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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team ran for a season-high 374 yards on its way to a 48-16 victory over host Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon. The win was the fifth straight for the Colonels (2-3, 1-1 OVC) over the Panthers (1-5, 0-4).

The tone for the game was set on the second play of the game. Junior running back Matt Denham burst through the offensive line for a 64-yard gain. Denham finished with a personal-high 216 yards on 22 carries in his first start of the season. It marked the first time an Eastern Kentucky player rushed for at least 200 yards since C.J. Walker totaled 228 yards against Murray State on Nov. 15, 2008.

After netting a field goal on the opening drive, EKU moved 85 yards on five plays for a touchdown on its second possession to take a 10-0 lead. All 85 yards on that drive came on the ground.

Two more scoring drives in the second quarter gave Eastern Kentucky a 24-3 lead. A 30-yard pass completion to junior tight end Paul Henry set up EKU’s second touchdown. Junior quarterback #T.J. Pryor# kept EKU’s third touchdown drive alive with a 16-yard completion to sophomore Justin Williams on a 3rd-and-5.

The Colonels continued to pour on the offense in the second half, recording touchdowns on their first three possessions. Senior running back #H.B. Banjoman# tallied two of those touchdowns with a 31-yard run and one-yard plunge.

Defensively, Eastern Kentucky held Eastern Illinois to only 24 yards rushing on 21 carries. The Colonels also limited EIU to just 2-of-10 (20 percent) on third down conversions. Senior linebacker Tyson Patrick registered a team-high eight tackles and was involved in a sack.

Eastern Kentucky returns home next weekend to play Southeast Missouri. Game time on Saturday, Oct. 15 is set for 3 p.m.

NOTES:
--Junior Matt Denham’s 64-yard run on the second play from scrimmage was the longest play of the year for the Colonels. He also rolled off a 54-yard rush on EKU’s second possession.

--Senior H.B. Banjoman tallied his first career touchdown reception, a five-yard catch, in the second quarter.

--Sophomore Luke Pray nailed a personal-best 49-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.

--Sophomore Tyler Horn recorded his first career interception in the fourth quarter, stopping a potential Eastern Illinois scoring drive.

--EKU is now 11-2 following ‘open’ weeks since 2000.

--The Colonels scored on eight of their 10 possessions against Eastern Illinois. EKU punted once in the first quarter and took a knee to end the game.