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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – In the 83rd meeting of the Battle of the Bluegrass, host Western Kentucky defeated the Eastern Kentucky University football team by a count of 26-6. Western improves to 2-1 overall while the Colonels fall to 1-2.
The first quarter started out on a promising note for the Colonels. After EKU forced a three-and-out on Western’s opening drive, Eastern marched right down the field into the Hilltopper red zone. However, the Colonels had to settle for a 26-yard Taylor Long field goal and a 3-0 advantage.
Eastern Kentucky continued to dominate on the defensive side in the first quarter, forcing two Western Kentucky turnovers. Following a Hilltopper fumble at midfield on their second drive, the Colonels moved the ball to the WKU 19-yard line. Facing a 4th-and-1, Eastern Kentucky went for the first down only to see WKU stop the Mark Dunn rushing attempt.
Junior defensive back Brandon Gathof came away with his first interception of the season on Western’s third possession, but once again Eastern Kentucky could not capitalize.
The start of the second quarter saw the momentum swing to the side of the home team. A Western Kentucky punt pinned EKU inside its five-yard line. On first down, the Colonels tried a sweep around the left end only to see Alonzo Higgins tackle senior running back Bobby Washington in the end zone for a safety. On the Hilltopper ensuing possession, back-up quarterback K.J. Black moved WKU 63 yards in 10 plays before tossing a seven-yard touchdown pass to put the Hilltoppers ahead for good, 9-3.
Western added a field goal late in the quarter to take a 12-3 lead into intermission. After piling up 102 yards in the first quarter, Eastern Kentucky ran eight plays for just seven yards in the second quarter.
The Hilltoppers struck again quickly in the third quarter to push their lead to 19-3. Western Kentucky blocked an EKU punt just over two minutes into the half and fell on the ball in the end zone for the score.
Eastern would not fold easily though as another WKU turnover later in the third quarter sparked the Colonels’ second scoring drive. The passing of Allan Holland and the running of Washington helped EKU move inside the Hilltopper 10-yard line. Unfortunately, the Colonels could not find the end zone and settled for another Long field goal to cut the deficit to 19-6.
The Colonels never threatened the rest of the way and Western added a touchdown with two minutes remaining to produce the final score.
Dunn, Washington and Holland combined for 121 yards rushing on the day. Holland finished 13-of-23 through the air for 83 yards.
The Colonels open Ohio Valley Conference play next Saturday, Sept. 22, at Jacksonville State. Game time is slated for 3 p.m. EST.
NOTES
--Western Kentucky now leads the all-time series, 46-34-3, and is 30-11 versus the Colonels in Bowling Green.
--The Colonels fall to 17-2 under head coach Danny Hope when winning the turnover battle. EKU finished +2 in the turnover margin against Western.
--EKU was held to less than 100 yards passing for the second time this season. The Colonels finished with 83 yards through the air.
--The Colonels were 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) on third downs while Western Kentucky was 9-of-17 (52.9 percent).
