RICHMOND, Ky. – For just the second time in the last six years, the Battle of the Bluegrass will be fought at Roy Kidd Stadium Saturday evening when the Eastern Kentucky University football team plays host to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Game time is slated for 6:07 p.m. with live television coverage being handled by WYMT-TV 57 out of Hazard, Ky.

The Colonels (0-1), ranked 23rd in the latest Division I-AA polls, will be looking to break a three-game losing skid to WKU (0-1) including a heart-breaking 23-21 loss to Western last year that was decided on a field goal as time expired. Junior quarterback Josh Greco had perhaps his best collegiate performance at Western Kentucky last season. He finished the game 24-of-34 passing for 273 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Greco’s 70.6 completion percentage against the Hilltoppers was his highest in 2005.

Eastern is 22-16-3 all-time versus Western Kentucky at Roy Kidd Stadium. The last time these two teams battled in Richmond, the fifth largest crowd in Roy Kidd Stadium history (22,700) watches as the Hilltoppers pulled out a 21-8 win.

After facing Western, the Colonels conclude their non-conference schedule next Saturday, Sept. 16, at Southern Conference foe Western Carolina. The Colonels and Catamounts have not squared off since 1989.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Live Television
--Saturday's game will be covered live by five stations across the Commonwealth. WYMT-TV in Hazard, Ky. will originate the broadcast. The game will also be shown on UPN in Lexington (Channel 5 on Insight Cable, Channel 99 on Adelphia and Channel 17 on Charter cable), Insight Cable of Northern Kentucky and WBKO in Bowling Green. In addition, WQWQ – the CW station in the Cape Girardeau, MO-Paducah, KY market – will carry the contest.

Live Audio
--Click here for live radio broadcast!
--Senior LB Justin Grundy talks about the Western Game
--Redshirt FR Derek Hardman discusses his first time in front of the home crowd
--Head Coach Danny Hope recaps Cincinnati
--Hope previews this week’s contest
--Hope’s scouting report on the Hilltoppers

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Tickets
Reserved and general admission tickets are available by calling 859-622-2122 or ordering on-line at www.EKUSports.com. Also, the stadium ticket box office will open at noon on Saturday. Will call and the stadium gates will open at 4 p.m.

Weather
The forecast for Saturday is partly cloudy and a high of 82 degrees. Sunset is slated for 7:55 p.m., with temperatures dropping down to 60 degrees at night.

Storylines
--Eastern Kentucky will be searching for its first home opening victory since 2003. The Colonels are 1-2 in home openers in the Danny Hope era.

--The Colonels committed just six penalties for 39 yards last week at Cincinnati. Only once in 2005 did EKU post lower numbers and that came in the season finale at Tennessee State – five penalties for 30 yards.

--EKU was held scoreless for the first time in 80 games last week. Prior to the 31-0 loss at Cincinnati, the Colonels were previously shut out 19-0 by Appalachian State on Nov. 14, 1998. However, the ’98 Colonels bounced back to defeat Eastern Illinois the following week, 28-24.