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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team ran for 286 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns in a 58-7 victory over Kentucky State University Saturday night at Roy Kidd Stadium.

The Colonels (1-3) built a 38-0 halftime lead on the way to earning their first victory of the 2010 season. Sophomore Matt Denham carried the ball just three times, but led EKU with 101 yards on the ground. Denham had two touchdown runs of 62 and 31 yards in the fourth quarter. Junior Kyle Lumpkin ran for 84 yards and scored once. Quarterback Jacob Russell, making his first appearance in an EKU uniform, also scored twice on the ground.

Eastern capitalized on great field position and scored on its first possession of the game. On 3rd-and-16 at the KSU 31-yard line, starting quarterback #T.J. Pryor# rolled to his right, tucked the ball and ran all the way to the end zone. The extra point gave the Colonels a 7-0 lead with 12:57 left in the first quarter.

Three of Eastern Kentucky’s first four possessions began in Kentucky State territory. The third ended on a one-yard run up the middle by the true freshman quarterback Russell. Russell quarterbacked the team for the entire nine-play, 33-yard drive. He did not attempt a pass, but gained 22 yards on the ground on his first collegiate drive. EKU had a 17-0 lead with a little more than two minutes left in the opening period.

The Colonels began their next possession on the right side of the 50 as well. On 3rd-and-8 from the 34, Pryor found sophomore Tyrone Goard all alone down the right sideline as time expired in the first quarter. O’Connor tacked on the extra-point for a 24-0 EKU lead.

EKU added two more touchdowns in the second quarter for a 38-0 halftime lead. Junior linebacker Tyson Patrick contributed a 76-yard interception return for a score and Russell added his second career rushing touchdown.

Eastern Kentucky totaled 129 yards on the ground and 45 through the air in the first half. Five of Eastern’s seven first half possessions began in KSU territory while the Thorobreds ventured into EKU territory on only two of its first half possessions.

The Thorobreds finally got on the board with 4:36 remaining in the third quarter. After the visitors recovered an EKU fumble at the Colonel seven-yard line, Andrew Ramsey carried the ball three times, including a two-yard touchdown run to make it a 45-7 game.

Eastern ran the ball 43 times compared to just 10 pass attempts. Pryor was 3-for-8 through the air for 47 yards and tossed a touchdown pass. Russell completed both of his attempts for 13 yards.

Jerrell Noland completed 6-of-16 passes for Kentucky State for 45 yards. Shannon Frieson led the Thorobreds on the ground with 41 yards on 14 carries.

The Colonels will play their first Ohio Valley Conference game of the season next Saturday when Eastern Illinois visits Roy Kidd Stadium. Kickoff against the Panthers is scheduled for 7 p.m.

NOTES
--Eastern Kentucky surpassed the 50-point plateau for the first time since beating Murray State 51-21 on Nov. 4, 2006.

--EKU snapped a six-game losing streak, its longest since 1963.

--Eastern Kentucky improved to 5-0 all-time against Kentucky State.

--T.J. Pryor’s first quarter 31-yard touchdown run was Eastern’s first rushing touchdown of the season.

--Tyson Patrick’s second quarter interception return for a touchdown was the first pick of his career.

--Kyle Lumpkin’s 62-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was his first as a Colonel and the second of his collegiate career. It was also the longest run of his career.

--Matt Denham scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 62-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

--The Colonels are 10-2 following ‘open’ weeks since 2000. Eastern has won 10 in a row following an open weekend.

--Today’s game marked the latest EKU has played its home opener since 1964. Eastern improved to 8-3 in home openers since 2000.