU out-gained the Colonels (5-3, 4-1 OVC) 299-101 in the first half and allowed EKU to cross midfield just once in the first two quarters. The Gamecocks converted 4-of-7 third downs in the first half.
Jacksonville State (7-1, 5-0 OVC) took its first possession of the game and marched 96 yards on 11 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. Josh Barge caught a short pass from Eli Jenkins, eluded one tackler and took it 14 yards for the score.
Early in the second quarter, the two teams exchanged turnovers. Jeffrey Canady forced a fumble and Noah Spence recovered to give Eastern the ball near midfield. However, on the next play, Bennie Coney’s pass was picked off by Dawson Wells and returned 48 yards for a touchdown.
The Gamecocks scored on their next offensive possession to go in front 21-0 with 9:42 left in the second quarter. The 7-play, 70-yard drive was capped by three straight runs by Troymaine Pope to cover the final seven yards.
Jenkins completed 23-of-32 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Coney finished 8-of-21 for 52 yards and one interception.
Eastern entered the game with 21 sacks this season and only five sacks allowed. JSU had four sacks while the Colonels did not register a sack.
Ethan Thomas had a team-best 47 yards rushing on six carries.
EKU will play its final home game of the regular season next Saturday against Tennessee-Martin. Kick off at Roy Kidd Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
NOTES
Eastern Kentucky is ranked No. 13 in the STATS.com Poll and No. 14 in the FCS Coaches Poll. Jacksonville State is No. 1 in the STATS Poll and No. 2 in the FCS Coaches Poll.
This marked the second straight season that EKU and JSU met as top-15 ranked teams.
Devin Borders entered the game with 99 career receptions. He made his 100th career catch in the first quarter, a five-yard reception for a first down.
Keith Wrzuszczak’s 75-yard punt in the first quarter was a career-long. His previous best was a 60-yarder in 2014.
JSU came into the game as the only team in the nation ranked in the top-5 in both rushing offense and rushing defense.
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