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MURRAY, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team held off a furious fourth quarter rally by host Murray State and escaped with a 34-33 win Saturday afternoon at Stewart Stadium. The Colonels (5-3, 4-1 OVC) have now won seven straight meetings over the Racers (4-4, 2-3).

EKU scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions in the second half to establish a 34-20 cushion. Junior quarterback #T.J. Pryor# scored the third touchdown, a one-yard sneak, with 14 minutes left in the game.

Murray State quickly responded on its ensuing drive to cut the deficit to 34-27. Racer quarterback Casey Brockman kept the home team alive by finding Ja-Vonta Trotter for an 18-yard touchdown pass on fourth down.

After holding the Colonels on downs with eight minutes remaining, Murray State’s offense went right back to work. Running back Mike Harris broke free for a 32-yard scamper to move the Racers into Eastern Kentucky territory. Brockman then hooked up with Trotter on back-to-back passes, including a 19-yard touchdown strike, to bring Murray State to within one point, 34-33. However, Brandon Potts missed the point-after attempt wide left allowing EKU to cling to the one-point lead.

The Eastern Kentucky offense tried to run out the clock, but had to punt the ball back with 2:22 remaining. Murray State was able to move the ball to midfield before the Colonel defense stiffened. Eastern forced three incompletions from Brockman, one of which came on a 4th-and-6 situation, to secure EKU’s fourth straight OVC victory.

Eastern Kentucky was led by junior Matt Denham’s 219 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Denham has reached 200 yards rushing in three of the last four games. He also reached 1,000 career yards rushing early in the first quarter on a five-yard burst which gave EKU a first down. Junior wide receiver Tyrone Goard added five receptions for 53 yards and two scores.

Murray State piled up 530 yards of total offense, the most allowed by the EKU defense this year. Running back Mike Davis tallied a season-high 206 yards on the ground as well as 66 yards receiving. Meanwhile, Brockman threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns.

The Colonels were able to take a 14-13 lead into halftime thanks to holding Murray State’s offense to two field goals in four trips to the red zone. Sophomore linebacker Ichiro Vance stuffed a MSU fake field goal attempt at the EKU two-yard line midway through the second quarter. The Racers later botched a field goal attempt two minutes before halftime.

EKU jumped on the board on the first offensive play of the game. Senior defensive back Jeremy Caldwell returned the opening kick-off 64 yards into Murray territory. Denham then ripped off a 34-yard touchdown run 20 seconds into the contest. Late in second quarter, Eastern Kentucky’s offense put together a nine-play, 54-yard touchdown drive. Pryor passed for 30 yards on the drive, including a four-yard scoring pass to Goard.

Eastern Kentucky plays its final OVC road game of the year next Saturday, Nov. 5 at Jacksonville State. Game time is set for 4 p.m. ET.

NOTES:
--Junior running back Matt Denham reached 100 yards rushing for the fourth consecutive game, marking the first time a Colonel has accomplished that feat since C.J. Hudson in 2001.

--The Eastern Kentucky defense has now forced a turnover in nine consecutive games dating back to last season. EKU scored 14 points off three Murray State turnovers while Murray only scored seven points off three Colonel giveaways.

--Junior quarterback T.J. Pryor moved into third place on the all-time EKU passing list. Pryor passed Allan Holland (2006-08) and now has 4,773 passing yards. Pryor completed 14-of-25 passes for 179 yards, two scores and one interception against the Racers.

--This was the 67th consecutive season that Eastern Kentucky and Murray State have met in football. Eastern leads the all-time series, 42-25-1.

--Murray State has missed a PAT in seven of its eight games this year.