2016 EKU Game Notes (Game-6 at TSU).indd - Streamline

This week’s hash tags: #GoBigE, #BeatTSU, #EKUEveryDay, #Mission104 www.EKUSports.com @EKUSports @EKUFootball @CoachElderEKU EKUSports Facebook.com/EKUColonels

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 1979 • 1982

2016 FOOTBALL GAME

OVC CHAMPIONS 1954 • 1962 • 1967 • 1968 • 1974 • 1976 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1986 • 1987 1988 • 1990 • 1991 • 1993 • 1994 • 1997 2007 • 2008 • 2011

NOTES

EKUSports Communications • Football Contact: Kevin Britton, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications • [email protected] • (859) 622-2006

Tennessee State

GAME

Oct. 15, 2016 7 p.m. ET - ESPN3 Nashville, Tenn. Nissan Stadium (69,143)

6

2016 EKU Schedule/Results DATE Sept. 3 Sept. 8 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Nov. 26

RANK RV/RV RV/RV RV/RV

OPPONENT TV/NET TIME at Purdue ESPNNews L, 24-45 PIKEVILLE OVCDN W, 55-14 at Ball State ESPN3 L, 14-41 OPEN RV/RV at Tennessee Tech* OVCDN L, 30-33 ot RV/NR SOUTHEAST MO.* OVCDN W, 31-16 RV/NR at Tennessee St.* ESPN3 7 p.m. JACKSONVILLE ST.* OVCDN 3 p.m. at Tennessee-Martin* OVCDN 3 p.m. MURRAY STATE* OVCDN 1 p.m. at Austin Peay* OVCDN 5 p.m. EASTERN ILLINOIS* OVCDN TBA NCAA Playoffs (1st rnd)

EKU Ranking = STATS/Coaches. Home games appear in ALL CAPITALS. Times given are Eastern Time and subject to change. * Denotes Ohio Valley Conference game.

2016 Tennessee State Schedule/Results DATE Sept. 3 Sept. 10 Sept. 17 Sept. 24 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29 Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19

OPPONENT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF vs. Jackson State vs. Bethune-Cookman OPEN TENNESSEE-MARTIN* at Eastern Illinois* EASTERN KENTUCKY* at Vanderbilt at Murray State* at Austin Peay* TENNESSEE TECH* at Southeast Missouri*

TIME W, 44-0 W, 40-26 W, 31-24 W, 34-30 L, 34-35 7 p.m. TBA 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 4 p.m. 2 p.m.

Home games appear in ALL CAPITALS. Times given are Eastern Time. * Denotes Ohio Valley Conference game.

On The Air ESPN3 Kevin Ingram, play-by-play Bob Belvin, analyst WCYO 100.7 FM (Radio & Internet - www.EKUSports.com) Greg Stotelmyer, play-by-play Jim Tirey, analyst Wes Chandler, sideline reporter

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

BREAKDOWN EASTERN KENTUCKY COLONELS Record: 2-3 (1-1 OVC, 0-3 away) Ranking: RV (12, 42nd), STATS NR, Coaches Last Game: beat Southeast Missouri, 31-16 Oct. 8 at Richmond, Ky. Head Coach: Mark Elder (Case Western, 2000) Record: 2-3 (first season) at EKU: 2-3 (first season) vs. Tennessee State: 0-0

TENNESSEE STATE TIGERS Record: 4-1 (1-1 OVC, 2-0 home) Ranking: RV (105, 30th), STATS RV (12, 32nd), Coaches Last Game: lost at No. 19 Eastern Illinois, 35-34 Oct. 8 at Charleston, Mo. Head Coach: Rod Reed (Tennessee State, 1988) Record: 40-34 (seventh season) at TSU: 40-34 (seventh season) vs. Eastern Kentucky: 1-4

QUICK NOTES Mark Elder is in his first season as head coach at EKU. He spent the previous three seasons as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Tennessee. Over the past 11 seasons as an assistant, Elder has helped his teams reach nine bowl games and win four conference championships. In 2015, he was ranked as one of the top-25 recruiters in college football. Elder is the 14th head coach in program history. • EKU is receiving votes in the STATS Poll and the HERO Sports Top-25 Media Poll. • Eastern Kentucky has produced 500 or more yards of offense in each of the last two games. • Bennie Coney broke his own school record with 464 passing yards at Tennessee Tech. • EKU is second in the OVC and 18th in the nation with an average of 282.4 passing yards per game. • Three Colonels are ranked among the top-15 in the OVC in yards per reception -- Ryan Markush (6th), Dan Crimmins (10th) and Devin Borders (11th). • The Colonels average 432 yards of offense per game, second in the OVC and 26th in the nation. • Eastern Kentucky had six sacks at Tennessee Tech and three more against Southeast Missouri. The Colonels are second in the conference and 10th in the nation with an average of 3.0 sacks per game. • Jeffrey Canady had a career-high 17 tackles at Tennessee Tech, the eighth most in one game by an FCS player this season. He is second in the OVC and 19th in the nation with 10.2 tackles per game. • Three Colonels returned interceptions for touchdowns against Pikeville. • Eastern had 284 yards of total offense in the first half at Purdue. The Colonels out-gained the Boilermakers 123 to 85 on the ground in the first half, had five more first downs and converted six more third downs. • The Colonels were picked to finish second in the OVC in both the media poll and the poll conducted by league coaches and media relations contacts. • Punter Keith Wrzuszczak was chosen to three preseason All-America teams. • Just six offensive starters and three defensive starters return from last season’s team. • Devin Borders has 12 career blocked kicks, including seven blocked field goal attempts. He is the career leader in both categories in the OVC. He is tied for second in blocked kicks and is third in blocked field goals in FCS history. • Three Colonels were chosen to the preseason All-OVC team by league coaches -- offensive tackle Justin Adekoya, kicker Lucas Williams and punter Keith Wrzuszczak. •

INSIDE THE SERIES INSIDE THE SERIES Eastern Kentucky leads the all-time series with Tennessee State, 23-5. The Colonels are 8-3 against the Tigers in games played in Nashville. Three of TSU’s wins over Eastern have come in the last seven meetings between the two teams. EKU has won three in a row over Tennessee State, beating the Tigers 44-0 in Richmond in 2013, 56-42 in 2014 in Nashville and 45-21 last season in Richmond. Eastern has averaged 48 points per game during its three-game winning streak over Tennessee State. www. EKU EKUSports.com com

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL

GAME-WEEK FOOTBALL SCHEDULE MONDAY - 10

TUESDAY - 11

WEDNESDAY - 12

THURSDAY - 13

FRIDAY - 14

SATURDAY - 15

SUNDAY - 16

Practice 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. At Roy Kidd Stadium

OVC Teleconference 10:55 a.m. Press Conference, 1 p.m. Moberly Building - 221 Practice 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Coach Elder Radio Show Gillum’s 7 p.m.

Practice 4 - 6 p.m. Roy Kidd Stadium

Practice Off No Availability

Practice TBA

Eastern Kentucky at Tennessee State 7 p.m. ET (ESPN3) Nissan Stadium

Practice Off

Media Information CONTACT INFORMATION Kevin Britton (Football Contact) Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Work Phone: 859-622-2006 Cell: 859-358-8359 E-Mail: [email protected] Fax: 859-622-5108 Roy Kidd Stadium Press Box Phone: 859-622-2226 MEDIA SERVICES CREDENTIALS Credentials are issued to members of the working media only. Requests for credentials should be made to Kevin Britton. PLAYER/COACHES INTERVIEWS All interviews with players, head coach Mark Elder and all assistant coaches must be arranged through the EKUSports Communications office at least 24 hours in advance. Please contact Kevin Britton to arrange all interviews. PRACTICE EKU football practices are generally open to the media. Please contact Kevin Britton in the EKUSports Communications office for schedule, times and location. POST-GAME INTERVIEWS For home games, coach Elder and selected EKU players will be available outside the locker room after a brief cooling off period, generally 10 minutes after the game. For road games, coach Elder and selected players will be available outside the team’s locker room, following the cooling off period. Please direct post-game interview requests to Kevin Britton. Locker Room - The EKU locker room is closed to the media for all home and road games. PRESS ROW SERVICE Complete individual and team statistics and play-by-play will be available to the media following the game. One hour prior to tip-off, media packets containing a game program, flipcard, updated stats and game notes will be available in the media working area. Wireless internet access is available in Roy Kidd Stadium. WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE Head coach Mark Elder and select players meets with the media each game week. The first weekly press conference will be on Tuesday, August 30, at 1 p.m. in room 221 on the second floor of the Moberly Building. OVC TELECONFERENCE The Ohio Valley Conference holds a coaches teleconference weekly during the season. The teleconferences begin at 10:55 a.m. ET. EKU Head Coach Mark Elder will be on the teleconference at 11:07 a.m. ET. For the teleconference phone number and pass code, please contact Kevin Britton. OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS Football Contact .............................................. Kyle Schwartz Phone ............................................. 615-371-1698 ext. 6685 E-mail .................................................... [email protected] Web Site .............................................. www.OVCsports.com

Coach Elder Luncheon Golden Corral 12 p.m.

NEW HEAD COACH Mark Elder is in his first season as head coach at EKU. He spent the previous three seasons as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Tennessee. Over the past 11 seasons as an assistant, Elder has helped his teams reach nine bowl games and win four conference championships. In 2015, he was ranked as one of the top-25 recruiters in college football. Elder is the 14th head coach in program history.

SEMO, 3 at TTU) over the last two games.

NATIONAL POLLS Eastern is receiving votes in the STATS Poll (No. 42) and receiving votes in the HERO Sports Top-25 Media Poll (No. 41). Tennessee State is also receiving votes in both polls (STATS No. 30 and HERO No. 29).

EKU TOP-10 RECEIVER Devin Borders entered the game at Ball State 62 yards away from cracking EKU’s top-10 career receiving yards list. He finished with four catches for 73 yards to move into 10th place. He now has 1,817 career receiving yards, 25 yards away from matching Tyrone Goard (1,842 yards) for ninth place.

CONEY BREAKS RECORD, AGAIN Bennie Coney broke his own school record with 464 passing yards at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1). He completed 32-of-49 passes, tossed three touchdowns and just one interception. His previous mark of 417 came last season at Murray State. Coney is the only quarterback in program history to eclipse the 400-yard mark in a game.

EKU TOP-5 PASSER With 464 passing yards at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1), Bennie Coney moved from seventh to fifth on EKU’s all-time career passing yards list. Through two-plus seasons as a Colonel, Coney has thrown for 4,616 yards. He is 79 yards away from tying Allan Holland (4,695 yards) for fourth on the list.

BIG PLAY RECEIVERS Three Colonels are ranked among the top-15 in the Ohio Valley Conference for yards per reception. Newcomer Ryan Markush is sixth (16.42 ypr), tight end Dan Crimmins is 10th (14.27 ypr) and redshirt senior Devin Borders is 11th (14.25 ypr).

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION The Colonels have totaled 500 yards or more of offense PASSING OFFENSE in each of the last two games, posting 559 at Tennessee EKU is second in the OVC and 18th in the nation with an Tech (Oct. 1) and 527 versus Southeast Missouri (Oct. 8). average of 282.4 passing yards per game. THREE TOUCHDOWN CATCHES Redshirt senior Devin Borders caught three touchdown passes against Southeast Missouri (Oct. 8), the first Colonel to do so since Tyrone Goard caught four at Tennessee-Martin on Sept. 29, 2012. TWO STRAIGHT 300 YARDERS Bennie Coney has thrown for 300 or more yards in each of his last two games, registering 337 against Southeast Missouri (Oct. 8) and a school-record 464 at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1). REACHING THE 100-YARD MARK Devin Borders has totaled 100 or more receiving yards in each of the last two games, finishing with 121 at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1) and 119 against Southeast Missouri (Oct. 8). LUCKY SEVEN Bennie Coney has thrown seven touchdown passes (4 vs.

TOTAL OFFENSE The Colonels average 432 yards of offense per game, second in the OVC and 26th in the nation. GETTING TO THE QB Eastern Kentucky had six sacks at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1) and three more against Southeast Missouri (Oct. 8). The

FCS Playoff Appearances Team Trips Montana 24 Eastern Kentucky 21 Appalachian State 20 Georgia Southern 19 Northern Iowa 18 Furman 17 Eastern Illinois 16 McNeese State 16 9. Delaware 15 10. Jackson State 12 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Last 2015 2014 2012 2012 2015 2013 2015 2015 2010 1997

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

FCS Coaches Top 25

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 3 Colonels are second in the conference and 10th in the nation with an average of 3.0 sacks per game.

Oct. 10, 2016 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

Team North Dakota State (26) Sam Houston State Chattanooga Jacksonville State Eastern Washington James Madison Richmond Charleston Southern The Citadel Montana Villanova Youngstown State Western Illinois South Dakota State Harvard North Carolina A&T Eastern Illinois North Dakota Albany Cal Poly Northern Iowa Central Arkansas Grambling State Samford New Hampshire

Points 650 617 588 577 555 506 493 440 439 413 376 361 301 299 266 241 207 202 178 133 128 125 67 64 51

Prev Record 1 5-0 2 5-0 3 6-0 4 4-1 5 5-1 6 5-1 7 5-1 8 3-2 9 5-0 10 4-1 12 5-1 13 4-1 14 4-1 15 3-2 16 4-0 18 4-1 20 4-2 21 4-2 17 4-1 22 3-2 11 2-3 24 4-1 25 3-1 NR 4-1 NR 4-2

TAKING CARE OF SPECIAL TEAMS After five games, Eastern Kentucky leads the OVC in punt return defense (-1.14 yards per punt) and net punting (40.62 yards per punt). The Colonels are sixth and fifth in the nation in those categories as well. THIS DEFENSE SCORES POINTS Eastern Kentucky leads the conference and is second in the nation with three defensive touchdowns this season. GETTIN’ THE TURNOVERS Eastern Kentucky is first in the OVC, and 15th in the nation, in turnovers gained this season (12). TACKLING THE COMPETITION Redshirt junior linebacker Jeffrey Canady had a career-high 17 tackles at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1). That total is tied for the eighth most in one game by any FCS player this season. Canady is second in the OVC and 19th in the nation with an average of 10.2 tacklers per game. Kiante Northington is third in the conference with 9.8 tackles per game.

Receiving votes: Stony Brook (45), McNeese St. (22), South Dakota (21), Wofford (18), Southern Utah (16), South Carolina St. (14), Tennessee St. (12), Illinois St. (9), Lehigh (8), Kennesaw St. (3), Liberty (2), Monmouth (1), North Carolina Central (1), San Diego (1).

SACK ‘EM Sophomore Aaron Patrick is second in the OVC and 18th in the nation with 0.90 sacks per game.

STATS.com Top 25

HELPING ANYWAY HE CAN True freshman James “LJ” Smith Jr. started the season opener at Purdue as EKU’s slot receiver. Against Pikeville, he was called upon to play quarterback. He caught three passes for 39 yards against the Boilermakers. Against UPike, Smith finished 4-of-5 for 30 yards through the air. He ran eight times for 54 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown. In game three at Ball State, Smith was back at receiver and caught four passes.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

Oct. 10, 2016 Team Record Points Prev North Dakota State 5-0 4000 (160) 1 Sam Houston State 5-0 3762 2 Jacksonville State 4-1 3631 3 Eastern Washington 5-1 3521 4 Chattanooga 6-0 3416 5 Richmond 5-1 3051 6 James Madison 5-1 2969 7 Citadel 5-0 2758 9 Charleston Southern 3-2 2748 8 Montana 4-1 2562 10 South Dakota State 3-2 2257 12 Western Illinois 4-1 2098 13 Villanova 5-1 2050 14 Youngstown State 4-1 1883 15 North Carolina A&T 4-1 1487 18 Coastal Carolina 3-2 1350 17 Albany 4-1 1223 16 Eastern Illinois 4-2 1220 19 Cal Poly 3-2 963 21 Harvard 4-0 951 22 UNI 2-3 926 11 North Dakota 4-2 764 24 Central Arkansas 4-1 630 25 Samford 4-1 337 NR Grambling State 4-1 326 NR

Receiving votes: N.H (269), Stony Brook (148), McNeese (145), Illinois St. (114), Tenn. St. (105), Sacred Heart (45), Southern Utah (42), S.D. (38), Lehigh (37), William & Mary (25), Indiana St. (16), Stephen F. Austin (16), Fordham (15), Missouri St. (14), Nicholls (13), Northern Ariz. (12), Eastern Ky. (12), Wofford (11), Penn (10), Monmouth (10), San Diego (6), Kennesaw St. (5), N.C. Central (4), Weber St. (3), Cornell (2).

“BLOCK”-ING PARTY Devin Borders blocked a field goal attempt and a punt last season. His seven career blocked field goals and 12 career blocked kicks are both OVC records. In the FCS career rankings, he is tied for second on the blocked kicks list and is third on the blocked field goals list. The national FCS records are 17 and 10 respectively. LAST TIME THEY PLAYED An impressive offensive showing propelled Eastern to a 45-21 win over Tennessee State on Oct. 24, 2015. The Colonels dominated the offensive side of the ball from start to finish, scoring on six of their first eight drives. Bennie Coney had four total touchdowns, three through the air and one on the ground. The Colonels racked up 549 yards of total offense, compared to just 351 by Tennessee State. On EKU’s opening drive, Coney found senior Ben Madon along the left sideline for an impressive 22-yard completion, setting up excellent field position. On the

Ohio Valley Conference Standings Team Tennessee Tech Tennessee State Eastern Illinois Eastern Kentucky Jacksonville State Murray State Southeast Missouri Tennessee-Martin Austin Peay

OVC Overall 1-0 1.000 1-1 .500 0-0 .000 2-0 1.000 0-0 .000 1-1 .500 0-0 .000 1-1 .500 0-0 .000 1-1 .500 0-0 .000 0-2 .000 0-0 .000 0-2 .000 0-0 .000 0-2 .000 0-1 .000 0-2 .000

Preseason Poll (Media) Order of Finish 1. Jacksonville State (16) 2. Eastern Kentucky 3. Eastern Illinois 4. Tennessee-Martin 5. Southeast Missouri 6. Tennessee State 7. Murray State 8. Tennessee Tech 9. Austin Peay

Points 144 119 112 99 66 65 56 38 21

Preseason Poll (Coaches/SIDs) Order of Finish Points 1. Jacksonville State (16) 128 2. Eastern Kentucky 100 3. Eastern Illinois (2) 97 4. Tennessee-Martin 96 5. Southeast Missouri 66 6. Tennessee State 55 7. Tennessee Tech 45 8. Murray State 43 9. Austin Peay 18 very next play, Devin Borders caught a 12-yard pass to make it first-and-10 from the 16. A few plays later on third-and-seven, Coney scrambled to find Bryan Green wide open in the end zone. The Tigers marched down the field with ease to make it first-and-goal from the nine yard line. On 3rdand-goal, Kiante Northington made the biggest defensive stop of the game by picking off Ronald Butler’s touchdown attempt. On the next Colonels’ defensive series, Noah Spence recorded a sack on 3rd-and-9, setting up Eastern with the ball on its own 20. The next offensive play, Ethan Thomas found a hole up the middle to break loose for an 80-yard touchdown run to make the score 17-0 going into the half. The Colonels did not miss a beat coming out of halftime. On the opening drive of the third quarter, Coney connected with Green from the EKU 35 for a 45-yard pass on third-and-four. A Joel Brown reception a couple plays later made it first-and-goal. This led to a Green touchdown catch to give the Colonels a 24-0 lead. The Colonels found the end zone three more times: A 12-yard rush by Coney, a four yard pass by Coney to

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL Borders, and an 11-yard rush by Jared Sanders late in the fourth quarter. A Trey Thomas interception with 1:09 in the fourth quarter ended the Homecoming victory in style. Coney finished 27-of-41 for 292 yards. Green led the Colonels in receiving with nine catches for 122 yards. Eastern was led in rushing by Thomas, who had 18 carries for 149 yards and one touchdown. The Colonels dominated the running game, outrushing Tennessee State 148-21 in the first half, and 256-129 overall. The defensive combo of Thomas and sophomore Kobie Grace led the Colonels with nine tackles each. Spence and Marquise Piton each recorded a sack for Eastern. Quarterback Ronald Butler was 23-of-37 for 222 Eastern Kentucky Quick Facts THE UNIVERSITY Location (Enrollment): .......................... Richmond, Ky. (16,954) Founded: .......................................................................... 1906 Colors: ............................................ Maroon (PMS 209) & White Nickname: ................................................................... Colonels National Affiliation: ...................................... NCAA Division FCS Conference: .................... Ohio Valley (Founding Member 1948) President: ................................................... Dr. Michael Benson Director of Athletics: ................................ Stephen Lochmueller Senior Woman Administrator: ....................... Lindsey McKaskle Athletics Department Phone: ........................... (859) 622-2120 Stadium (Capacity): ........................ Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) Surface: ..................................................... Synthetic (2009) Press Box Phone: ......................................... (859) 622-2226 COACHING STAFF Head Coach: ............... Mark Elder (Case Western Reserve, 2000) Assistant HC/OL: ........................ Terry Heffernan (Dayton, 2003) Defensive Coord.: ........................ Kurt Mattix (Valparaiso, 1999) Offensive Coord.: ............ Angelo Mirando (Case Western, 2008) Co-Defensive Coord./DBs: ... Shannon Morrison (Marshall, 1995) Linebackers: ............................... Chase Gibson (Marshall, 2007) Wide Receivers: ........................... Kevin Koger (Michigan, 2012) Special Teams/RBs: ................. Greg Meyer (Case Western, 2010) Defensive Line: ...................... Walter Stewart (Cincinnati, 2012) Tight Ends/OTs: ............... Tommy Zagorski (Case Western, 2007) Recruiting Coordinator: ...... Brandon Lawson (Tennessee, 2013) Strength & Conditioning: ... Jon-Michael Davis (App State, 2000) Associate Athletic Trainer: ....... Tim Miesmer (Central Fla., 2007) Dir. of Operations: .............. Kevin Cristello (Morehead St., 2006) 2016 TEAM INFORMATION Offense/Defense: ............................................. Spread/Multiple Offensive Starters Returning/Lost: ....................................... 6/5 Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: ...................................... 3/8 Specialist Returning/Lost: ................................................... 4/3 Lettermen Returning: ..................... 54 (28 off., 18 def., 8 spec.) Lettermen Lost: .............................. 45 (18 off., 24 def., 3 spec.) EKUSports Communications Asst. AD/Communications (FB Contact): ............... Kevin Britton Office Phone: ............................................... (859) 622-2006 Office Fax: ................................................... (859) 622-5108 Cell Phone: .................................................. (859) 358-8359 E-Mail: ............................................ [email protected] Associate Director: .................................................... Steve Fohl Assistant Director: ......................................... Brandon Johnson EKU Athletics Web Site: ............................ www.EKUSports.com Ohio Valley Conf. Web Site: ...................... www.OVCSports.com Overnight Mailing: .......... EKU Athletics, 521 Lancaster Avenue, 115 Alumni Coliseum, Richmond, KY 40475

yards for Tennessee State. TWO 100-YARD RECEIVERS Two Colonels finished with 100 receiving yards at Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1). Devin Borders had nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Markush had seven receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. MAUK GOES LONG Playing in just his second game of the season, Maty Mauk threw for a season-high 285 yards while completing 19-of-32 passes at Ball State (Sept. 17). He hooked up with Devin Borders for a 28-yard scoring pass. Eight of Mauk’s 19 completions were for 15 yards or more. Five of his final six went for between 27 and 46 yards. 1ST CAREER WIN The Colonels gave Mark Elder his first career coaching victory when they defeated Pikeville, 55-14. 8 IS GREAT EKU forced eight turnovers (four interceptions, four fumble recoveries) against Pikeville (Sept. 8). It is the most turnovers forced by the Colonels since Murray State committed seven on Nov. 5, 2005. OVERCOMING ADVERSITY Due to injuries, EKU played Pikeville (Sept. 8) without its top two quarterbacks (Bennie Coney & Maty Mauk) and two of its top five running backs (Ethan Thomas & Kentayvus Hopkins). After Tyler Swafford left the game, Mark Elder was forced to use fourth-string quarterback James Smith Jr. against the Bears. PICK SIX CLUB Kiante Northington, Corey Glass and Luder Jean Louis each had an interception return for a touchdown against Pikeville (Sept. 8). Eastern is tied for first in the nation with three defensive touchdowns this season. 1ST HALF OFFENSE Eastern Kentucky had 284 yards of total offense in the first half at Purdue (Sept. 3). The Colonels out-gained the Boilermakers 123 to 85 on the ground in the first half, had five more first downs and converted six more third downs. 1ST INTERCEPTION Newcomer Nigel Bethel made his first interception as a Colonel against Purdue (Sept. 3). The junior had one interception in two seasons at Texas Tech. TACKLING THE OPPOSITION Redshirt senior Kiante Northington had a game-best 11 tackles at Purdue (Sept. 3). 1ST CAREER TOUCHDOWN PASS Late in the fourth quarter at Purdue (Sept. 3), redshirt sophomore Tyler Swafford threw his first career touchdown pass. Swafford connected with newcomer Camer-

2016 Preseason & In-Season Honors/Awards 2016 Kentucky Collegiate All-Commonwealth Team Justin Adekoya .......................................... May 11 Kiante Northington .................................. May 11 Avery Pitt ..................................................... May 11 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Justin Adekoya .......................................... July 18 Lucas Williams ............................................ July 18 Keith Wrzuszczak ...................................... July 18 Preseason All-America by STATS Keith Wrzuszczak (2nd team) ........... August 1 Preseason All-America by CollegeSportsMadness Keith Wrzuszczak (1st team) ............. August 8 Preseason All-OVC by CollegeSportsMadness Justin Adekoya (1st team) ................. August 8 Lucas Williams (1st team) .................. August 8 Keith Wrzuszczak (1st team) ............. August 8 Ethan Thomas (2nd team) ................. August 8 Dan Crimmins (2nd team) ................. August 8 Z Stephenson (2nd team) .................. August 8 Kobie Grace (2nd team) ..................... August 8 Kiante Northington (2nd team) ...... August 8 Bennie Coney (3rd team) ................... August 8 Devin Borders (3rd team) .................. August 8 Avery Pitt (3rd team) ........................... August 8 Thomas Owens (3rd team) ................ August 8 Preseason All-America by Hero Sports Keith Wrzuszczak (2nd team) ......... August 17 FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List by College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) Bennie Coney ....................................... August 23 _____________________________________ Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week Devin Borders (Co-) ..................................... Oct. 9

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

EKU Career Passing Leaders 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Player T.J. Pryor (2009-12) Josh Greco (2004-07) Jim Guice (1965-68) Allan Holland (2006-08) Bennie Coney (2014-) Ernie House (1974-77) Lorenzo Fields (1987-90) Chris Isaac (1978-81) Mike Whitaker (1985-86) Jared McClain (2011-14)

Yds 7,300 5,992 5,041 4,695 4,616 4,011 3,819 3,611 3,371 3,266

Att 960 874 739 692 651 506 498 456 474 481

Com 540 478 401 416 386 258 260 226 266 274

TD 51 41 46 26 38 32 31 16 22 21

EKU Career Receiving Leaders Player Yds 1. Andre Ralston (2002-05) 3,095 2. Rondel Menendez (1995-98) 2,990 3. Bobby Washington (1994-97) 2,435 4. Aaron Marsh (1964-67) 2,246 5. Alex Bannister (1997-00) 2,146 6. Steve Bird (1979-82) 2,056 7. Elmo Boyd (1973-76) 1,931 8. Patrick Bugg (2002-06) 1,856 9. Tyrone Goard (2009-12) 1,842 10. Devin Borders (2013-) 1,817

Rec 165 150 154 147 144 112 119 112 100 137

Avg 21.3 19.3 16.0 14.2 14.9 20.6 16.4 17.5 18.4 13.3

TD 24 27 16 24 22 18 12 23 24 20

on Fogle from two yards out. GO FOR TWO! Neiko Creamer’s two-point conversion in the first quarter at Purdue (Sept. 3) was Eastern’s first two-point conversion since Nov. 15, 2014 against Murray State. FBS SUCCESS Eastern has played well against FBS teams in recent years. In addition to beating Miami (Ohio) 17-10 in 2014, the Colonels have lost close games at Indiana (1913), Louisville (23-13), Kansas State (10-7) and at Kentucky (34-27 OT) last season. EKU trailed Purdue by just 10 points in the fourth quarter this season. NATIONAL PRESEASON POLLS Eastern was ranked 22nd in the CollegeSportsMadness preseason poll and was just outside the top-25 in the preseason FCS Coaches Poll (No. 27) and the preseason STATS Poll (No. 29). CONSENSUS NO. 2 PICK Eastern Kentucky was picked to finish second in the OVC this season in the annual media poll and in the poll conducted by coaches and media relations contacts. 3-TIME PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN Punter Keith Wrzuszczak was chosen as a preseason All-American by three organizations -- CollegeSportsMadness (first team), Hero Sports (second team) and STATS (second team).

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 5 17-5 IN THE SEC Newcomer Maty Mauk had a 17-5 record as a starting quarterback in the Southeastern Conference at Missouri. He threw for 4,373 yards and 42 touchdowns in 32 games over three seasons. He finished his redshirt sophomore season in 2014 by posting a passer rating over 100.0 in each of the final seven games of the season. RETURNING STARTERS Eastern Kentucky returns just six offensive starters and three defensive starters from last season’s team that finished 6-5 overall and fourth in the OVC standings. LOT OF NEW FACES Eastern welcomes 44 new players to the team in 2016. IN THE BOX This season, offensive coordinator Angelo Mirando, tight ends coach Tommy Zagorski, defensive coordinator Kurt Mattix and co-defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach Shannon Morrison will be in the coaches booth during games. SPENCE TO STAR FOR TAMPA Noah Spence, the 39th pick in the 2016 draft, is expected to make an immediate impact for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The All-American finished with 11.5 sacks during the 2015 season, fourth on Eastern’s single season sacks list. Spence had a team-best 22.5 tackles for a loss. He finished fifth in the nation with 1.05 sacks and fourth with 2.0 tackles for a loss per game. IN THE LEAGUE Former EKU punter Jordan Berry is in his second season as the punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The native of Victoria, Australia was a Colonel from 2009 to 2013. 3 PICKED ALL-OVC BY COACHES Three Colonels – offensive tackle Justin Adekoya, kicker Lucas Williams and punter Keith Wrzuszczak – were chosen to the Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team by league coaches and media relations contacts. 12 CHOSEN PRESEASON ALL-OVC CollegeSportsMadness put 12 Colonels on its preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference teams. Justin Adekoya (OL), Lucas Williams (K) and Keith Wrzuszczak (P) were first team selections. Ethan Thomas (RB), Dan Crimmins (TE), Z Stephenson (C), Kobie Grace (DB) and Kiante Northington (PR) were second team choices. Bennie Coney (QB), Devin Borders (WR), Thomas Owens (LB) and Avery Pitt (DL) were chosen to the third team. WELCOME TO THE HALL Three former Colonel football players were among the group of nine inducted into the Eastern Kentucky University Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 8. Those three were David Flores (1977-80), Chuck Siemon (1963-68) and Dale Patton (1976-80).

THE LAST TIME AN EKU PLAYER ... Rushed 30 times in a game Dy’Shawn Mobley vs. MUR on Nov. 15, 2014 (40) Rushed for 200 yards Dy’Shawn Mobley vs. MUR on Nov. 15, 2014 (224) Rushed for 150 yards Dy’Shawn Mobley vs. MUR on Nov. 15, 2014 (224) Rushed for 100 yards Jared Sanders vs. Pikeville on Sept. 8, 2016 (100) Rushed for 100 yards in cons. games Dy’Shawn Mobley on Oct. 11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, 2014 Rushed for 3 or more touchdowns Dy’Shawn Mobley vs. MUR on Nov. 15, 2014 (5) Passed for 400 yards Bennie Coney at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (464) Passed for 300 yards Bennie Coney vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (337) Attempted 50 passes Bennie Coney at Murray State on Nov. 14, 2015 (68) Attempted 40 passes Bennie Coney at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (49) Threw 5 touchdown passes Bennie Coney vs. Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 7, 2015 (5) Threw 4 touchdown passes Bennie Coney vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (4) Threw 3 touchdown passes Bennie Coney vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (4) Had 400 yards total offense Bennie Coney at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (459) Accounted for 5 or more touchdowns Dy’Shawn Mobley vs. MUR on Nov. 15, 2014 (6) Accounted for 4 or more touchdowns Bennie Coney vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (4) Accounted for 3 or more touchdowns Bennie Coney vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (4) Caught 10 or more passes Orlandus Harris at Chattanooga on Sept. 18, 2010 (10) Caught 7 or more passes Devin Borders vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (7) Had 200 or more yards receiving Orlandus Harris at Tennessee Tech on Nov. 13, 2010 (200) Had 150 or more yards receiving Jeff Glover vs. Murray State on Nov. 15, 2014 (161) Had 100 or more yards receiving Devin Borders (119) vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 Caught 3 or more touchdown passes Devin Borders vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (3) Had 2 interceptions Stanley Absanon (2) vs. Indiana State on Nov. 29, 2014 Had 15 or more tackles Jeffrey Canady (17) at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL

Depth Chart (As Of Oct. 10, 2016)

OFFENSE

DEFENSE

QB 4 or 7 or 14

Bennie Coney (6-2, 223, r-Sr., Plant City, Fla.) Maty Mauk (6-0, 210, Sr., Kenton, Ohio) Tyler Swafford (6-1, 196, r-So., Brentwood, Tenn.)

RB

2 20

Jared Sanders (5-7, 157, r-Sr., Hallandale, Fla.) Ethan Thomas (5-11, 203, So., Johnson City, Tenn.)

LT

79 78

Justin Adekoya (6-5, 308, r-Sr., Ringgold, Ga.) Justin Myles (6-3, 287, r-So., Cincinnati, Ohio)

LG

62 61

Ryan Garretson (6-5, 314, r-Sr., Russellville, Tenn.) Landon Rasnick (6-4, 280, r-Sr., Orange, Va.)

C

65 62

Z Stephenson, (6-2, 280, So., Bloomington, Ind.) Ryan Garretson (6-5, 314, r-Sr., Russellville, Tenn.)

RG 66 or 75

Chance Edwards (6-5, 318, r-Jr., Webster, Fla.) De’jour Simpson (6-3, 338, Fr., Charlotte, N.C.)

RT

64 78

Cameron Kowalewski (6-5, 272, r-So., Dallas, Ga.) Justin Myles (6-3, 287, r-So., Cincinnati, Ohio)

18 43 or 89

Dan Crimmins (6-5, 249, r-Sr., Closter, N.J.) Dan Paul (6-3, 240, r-So., Naples, Fla.) Clayton Schmerber (6-6, 241, So., Centerville, Ohio)

TE

WR

88 11

SL

84 16 or 8

Devin Borders (6-6, 217, r-Sr., Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) Neiko Creamer (6-3, 222, r-So., Wilmington, Del.) Cameron Fogle (5-11, 203, r-Jr., Hebron, Ky.) James Smith Jr. (5-11, 170, Fr., (Charlotte, N.C.) Bryan Green (5-11, 206, R-Sr., Farmington, Mich.)

DE

44 98

Aaron Patrick (6-4, 227, So., Dayton, Ohio) Luder Jean Louis (6-4, 210, r-Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.)

DT

40 91

Patrick Graffree (6-4, 292, r-Sr., Elizabethtown, Ky.) Sheldon Fleming (6-3, 247, r-Jr., Lehigh Acres, Fla.)

DT

97 95

Avery Pitt (6-3, 293, r-Sr., Henderson, Ky.) Kagen Skidmore (6-2, 294, Jr., Somerset, Ky.)

DE

96 55

Xavier Garcia (6-3, 250, Sr., Austin, Texas) Taquan Evans (6-2, 224, r-Fr., Douglasville, Ga.)

LB 45 or 5

Corey Glass (5-10, 216, So., Jacksonville, Fla.) Dwight Williams (6-1, 199, r-So., Compton, Calif.)

LB

53 48

Jeffrey Canady (6-0, 233, r-Jr., Barbourville, Ky.) Kamaree’ Walden (5-11, 226, r-So., Columbus, Ohio)

NB

29 12

Ben Bascom (5-9, 178, r-Fr., Apoka, Fla.) Cornelius Floyd (5-11, 176, Jr., Miami, Fla.)

LCB 1 36

Nigel Bethel II (5-9, 187, Jr., Miami, Fla.) Omari Alexander (5-10, 168, Fr., Louisville, Ky.)

RCB 24 32

Jared Tucker (5-11, 175, r-So., Stone Mountain, Ga.) Buck Solomon (6-0, 180, Jr., Groveland, Fla.)

LS

38 25

Kobie Grace (5-9, 190, Jr., Winter Park, Fla.) Tre’ Moore (5-9, 195, So., Indianapolis, Ind.)

RS

13 41

Kiante Northington (5-10, 183, r-Sr., Louisville, Ky.) Eric Reed (5-9, 194, r-Jr., Nashville, Tenn.)

WR

9 82

Ryan Markush (6-2, 183, Jr., Germantown, Md.) Alex Cabrera (6-0, 178, Fr., Melbourne, Fla.)

KO

93 76

Zack Burgy-VanHoose (6-2, 204, r-Sr., Pikeville, Ky.) Lucas Williams (6-1, 210, r-Jr., Russell Springs, Ky.)

LS 46 or 58

Ben Hoffman (6-2, 214, Fr., Farragut, Tenn.) Matt Howard (5-11, 201, r-Jr., Berea, Ky.)

PK

76 93

Lucas Williams (6-1, 199, r-Jr., Russell Springs, Ky.) Zack Burgy-VanHoose (6-2, 204, r-Sr., Pikeville, Ky.)

HO

19 14

Keith Wrzuszczak (5-11, 202, Jr., Victoria, Australia) Tyler Swafford (6-1, 196, r-So., Brentwood, Tenn.)

P

19 76

Keith Wrzuszczak (5-11, 202, Jr., Victoria, Australia) Lucas Williams (6-1, 199, r-Jr., Russell Springs, Ky.)

KR

2 1

Jared Sanders (5-7, 157, r-Sr., Hallandale, Fla.) Nigel Bethel (5-9, 187, Jr., Miami, Fla.)

PR

13 2

Kiante Northington (5-10, 183, r-Sr., Louisville, Ky.) Jared Sanders (5-7, 157, r-Sr., Hallandale, Fla.)

SPECIAL TEAMS

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL

HEAD COACH Mark Elder Mark Elder was chosen as EKU’s new head football coach on Dec. 8, 2015. Elder served as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at the University of Tennessee since 2013. “I’m excited, blessed and honored for the opportunity to lead one of the most tradition rich programs in college football,” Elder said. “It didn’t take me long to realize that this is a special place. Lindsey and I look forward to becoming a part of the Richmond community.” Elder is the 14th head coach in program history. “It is humbling to have the opportunity to lead the same program that legendary coach Roy Kidd built into a national powerhouse,” said Elder. “It’s important to me that we maintain the standards, both on and off the field, that coach Kidd established during his Hall of Fame career.” Over his past 11 seasons as an assistant coach, Elder has helped his teams reach nine bowl games and win four conference championships. In 2014 he was ranked as one of the top-50 recruiters in the nation. In 2015 he was recognized as one of the top-25 recruiters. As a member of Butch Jones’ inaugural staff, the Cincinnati native helped lead the revitalization of Volunteer football over the past three seasons. He helped UT to an 9-4 record in 2015 and a second place finish in the Southeastern Conference East Division with a 5-3 mark. It was Tennessee’s first winning record in SEC play since 2007. The Volunteers beat Northwestern in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. In just their second season in Knoxville, Elder helped Jones and the Vols to a 7-6 mark in 2014 and a 45-28 victory over Iowa in the TaxSlayer Bowl. It was Tennessee’s first winning record in five seasons and first bowl win since the end of the 2007 campaign. “Eastern Kentucky has not only hired an outstanding football coach, but an even better person, teacher, mentor and motivator in Mark Elder,” said Jones. “I would like to congratulate and also thank Mark for nine great years. I am very excited for the opportunity he, his wife Lindsey and son Owen are about to take on and I wish them all the best at Eastern Kentucky.”

The Elder File PERSONAL Hometown ............................................................................. Cincinnati, Ohio Family ..................................................................................... Wife - Lindsey, Children - Owen EDUCATION Undergraduate ....................... Case Western Reserve (2000) - B.S. Economics Graduate ........... Akron (2001) - M.S. Education In Sports Science & Coaching ASSISTANT COACHING EXPERIENCE Year School Coaching Position 2000-01 Akron Defensive Graduate Assistant 2002 Lehigh Asst. Linebackers Coach 2003 Iona Defensive Coord./Linebackers 2004 Wayne State Defensive Coord./ Linebackers 2005-06 Michigan Defensive Quality Control/GA 2007-09 Central Michigan Linebackers Coach 2010-12 Cincinnati TEs, RBs, Special Teams, DBs 2013-15 Tennessee Special Teams/Tight Ends HEAD COACHING EXPERIENCE Year School 2016 Eastern Kentucky Totals Seven Seasons

Overall 2-3 2-3

OVC 1-1 1-1

Notes 2000 MAC East Co-Champions 18th nationally scoring defense 1st winning season since 1993 Alamo Bowl & Rose Bowl 2x MAC Champs, 3 bowl games 2x Big East Champs, 2 bowl wins 2 bowl wins Notes

NOTABLE - Over past 11 seasons as an assistant, has helped his teams reach nine bowl games - 2014 national top-50 recruiter - 2015 national top-25 recruiter

Elder helped the University of Michigan reach bowl games as a defensive graduate assistant in 2005 and 2006. He then joined Jones’ first staff at Central Michigan University. Elder coached the Chippewa linebackers for three seasons (2007-09). During that time, CMU qualified for three bowl appearances and won two Mid-American Conference titles. When Jones made the jump to the University of Cincinnati before the 2010 season, Elder joined the Bearcat staff as the tight ends coach. He also coached running backs, safeties and special teams at various times. The duo found similar success at UC, winning two Big East Conference Championships and getting Cincinnati into two bowl games. In 2015, Elder’s guidance helped Tennessee lead the nation in kickoff returns (33.41 ypr) and rank fourth in punt returns (17.18 ypr). The Volunteers had the second best kickoff return defense in the SEC and 14th-best in the nation (18.24 ypg). UT’s Evan Berry led the nation, and broke the UT record, with an average of

38.3 yards per kickoff return. Cameron Sutton led the country with an average of 18.7 yards per punt return. Berry was second nationally with three kickoff returns for touchdowns while Sutton was second with two punt returns for touchdowns. Sutton also broke a 46-year-old program record for punt return yards in a season. Trevor Daniel was eighth in the nation with an average of 45.7 yards per punt, setting a new school record. Tight end Ethan Wolf caught 23 passes, including at least one catch in each of the first 11 games of the season, for 301 yards. He hauled in two touchdown receptions and averaged 13.1 yards per reception. Elder’s tight ends also helped UT average 223.7 yards per game on the ground, the second best total in the SEC. In 2014, Elder mentored placekicker Aaron Medley as he made 20-of-26 field goals, the second-most among freshmen in the nation. Tennessee ranked 11th nationally in punt return defense (3.23 ypr) and 14th in kickoff return average (24.03 ypr). In his first season in Knoxville, Elder

2016 EKU FOOTBALL helped punter/placekicker Michael Palardy become a semi-finalist for the prestigious Ray Guy Award. While coaching the running backs at Cincinnati in 2011 Elder tutored Isaiah Pead, the Big East Offensive Player of the Year and the first Bearcat in nearly 25 years to record consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. UC led the Big East in rushing and averaged 33.3 points per game. Cincinnati capped the season with a victory over Vanderbilt in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In 2010, Elder guided tight end Ben Guidugli to second team All-Big East honors. In three seasons at Central Michigan, Elder produced an all-conference linebacker each year. Red Keith finished his career with 474 tackles, the second-most in CMU history and seventh-most in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history. Elder worked with All-Big Ten linebackers David Harris and Shawn Crable at Michigan. In 2006 the Wolverine defense led the nation in rushing yards allowed (43.4 ypg) and ranked 10th in total defense (268.3 ypg). Elder also served as the defensive coordinator at Wayne State (2004) and Iona (2003). He was assistant coach at Lehigh in 2002 and a graduate assistant with Akron in 2000 and 2001. Elder graduated cum laude with a degree in economics from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio in 2000. He earned a master’s degree in education in sports science and coaching from Akron in 2001.

Mark Elder vs. All Opponents Team Record Austin Peay ....................................................... 0-0 Ball State ............................................................ 0-1 Eastern Illinois .................................................. 0-0 Jacksonville State ........................................... 0-0 Murray State ..................................................... 0-0 Pikeville .............................................................. 1-0 Purdue ................................................................ 0-1 Southeast Missouri ........................................ 1-0 Tennessee-Martin ........................................... 0-0 Tennessee State .............................................. 0-0 Tennessee Tech ............................................... 0-1 TOTAL ................................................................ 2-3

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 8

THE LAST TIME EASTERN KENTUCKY ... Had 20 or more first downs vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (26) Had 400 yards rushing at Robert Morris on Aug. 28, 2014 (407) Had 300 yards rushing vs. Murray State on Nov. 15, 2014 (328) Had 50 or more rushing attempts vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (52) Had 5 or more rushing TDs vs. Murray State on Nov. 15, 2014 (5) Had 4 or more rushing TDs vs. Valparaiso on Sept. 3, 2015 (4) Had 400 yards passing at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (464) Had 350 yards passing at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (464) Had 300 yards passing vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (337) Had 50 pass attempts at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (50) Completed 40 passes at Murray State on Nov. 14, 2015 (44) Completed 30 passes at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (32) Had 5 TDs passing vs. Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 7, 2015 (5) Had 4 TDs passing vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (4) Had 3 TDs passing vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (4) Had 600 yards total offense vs. Tennessee Tech on Oct. 8, 2015 (629) Had 500 yards total offense vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (527) Had 80 total plays vs. Southeast Missouri on Oct. 8, 2016 (89) Scored 70 points never Scored 60 points vs. Glenville State on Oct. 6, 2001 (60) Scored 50 points vs. Pikeville on Sept. 8, 2016 (55) Scored 40 points at Murray State on Nov. 14, 2015 (41) Committed no turnovers at Southeast Missouri on Oct. 17, 2015 Had two 100-yd. rushers at Tennessee State on Nov. 1, 2014 (Dy’Shawn Mobley, 139; Jared McClain, 139) Had two 100-yd. receivers at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (Devin Borders, 121; Ryan Markush, 104) Returned a punt for TD vs. APSU on Nov. 20, 2010 (Jeremy Caldwell) Returned a KO for TD vs. Missouri State on Sept. 10, 2011 (Jeremy Caldwell – 88 yards) Returned an INT for TD vs. Austin Peay on Sept. 8, 2016 (Kiante Northington – 12 yards, Corey Glass – 54 yards, Luder Jean Louis – 0 yards)

Returned a fumble for TD at Tennessee State on Nov. 1, 2014 (Devin Borders – 33 yards) Returned a blocked punt for TD at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 21, 2015 (Tyrell Curry – 35 yards) Blocked a punt at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 21, 2015 (LaJuan Smith) Blocked a FG at North Carolina State on Sept. 12, 2015 (Devin Borders) Blocked a PAT at Jacksonville State on Nov. 9, 2013 (Devin Borders) Missed a PAT at Kentucky on Oct. 3, 2015 (Lucas Williams) Had a punt blocked at Jacksonville State on Nov. 9, 2013 Had a FG blocked vs. Murray State on Nov. 15, 2014 Was held scoreless at Jacksonville State, Oct. 31, 2015 (34-0) Was held scoreless at home vs. Jacksonville St. on Sept. 30, 2006 (28-0) Held an opponent scoreless at Austin Peay on Oct. 4, 2014 (31-0) Held an oppt. scoreless at home vs. Tennessee State on Nov. 2, 2013 (44-0) Held an oppt. to 10 first downs vs. Tennessee State on Nov. 2, 2013 (10) Held an oppt. to 300 yards total offense vs. Pikeville on Sept. 8, 2016 (263) Held an oppt. to 200 yards total offense at Southeast Missouri on Oct. 17, 2014 (191) Held an oppt. to 150 yards total offense vs. Austin Peay on Oct. 5, 2013 (108) Held an oppt. to 100 yards rushing vs. Tennessee Tech on Oct. 8, 2015 (63) Held an oppt. to 50 yards rushing at Southeast Missouri on Oct. 17, 2015 (31) Held an opponent to 100 yards passing at Eastern Illinois on Nov. 21, 2015 (72) Held an opponent without a TD at Austin Peay on Oct. 4, 2014 Scored an offensive 2-pt. conversion at Purdue on Sept. 3, 2016 Scored a defensive 2-pt. conversion vs. Morehead State on Sept. 13, 2014 Had 10 or more penalties at Ball State on Sept. 17, 2016 (13) Had 100 penalty yards at Ball State on Sept. 17, 2016 (128) Had 35 minutes ToP at Murray State on Nov. 14, 2015 (36:37) Played an OT game at Tennessee Tech on Oct. 1, 2016 (L, 33-30) Scored a safety vs. Eastern Illinois on Oct. 11, 2014

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL

NUMERICAL ROSTER

ALPHABETICAL ROSTER No. 79 36 42 71 29 33 90 1 88 34 7 39 93 82 53 67 87 50 35 4 11 18 92 66 6 55 91 12 85 84 70 96 62 45 38 40 8 37 28 99 46 22 47 58 52 31 98

Name Pos. Justin Adekoya OL Omari Alexander DB Rhyan Baker CB Jackson Bardall OL Ben Bascom DB Arien Beasley WR Josiah Bennett DL Nigel Bethel II DB Devin Borders WR Demontre Boyd LB Tim Boyle QB Bo Brooks RB Nathan Brown WR Zack Burgy-VanHoose K Alex Cabrera WR Jeffrey Canady LB Nick Cavinee OL Matt Clark WR Devante Colton LB TJ Comstock DB Bennie Coney QB Neiko Creamer WR Dan Crimmins TE Scott Daniel WR Dillon Denault DL Chance Edwards OL Henry Enyenihi RB Brentton Ervin LB Taquan Evans DE Sheldon Fleming DL Cornelius Floyd DB Jon Floyd TE Cameron Fogle WR Connor Foos DL Xavier Garcia DE Ryan Garretson OL Corey Glass LB Kobie Grace DB Patrick Graffree DL Bryan Green WR Raynaldy Gustave RB Nate Hatcher DB Samuel Hayworth K/P Jeremy Hodowanic DL Ben Hoffman LS Kentayvus Hopkins RB Dylan Hornsby K Matt Howard LS Caperton Humphrey LB AJ Jackson DB Luder Jean Louis DL Derius Jones WR

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 55 56

Player Nigel Bethel II Jared Sanders Thomas Owens Bennie Coney Dwight Williams Henry Enyenihi Tim Boyle Maty Mauk Bryan Green Ryan Markush Jordan Whitfield Neiko Creamer Cornelius Floyd Kiante Northington Tyler Swafford Austin Scott James “LJ” Smith Jr. Jacky Marcellus Dan Crimmins Keith Wrzuszczak Ethan Thomas Logan Oce Kentayvus Hopkins Daryl McCleskey Jr. Jared Tucker Tre’ Moore Jamarcus Whitmore Khylil Miller Samuel Hayworth Ben Bascom Ralph Patton AJ Jackson Buck Solomon Arien Beasley Demontre Boyd TJ Comstock Omari Alexander Raynaldy Gustave Kobie Grace Bo Brooks Patrick Graffree Eric Reed Rhyan Baker Dan Paul Aaron Patrick Corey Glass Ben Hoffman Dylan Hornsby Kamaree’Walden Damon Lowe Devante Colton Quinton Locklear Caperton Humphrey Jeffrey Canady Taquan Evans LaJuan Smith

Pos. DB WR/RB LB QB LB RB QB QB WR WR DB WR DB DB QB QB QB WR TE P RB CB RB RB DB DB DB DB K/P DB RB DB DB WR LB DB DB RB DB RB DL DB CB TE DL LB LS K LB LB LB LB LB LB DE DL

Ht. 5-9 5-7 5-10 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-4 6-0 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-3 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-11 5-8 6-5 5-11 5-11 5-11 5-11 5-9 5-11 5-9 5-10 6-1 5-11 5-9 5-9 5-11 6-0 5-8 6-1 5-11 5-10 5-7 5-9 5-8 6-4 5-9 5-9 6-3 6-4 5-10 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-2 6-2

Wt. 187 157 230 223 199 215 226 210 206 183 185 222 176 183 196 221 170 180 255 202 203 177 185 179 175 195 173 181 168 178 188 175 180 185 187 197 168 181 190 195 292 194 178 240 227 216 214 151 226 242 220 218 207 233 224 219

Cl. Jr. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-So. Sr. Sr. Sr. R-Sr. Jr. Jr. R-So. Jr. R-Sr. R-So. Fr. Fr. R-Jr. R-Sr. Jr. So. R-Jr. R-Jr. Fr. R-So. So. Fr. Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. R-So. Fr. Jr. So. So. Fr. Fr. R-So. Jr. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-Jr. R-Fr. R-So. So. So. Fr. Fr. R-So. Fr. Fr. Fr. Fr. R-Jr. R-Fr. R-Sr.

Hometown (Previous School) Miami, Fla. (Texas Tech University) Hallandale, Fla. (Hallandale HS) Cincinnati, Ohio (Winton Woods HS) Plant City, Fla. (University of Cincinnati) Compton, Calif. (UCLA) Lawrenceville, Ga. (University of Illinois) Middlefield, Conn. (University of Connecticut) Kenton, Ohio (University of Missouri) Farmington, Mich. (University of Akron) Germantown, Md. (Fullerton College) Huber Heights, Ohio (Wayne HS) Wilmington, Del. (University of Tennessee) Miami, Fla. (University of Arkansas) Louisville, Ky. (Butler HS) Brentwood, Tenn. (Brentwood Academy) Moore, S.C. (Spartanburg HS) Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS) Immokalee, Fla. (West Virginia University) Closter, N.J. (Boston College) Geelong, Victoria, Australia (Oberon HS) Johnson City, Tenn. (Elizabethton HS) Miami, Fla. (Western Michigan University) Paris, Ky. (Bourbon County HS) Dayton, Ohio (Wayne HS) Stone Mountain, Ga. (University of Kentucky) Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central HS) Fayetteville, Ga. (Langston Hughes HS) Thomasville, N.C. (Fork Union Military Academy) Ormond Beach, Fla. (Seabreeze HS) Apopka, Fla. (Apopka HS) Cincinnati, Ohio (Shorter College) Nashville, Tenn. (Cane Ridge HS) Groveland, Fla. (South Lake HS) Louisville, Ky. (North Oldham HS) Louisville, Ky. (Central HS) Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manuel HS) Louisville, Ky. (duPont Manuel HS) Louisville, Ky. (Western Kentucky University) Winter Park, Fla. (West Orange HS) Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay HS) Elizabethtown, Ky. (University of Kentucky) Nashville, Tenn. (Goodpasture Christian School) Louisville, Ky. (Ballard HS) Naples, Fla. (Naples Community HS) Dayton, Ohio (Meadowdale HS) Jacksonville, Fla. (Ed White HS) Farragut, Tenn. (Farragut HS) Richmond, Ky. (Madison Central HS) Columbus, Ohio (Westerville South HS) Louisville, Ky. (Trinity HS) Bowling Green, Ky. (South Warren HS) Sanford, N.C. (Southern Lee HS) Ona, W.Va. (Cabell Midland HS) Barbourville, Ky. (Knox Central HS) Douglasville, Ga. (South Paulding HS) Glasgow, Ky. (Glasgow HS)

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL

No. 58 60 61 62 64 65 66 67 70 71 72 75 76 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 95 96 97 98 99

Player Matt Howard Lucas Williams Landon Rasnick Ryan Garretson Cameron Kowalewski Z Stephenson Chance Edwards Nick Cavinee Connor Foos Jackson Bardall Justin Rawlins De’jour Simpson Lucas Williams Nathan Murray Justin Myles Justin Adekoya Bryson Williams Alex Cabrera Billy Reid Cameron Fogle Jon Floyd Tyler Malone Matt Clark Devin Borders Clayton Schmerber Josiah Bennett Sheldon Fleming Dillon Denault Zack Burgy-VanHoose Kagen Skidmore Xavier Garcia Avery Pitt Luder Jean Louis Jeremy Hodowanic Nathan Brown Scott Daniel Brentton Ervin Nate Hatcher Derius Jones Stephen Jones Isaiah Murph Brandon Peege Aaron Riddick Deondre Tate Antwaun Walker

Pos. LS OL OL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL/LS OL K OL OL OL WR WR WR WR TE TE WR WR TE DL DL DL K DL DE DL DL DL WR WR LB DB WR WR RB K WR WR WR

Ht. 5-11 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-5 6-2 6-5 6-7 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-7 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-0 5-10 5-11 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-6 6-6 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-3 6-0 5-11 5-8 5-10 5-8 6-2 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-1

Wt. 201 319 280 314 272 280 318 263 258 287 274 338 199 333 287 308 200 178 170 203 238 250 205 217 241 281 247 268 204 294 250 293 210 271 175 198 215 186 153 160 215 198 162 200 160

Cl. R-Jr. Fr. R-Sr. R-Sr. R-So. So. R-Jr. Fr. Fr. Fr. R-So. Fr. R-Jr. Fr. R-So. R-Sr. R-Jr. Fr. R-Sr. R-Jr. R-Sr. R-Jr. R-Fr. R-Sr. So. Jr. R-Jr. Fr. R-Sr. Jr. Sr. R-Sr. r-Jr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. R-So. R-Jr. Fr. Fr. R-Fr. R-Fr. Fr. Fr.

Hometown (Previous School) Berea, Ky. (Madison Southern HS) Owensboro, Ky. (Owensboro HS) Orange, Va. (Orange County HS) Russellville, Tenn. (Morristown East HS) Dallas, Ga. (Hillgrove HS) Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington North HS) Webster, Fla. (South Sumter HS) Newark, Ohio (Newark Catholic HS) Louisville, Ky. (Trinity HS) Cumming, Ga. (North Forsyth HS) Lexington, Ky. (Henry Clay HS) Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek HS) Russell Springs, Ky. (Russell County HS) Pineville, Ky. (Bell County HS) Cincinnati, Ohio (Colerain HS) Ringgold, Ga. (Heritage HS) Prestonsburg, Ky. (University of Kentucky) Melbourne, Fla. (Viera HS) Louisville, Ky. (University of Pikeville) Hebron, Ky. (University of Kentucky) Richmond, Ky. (Madison Central HS) Indianapolis, Ind. (Franklin Central HS) Prospect, Ky. (North Oldham HS) Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (Choctawhatchee HS) Centerville, Ohio (Centerville HS) East Stroudsburg, Pa. (Lackawanna College) Lehigh Acres, Fla. (East Lee County HS) Lancaster, Ohio (Lancaster HS) Pikeville, Ky. (Pikeville HS) Somerset, Ky. (Somerset HS) Austin, Texas (New Mexico Military Institute) Henderson, Ky. (Henderson County HS) Brooklyn, N.Y. (Nassau CC) Forney, Texas (Naval Academy Prep School) Florence, Ky. (Cooper HS) Georgetown, Ky. (Scott County HS) Louisville, Ky. (Kentucky State University) Jacksonville, Fla. (Southwest Baptist University) Louisville, Ky. (Kentucky State University) Louisville, Ky. (Central HS) Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton HS) Goshen, Ky. (North Oldham HS) Louisville, Ky. (DuPont Manual HS) Berea, Ky. (Berea HS) Miami, Fla. (Coral Gables HS)

Head Coach: Mark Elder (Case Western Reserve, 2000), first season Assistant Coaches/Staff: Kurt Mattix (Defensive Coordinator), Angelo Mirando (Offensive Coordinator), Shannon Morrison (Co-Defensive Coordinator/DBs), Chase Gibson (Linebackers), Terry Heffernan (Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line), Kevin Koger (Wide Receivers), Greg Meyer (Special Teams/RBs), Walter Stewart (Defensive Line), Tommy Zagorski (Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles), Jon-Michael Davis (Strength & Conditioning), Cory Lanham (Video), Shalyne Walters (Player Development Coordinator), Kevin Cristello (Operations)

Justin Adekoya – ADD-eh-KOY-ah Jackson Bardall – Bar-DOLL Neiko Creamer – CREE-mer Henry Enyenihi – un-YIN-ah-hee Raynaldy Gustave – GOO-stahv

Pronunciation Guide Kentayvus Hopkins – ken-TAY-vus Cameron Kowalewski – KOH-wah-less-skee Ryan Markush – mar-KOOSH Kiante Northington - kee-AHN-tay Keith Wrzuszczak – ROO-sack

No. Name Pos. Stephen Jones WR 64 Cameron Kowalewski OL 51 Quinton Locklear LB 49 Damon Lowe LB 86 Tyler Malone TE 17 Jacky Marcellus WR 9 Ryan Markush WR 7 Maty Mauk QB 23 Daryl McCleskey Jr. RB 27 Khylil Miller DB 25 Tre’ Moore DB Isaiah Murph RB 77 Nathan Murray OL 78 Justin Myles OL 13 Kiante Northington DB 21 Logan Oce CB 3 Thomas Owens LB 44 Aaron Patrick DL 30 Ralph Patton RB 43 Dan Paul TE Brandon Peege K 97 Avery Pitt DL 61 Landon Rasnick OL 72 Justin Rawlins OL/LS 41 Eric Reed DB 83 Billy Reid WR Aaron Riddick WR 2 Jared Sanders WR/RB 89 Clayton Schmerber TE 15 Austin Scott QB 75 De’jour Simpson OL 95 Kagen Skidmore DL 16 James “LJ” Smith Jr. QB 56 LaJuan Smith DL 32 Buck Solomon DB 65 Z Stephenson OL 14 Tyler Swafford QB Deondre Tate WR 20 Ethan Thomas RB 24 Jared Tucker DB 48 Kamaree’ Walden LB Antwaun Walker WR 10 Jordan Whitfield DB 26 Jamarcus Whitmore DB 80 Bryson Williams WR 5 Dwight Williams LB 60 Lucas Williams OL 76 Lucas Williams K 19 Keith Wrzuszczak P

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 11

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

2016 GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS Offense at Purdue Pikeville at Ball State at Tennessee Tech Southeast Missouri at Tennessee State Jacksonville State at Tennessee-Martin Murray State at Austin Peay Eastern Illinois

WR Markush Markush Markush Markush Markush

LT Adekoya Adekoya Adekoya Adekoya Adekoya

LG Garretson Garretson Garretson Garretson Garretson

C Stephenson Stephenson Stephenson Stephenson Stephenson

RG Simpson Simpson Simpson Edwards Edwards

RT Kowalewski Kowalewski Kowalewski Kowalewski Kowalewski

TE Crimmins Crimmins Crimmins Crimmins Crimmins

SL Smith Jr. Fogle Smith Jr. Fogle Fogle

WR Borders Borders Borders Borders Borders

Defense at Purdue Pikeville at Ball State at Tennessee Tech Southeast Missouri at Tennessee State Jacksonville State at Tennessee-Martin Murray State at Austin Peay Eastern Illinois

DE Patrick Patrick Patrick Patrick Patrick

DT Pitt Pitt Pitt Pitt Pitt

DT Graffree Graffree Graffree Graffree Graffree

DE Garcia Garcia Garcia Garcia Garcia

LB Canady Canady Canady Canady Canady

LB Owens Owens Glass Glass Glass

NB Bascom Bascom Bascom Williams (LB) L. Smith (LB)

LCB Solomon Bethel Solomon Tucker Bethel

RCB Bethel Tucker Tucker Bethel Tucker

QB Mauk Swafford Mauk Coney Coney

RB Sanders Sanders Sanders Thomas Sanders

LS RS Grace Northington Northington Grace Grace Northington Northington Grace Northington Grace

2016 GAME-BY-GAME TEAM STATISTICS Score 45 24

1st Dns 25 22

Rush-Yds. 39-261 47-176

Passes 26-44-1 20-37-3

Pass Yds. 251 222

Total Yds. 512 398

Pen.-Yds. 2-17 4-39

TOs 1 4

Poss. 32:15 27:45

3Dn Con. 8/17 10/20

Sacks By 0-0 0-0

Pikeville at Eastern Kentucky

14 55

21 22

54-103 55-284

12-27-4 11-17-1

160 103

263 387

5-32 13-131

8 3

35:51 24:09

6/15 6/15

1-3 5-35

at Ball State Eastern Kentucky

41 14

28 13

54-193 27-3

28-39-0 20-36-2

238 286

431 289

4-35 13-128

1 2

38:59 21:01

10/19 5/16

8-42 1-5

at Tennessee Tech Eastern Kentucky

33 30

29 23

52-119 22-95

27-42-0 32-50-1

327 464

446 559

5-35 5-33

0 1

42:38 17:22

8/20 6/14

1-5 6-37

Southeast Missouri at Eastern Kentucky

16 31

14 26

26-101 52-190

24-41-0 23-37-1

291 337

392 527

10-80 9-75

2 2

28:59 31:01

7/17 11/19

0-0 3-16

at Purdue Eastern Kentucky

2016 OPENING DRIVES 1st Half Eastern Opponent

PURDUE INT TD

UPIKE Fumble Punt

BSU Downs TD

TTU Punt Punt

SEMO Punt FG

TSU

JSU

UTM

MUR

APSU

EIU

2nd Half Eastern Opponent

PURDUE Punt Punt

UPIKE Punt INT

BSU Punt Punt

TTU TD Downs

SEMO TD Punt

TSU

JSU

UTM

MUR

APSU

EIU

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 12

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

2016 GAME SUMMARIES GAME 1

GAME 2

Sept. 3, 2016 • West Lafayette, Ind. • Ross-Ade Stadium

Sept. 8, 2016 • Richmond, Ky. • Roy Kidd Stadium

Eastern Kentucky

24

Pikeville

14

Purdue

45

Eastern Kentucky

55

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – EKU entered the fourth quarter down just 10 points at Purdue, however, the Boilermakers pulled away for a 45-24 victory. Purdue took control early with two touchdowns in the first five minutes of the game and led 21-0 with three and a half minutes left in the first quarter. The second Boilermaker score was set up by a 17-yard interception return to the EKU 23 yard line. The third touchdown was the result of a 78-yard interception return. Photo Credit: EKUSports Communications Bennie Coney engineered a drive that Dan Crimmins (#18, left) celebrates his first touchdown catch as a Colonel with teammate Devin Borders. Borders got Eastern on the board. He ended it with a 10-yard scoring pass over the midfinished with seven receptions for 77 yards. dle to Dan Crimmins. Neiko Creamer converted the two-point conversion to make it 21-8 with less than a minute left in the first quarter. EKU continued to inch closer in the second quarter. Lucas Williams hit a 35-yard field goal. Coney let the ground game do the work on an eight-play, 47-yard touchdown drive. Ethan Thomas wrapped it up with a 10-yard touchdown run around the right side. The extra-point got the visitors within 10, 28-18. Purdue drove to the EKU 27 yard line and attempted a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter. The kick was wide left. Eastern Kentucky out-gained the Boilermakers 123 to 85 on the ground in the first half. The Colonel defense held Purdue off the scoreboard in the third quarter, but the offense couldn’t put together a scoring drive to close the gap. The Boilermakers scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter before Tyler Swafford drove Eastern to a late touchdown. He finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown toss to Cameron Fogle.

RICHMOND, Ky. – Forty-eight unanswered points and three defensive touchdowns helped Eastern Kentucky to a 55-14 win over Pikeville. The Colonels’ three pick sixes all came in the third quarter, as EKU put the game out of reach. Redshirt senior running back Jared Sanders carried the load on offense, finishing with a career-high 100 yards on 16 carries. Eastern finished the contest with 284 Photo Credit: EKUSports Communications yards on the ground, while holding UPike True freshman James Smith Jr. completed 4-of-5 passes for to 103 yards rushing. The Bears had eight 30 yards. He also ran eight times for 54 yards and scored turnovers on the night. a touchdown. The Colonels’ defense tightened in the second half, scoring 21 of EKU’s 31 points in the frame. Kiante Northington took a pass from UPike’s Bowen Smith to the end zone to put EKU up 3014 before the extra point from Lucas Williams. Much was the same on the ensuing UPike possession, as Corey Glass stepped in front of Smith’s pass for the pick. Glass returned the interception 56 yards for the score, and the extra point gave the Colonels a commanding 38-14 advantage. In the closing seconds of the third, redshirt junior Luder Jean Louis tipped a throw from Shannon Patrick and pulled it down in the end zone, extending the Eastern lead to 33 before Williams tacked on the extra point. Henry Enyenihi ran for 63 yards on 10 carries. Jeffrey Canady and Dwight Williams each had 10 tackles for Eastern Kentucky. Kagen Skidmore had 1.5 sacks.

Scoring Summary Eastern Kentucky Purdue

Scoring Summary Pikeville Eastern Kentucky

1 2 3 4 8 10 0 6 21 7 0 17

F 24 45

1st Quarter 13:04 PUR - M. Jones 3 yd run (J. Dellinger kick) 10:13 PUR - D. Blough 1 yd run (J. Dellinger kick) 3:31 PUR - G. Robinson 78 yd INT return (J. Dellinger kick) 0:50 EKU - D. Crimmins 10 yd pass from B. Coney (N. Creamer 2-pt) 2nd Quarter 10:04 PUR - D. Yancey 35 yd pass from D. Blough (J. Dellinger kick) 6:07 EKU - L. Williams 35 yd FG 2:04 EKU - E. Thomas 10 yd run (L. Williams kick) 4th Quarter 12:48 PUR - D. Blough 1 yd run (J. Dellinger kick) 4:56 PUR - J. Dellinger 30 yd FG 4:23 PUR - Lankford 48 yd run (J. Dellinger kick) 1:34 EKU - C. Fogle 2 yd pass from T. Swafford (pass failed) Team Statistics First Downs Rush Att.-Net Yards Passing C-A-Int. Net Passing Yards Offensive Plays Total Offense Fumbles-Lost Penalties/-Yards

PUR 25 39-261 26-44-1 251 83 512 2-0 2-17

EKU 22 47-176 20-37-3 222 84 398 1-1 4-39

Punts-Average 3rd Down Conversion Time of Possession

5-42.6 8-of-17 32:15

7-43.6 10-of-20 27:45

Individual Statistics Rushing EKU-E. Thomas 17-60-1 TD, M. Mauk 8-39, H. Enyenihi 6-35, B. Coney 6-16, K. Hopkins 5-15, D. McCleskey 5-11 PUR-M. Jones 24-145-1 TD, Johnson-Lankford 4-58-1 TD, R. Worship 4-20, D. Blough 4-18, T. Fuller 2-16, C. Posey 1-4 Passing EKU-B. Coney 13-23-0-1 TD, M. Mauk 2-7-2-0 TD, T. Swafford 5-6-0-1 TD, J. Smith 0-1-1-0 TD PUR-D. Blough 25-43-1-1 TD, Sindelar 1-1-0-0 TD Receiving EKU-D. Borders 7-77, J. Smith 3-39, N. Creamer 3-26, R. Markush 2-34, C. Fogle 2-9-1 TD, M. Clark 1-17, D. Paul 1-10, D. Crimmins 1-10-1 TD PUR-Young 8-74, C. Posey 5-41, M. Jones 4-24, T. Fuller 3-32, B. Marshall 2-16, D. Yancey 1-35-1 TD, C. Herdman 1-22, Burgess 1-4, R. Worship 1-3 Tackles EKU-K. Northington 11 PUR-Ezechukwu, Bentley 9 Interceptions EKU-N. Bethel PUR-L. Clark, J. Hayes, G. Robinson Attendance: 32,074

1 2 3 4 0 14 0 0 7 17 24 7

F 14 55

1st Quarter 4:11 EKU - R. Markush 13 yd pass from T. Swafford (L. Williams kick) 2nd Quarter 14:35 UPIKE - A. Brown 16 yd pass from B. Smith (D. Karapandzic kick) 8:35 UPIKE - J. Mattingly 16 yad fumble recovery (D. Karapandzic kick) 7:28 EKU - H. Enyenihi 12 yd run (L. Williams kick) 3:23 EKU - J. Smith 8 yd run (L. Williams kick) 0:54 EKU - L. Williams 28 yd FG 3rd Quarter 13:15 EKU - K. Northington 12 yd INT return (L. Williams kick) 11:38 EKU - C. Glass 54 yd INT return (L. Williams kick) 7:23 EKU - L. Williams 27 yd FG 0:19 EKU - L. Jean Louis 0 yd INT return (L. Williams kick) 4th Quarter 6:59 EKU - R. Gustave 2 yd run (L. Williams kick) Team Statistics First Downs Rush Att.-Net Yards Passing C-A-Int. Net Passing Yards Offensive Plays Total Offense Fumbles-Lost Penalties/-Yards

UPIKE 21 54-103 12-27-4 160 81 263 6-4 5-32

EKU 22 55-284 11-17-1 103 72 387 2-2 13-131

Punts-Average 3rd Down Conversion Time of Possession

4-46.5 6-of-15 35:51

2-45.5 6-of-15 24:09

Individual Statistics Rushing EKU-J. Sanders 16-100, H. Enyenihi 10-63-1 TD, J. Smith 8-54-1 TD, D. McCleskey 7-38, R. Patton 8-29, R. Gustave 4-8-1 TD, T. Swafford 2-(-8) UPIKE-X. Willis 17-71, J. Kirksey 16-39, W. McCloud 8-27, B. Smith 5-8, S. Patrick 2-4, S. Warren 4-(-19) Passing EKU-T. Swafford 7-12-1-73-1 TD, J. Smith 4-5-030-0 TD UPIKE-B. Smith 1-11-3-16-1 TD, S. Warren 7-8-065-0 TD, S. Patrick 4-8-1-79-0 TD Receiving EKU-D. Crimmins 2-29, A. Cabrera 2-19, C. Fogle 2-14, R. Markush 1-13-1 TD, C. Schmerber 1-10, D. Borders 1-9, N. Creamer 1-5, D. McCleskey 1-4 UPIKE-B. Whitmore 4-44, A. Pray 3-59, A. Brown 1-16-1 TD, J. Olinger 1-15, B. Randall 1-8, M. Howard 1-8, J. Jarrell 1-0 Tackles EKU-J. Canady 10, D. Williams 10 UPIKE-J. Hopkins 12 Interceptions EKU-K. Northington 1-12-1 TD, L. Jean Louis 1-0-1 TD, C. Glass 1-54-1 TD, E. Reed 1-6 UPIKE-J. Hopkins 1-4 Attendance: 11,400

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 13

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

2016 GAME SUMMARIES GAME 3

GAME 4

Sept. 17, 2016 • Muncie, Ind. • Scheumann Stadium

Oct. 1, 2016 • Cookeville, Tenn. • Tucker Stadium

Eastern Kentucky

14

Eastern Kentucky

30

Ball State

41

Tennessee Tech

33 OT

MUNCIE, Ind. – Two turnovers and nine penalties in the first half put EKU in a 27-point deficit and the Colonels never recovered in a 41-14 loss at Ball State. A roughing the kicker penalty kept alive BSU’s second possession and allowed Riley Neal to cap it with a 12-yard run to give the home team a 14-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter. Two second quarter interceptions gave BSU the ball inside the EKU 25 yard line each time and BSU converted the Photo Credit: EKUSports Communications Maty Mauk completed 19-of-32 passes for 285 yards and turnovers into 10 points. A second Mortossed one touchdown pass at Ball State. Eight of Mauk’s gan Hagee field goal, in the final seven seconds of the second quarter, sent Ball 19 completions were for 15 yards or more. State to the locker room in front 27-0. The Colonels (1-2) avoided the shutout with two late touchdown drives. Maty Mauk completed passes for 32 and 16 yards before connecting with Devin Borders for a 28-yard touchdown score. The drive covered 77 yards in 2:24. On Ball State’s next possession, Luder Jean Louis forced and recovered a fumble at the BSU 40 yard line. Mauk began the ensuing drive with a 32-yard toss to Borders. After two penalties he found Dan Crimmins for 27 yards. Freshman running back Daryl McCleskey Jr. finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. EKU Newcomer Ryan Markush caught five passes for a team-best 104 yards. Mauk completed 19-of-32 passes for 285 yards and did not throw an interception. Jeffrey Canady led all players with 11 tackles. Eastern did not turn the ball over in the second half, but committed four more turnovers, finishing with 13 for 128 yards.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Lucas Williams opened overtime with a 25-yard field goal, but Tech scored a touchdown on its possession to beat EKU 33-30. TTU won on Michael Birdsong’s fouryard touchdown pass to Alex Carling. EKU quarterback Bennie Coney broke his own school record with 464 passing yards. He completed 32-of-49 passes, tossed three touchdowns and just one interception. Two receivers eclipsed the 100-yard mark. Devin Borders caught Photo Credit: EKUSports Communications Bennie Coney broke his own school record with 464 passing nine passes for 121 yards and a touchyards. He finished 32-of-49 and tossed three touchdown down. Ryan Markush caught seven balls for 104 yards and a touchdown. The Colpasses. onels out-gained Tech 559 to 446. EKU wasted little time in the second half, scoring on its first possession to take the lead. The Colonels covered 65 yards in four plays and took just 44 seconds to score. Coney covered all the real estate through the air, finding Markush for 27 yards and Borders for 12 to the 26 yard line. On the next play, Borders created space with the defender and then went up and grabbed a pass in the end zone. The extra point put Eastern on top 20-17. Trailing 27-20, Coney went to work with 2:30 left in the game and 72 yards away from the tying touchdown. The redshirt senior completed all five attempts on the drive. He hooked up twice with Borders, one for 22 and one for nine yards. After an Ethan Thomas rush for a first down, Coney found Bryan Green for four yards and then Borders again for 10 to the TTU 25 yard line. On the next play, Coney found Dan Crimmins in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Lucas Williams made the extra-point to tie the score.

Scoring Summary Eastern Kentucky Ball State

Scoring Summary 1 2 3 4 OT F Eastern Kentucky 6 7 7 7 3 30 Tennessee Tech 7 10 3 7 6 33

1 2 3 4 0 0 0 14 14 13 7 7

F 14 41

1st Quarter 8:12 BSU - D. Reece 3 yd pass from R. Neal (M. Hagee kick) 0:38 BSU - R. Neal 12 yd run (M. Hagee kick) 2nd Quarter 13:04 BSU - M. Hagee 32 yd FG 10:55 BSU - D. Hazelton 5 yd pass from R. Neal (M. Hagee kick) 0:07 BSU - M. Hagee 41 yd FG 3rd Quarter 5:17 BSU - J. Gilbert 1 yd run (M. Hagee kick) 4th Quarter 5:49 BSU - T. Williamson 1 yd run (M. Hagee kick) 3:29 EKU - D. Borders 28 yd pass from M. Mauk (L. Williams kick) 1:26 EKU - D. McCleskey 1 yd run (L. Williams kick) Team Statistics First Downs Rush Att.-Net Yards Passing C-A-Int. Net Passing Yards Offensive Plays Total Offense Fumbles-Lost Penalties/-Yards

BSU 28 54-193 28-39-0 238 93 431 2-1 4-35

EKU 13 27-3 20-36-2 286 63 289 0-0 13-128

Punts-Average 3rd Down Conversion Time of Possession

4-47.2 10-of-19 38:59

8-39.6 5-of-16 21:01

Individual Statistics Rushing EKU-E. Thomas 6-12, J. Smith 1-12, H. Enyenihi 5-10, D. McCleskey 1-1-1 TD, B. Coney 1-(-4), J. Sanders 1-(-6), M. Mauk 11-(-20) BSU-J. Gilbert 21-67-1 TD, R. Neal 10-44-1 TD, T. Williamson 9-42-1 TD, M. Dunner 9-27, D. Green 4-11, K. Mabon 1-2 Passing EKU-M. Mauk 19-32-0-285-1 TD, B. Coney 1-42-1-0 TD BSU-R. Neal 28-39-0-238-2 TD Receiving EKU-R. Markush 5-104, D. Borders 4-73-1 TD, J. Smith 4-8, D. Crimmins 3-53, N. Creamer 2-34, J. Sanders 1-8, E. Thomas 1-6 BSU-D. Reece 6-64-1 TD, D. Hazelton 6-52-1 TD, J. Hogue 6-35, K. Mabon 4-51, D. Green 4-28, M. Dunner 1-7, S. Brunner 1-1 Tackles EKU-J. Canady 11 BSU-Z. Ryan 9 Interceptions EKU-none BSU-M. Hester 1-10, M. Walton 1-19 Attendance: 10,902

1st Quarter 11:02 EKU - J. Sanders 59 yd run 0:27 TTU - M. Birdsong 1 yd run (N. Madonia kick) 2nd Quarter 9:51 TTU - D. Byrd 22 yd pass from M. Birdsong (N. Madonia kick) 4:53 EKU - R. Markush 27 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) 0:28 TTU - N. Madonia 42 yd FG 3rd Quarter 9:37 EKU - D. Borders 26 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) 2:38 TTU - N. Madonia 26 yd FG 4th Quarter 6:37 TTU - D. Byrd 9 yd pass from M. Birdsong (N. Madonia kick) 1:06 EKU - D. Crimmins 25 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) Overtime EKU - L. Williams 25 yd FG TTU - A. Carling 4 yd pass from M. Birdsong Team Statistics First Downs Rush Att.-Net Yards Passing C-A-Int. Net Passing Yards Offensive Plays

TTU 29 52-119 27-42-0 327 94

EKU 23 22-95 32-49-1 464 72

Total Offense Fumbles-Lost Penalties/-Yards Punts-Average 3rd Down Conversion Time of Possession

446 0-0 5-35 6-44.5 8-of-20 42:38

559 0-0 5-33 4-39.5 6-of-14 17:22

Individual Statistics Rushing EKU-J. Sanders 4-60-1 TD, E. Thomas 12-34, H. Enyenihi 3-12, D. McCleskey 1-1, B. Connie 1-(-5), J. Smith 1-(-7) TTU-Y. Thaenrat 28-62, M. Birdsong 14-26-1 TD, A. Goldsmith 5-13, Kip Patton 1-8, D. Byrd 1-7, J. Cunningham 3-3 Passing EKU-B. Coney 32-49-1-464-3 TD TTU-M. Birdsong 27-42-0-327-3 TD Receiving EKU-D. Borders 9-121-1 TD, R. Markush 7-104-1 TD, D. Crimmins 6-65-1 TD, B. Green 5-73, C. Fogle 1-50, D. Paul 1-28, J. Sanders 1-20, D. McCleskey 1-4, N. Creamer 1-(-1) TTU-D. Byrd 7-116-2 TD, J. Cunningham 7-69, K. Patton 6-63, Y. Thaenrat 2-27, J. Smith 2-23, A. Hicks 1-13, K. Cates 1-12, A. Carling 1-4-1 TD Tackles EKU-J. Canady 17 TTU-D. Wilson 8, J. Poplar 8 Interceptions EKU-none TTU-M. Hall 1-11 Attendance: 7,165

www. EKU EKUSports.com com | 14

2016 EKU FOOTBALL

2016 GAME SUMMARIES GAME 5 Oct. 8, 2016 • Richmond, Ky. • Roy Kidd Stadium

Southeast Missouri

16

Eastern Kentucky

31

RICHMOND, Ky. – Led by Bennie Coney and Devin Borders, EKU scored 24 unanswered points on its way to a 31-16 win over visiting Southeast Missouri. Coney and the offense racked up 527 yards of total offense. The senior turned in his second consecutive 300-yard passing performance, completing 23-of-37 for 337 yards and four touchdowns. Borders, meanwhile, hauled in three touchdown catches, along with 119 Photo Credit: EKUSports Communications yards, marking his second consecutive Redshirt senior Devin Borders caught three touchdown 100-yard receiving performance. passes. He finished with seven receptions for 119 yards. Leading 24-9 in the fourth, the Colonels forced a SEMO turnover and looked to put the game away with less than 10 minutes to play. Junior Kobie Grace stripped Tremane McCullough at the SEMO six yard line to send the Colonel offense back on the field. Eastern Kentucky was the beneficiary of a pass interference on third-and-10 from the SEMO 12 which put the ball at the Redhawks’ two yard line. After Henry Enyenihi rumbled to the one on the ensuing play, Coney found Borders in the corner to give EKU a commanding lead, 31-9, with 8:42 left to play. The Colonels took their first lead of the contest with Borders’ third touchdown reception of the season. Coney fired a strike on third-and-seven to Borders near the pylon to cap a 16 play, 83-yard EKU drive. Lucas Williams tacked on the extra point to give the Colonels a 7-6 advantage with 8:47 left in the second quarter. Scoring Summary Southeast Missouri Eastern Kentucky

1 2 3 4 3 3 3 7 0 14 10 7

F 16 31

1st Quarter 9:48 SEMO - R. McCrum 50 yd FG 2nd Quarter 14:09 SEMO - R. McCrum 30 yd FG 8:47 EKU - D. Borders 7 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) 0:06 EKU - C. Fogle 18 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) 3rd Quarter 10:00 EKU - D. Borders 56 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) 4:21 EKU - L. Williams 49 yd FG 1:54 SEMO - R. McCrum 22 yd FG 4th Quarter 8:42 EKU - D. Borders 1 yd pass from B. Coney (L. Williams kick) 3:42 SEMO - K. Wilkerson 45 yd pass from J. Hosket (R. McCrum kick) Team Statistics First Downs Rush Att.-Net Yards Passing C-A-Int. Net Passing Yards Offensive Plays Total Offense Fumbles-Lost Penalties/-Yards Punts-Average 3rd Down Conversion Time of Possession

SEMO 14 26-101 24-41-0 291 67 392 5-2 10-80 6-40.8 7-of-17 28:59

EKU 26 52-190 23-37-1 337 89 527 1-1 9-75 5-38.6 11-of-19 31:01

Individual Statistics Rushing EKU-E. Thomas 20-92, H. Enyenihi 19-66, J. Smith 1-15, B. Coney 6-15, J. Sanders 4-5 SEMO-W. Young 8-81, C. Sanders 3-8, C. Abbington 3-7, J. Hosket 8-5, T. McCullough 2-5, D. Vandeven 1-(-2) Passing EKU-B. Coney 23-37-1-337-4 TD SEMO-J. Hosket 24-41-0-291-1 TD Receiving EKU-D. Borders 7-119-3 TD, R. Markush 4-57, D. Crimmins 3-57, C. Fogle 3-41-1 TD, J. Smith 2-32, E. Thomas 2-18, C. Schmerber 1-7, J. Sanders 1-6 SEMO-T. McCullough 8-103, A. Davis 5-48, K. Wilkerson 3-67-1 TD, M. Murdock 3-44, T. McLemore 2-13, W. Young 2-11, C.J. Curry 1-5 Tackles EKU-K. Northington 9 SEMO-R. Garrett 12 Interceptions EKU-none SEMO-R. Garrett 1-22 Attendance: 10,100

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2016 EKU FOOTBALL

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