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RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University’s defense led the Colonels to their first win of the 2008 season, beating Morehead State University Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium, 16-8. The EKU (1-2) defense held the Eagles (1-2) scoreless for almost 55 minutes and forced three turnovers, including an interception in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

Sophomore Yameen Thomas led the Colonel defensive charge with five tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Junior running back C.J. Walker ran for 58 yards on 17 carries. Senior quarterback Allan Holland completed 15 of 27 passes for 191 yards and did not throw an interception.

Morehead State’s Nick Feldman ran for 57 yards on five carries. Eagle signal caller Evan Sawyer completed 15 of his 30 pass attempts for 116 yards. He tossed one touchdown and one interception.

Eastern took the opening possession of the game and got on the board with a 22-yard Taylor Long field goal to cap a 17-play, 74-yard drive. During the drive, senior Allan Holland completed five passes to Shannon Davis for 55 yards.

With the Colonels leading 3-0 early in the second quarter, Morehead State looked to be in a situation to tie or push ahead. On 1st-and-10 from the Eastern 32, Morehead’s Michael Kearns carried the ball to the 28 before Eastern’s Ryan Viana forced a fumble. Sophomore Jaren Gooden recovered for EKU to put a stop to the Eagle threat.

Two possessions later, Long converted his second field goal attempt from 22 yards out to put the home team in front 6-0.

The Colonel defense held Morehead State to 73 total yards in the first half and led 6-0 at the break.

On the opening possession of the second half, the Eastern Kentucky defense came up big again. On 3rd-and-7, Morehead State quarterback Evan Sawyer was sacked for a seven-yard loss and fumbled the ball. Thomas picked up the ball for the Colonels.

Later in the third quarter, Walker broke loose for a 17-yard touchdown run. The point-after gave Eastern a 13-0 lead. Walker also had a 10-yard run on the 68-yard drive. The scoring run was EKU’s longest rush of the season until sophomore Cody Watts picked up 24 yards during the Colonels’ next possession.

Through three quarters, Morehead State amassed only 90 yards of total offense.

Long added his third field goal, this time from 28 yards, in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter for a 16-0 EKU lead.

A Morehead State touchdown and two-point conversion with 4:18 left in the game cut the deficit in half. Sawyer found Jerrod Pendleton in the corner of the end zone from 11 yards out for the touchdown. Sawyer then completed a pass to Feldman in the back of the end zone for the two-point conversion.

Sawyer completed 6-of-10 passes on the drive and picked up 14 yards on two carries.

The Eagles then recovered the on-side kick and drove into EKU territory. On 2nd-and-10 from the 40, senior Brandon Gathof intercepted a long pass down field to put a halt to Morehead’s comeback bid.

After totaling only 90 yards of offense in the first three quarters combined, Morehead picked up 112 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Colonels hit the road next Saturday after a two-game home stand. EKU will open Ohio Valley Conference play at Tennessee State beginning at 6 p.m. (ET).

NOTES
--Ryan Viana forced his first career fumble in the first quarter.

--Chris Coy's third quarter sack was his first of the season and the 10th for his career.

--Allan Holland’s 191 yards moved the senior into ninth on EKU’s all-time passing list with 3,134 career yards. He is only six yards away from passing Greg Couch for eighth.

--The win was the sixth straight by Eastern Kentucky over Morehead State.

--Senior Brandon Gathof’s fourth quarter interception was his first of the 2008 season and the ninth of his career.