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RICHMOND, Ky. – In a battle for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference, visiting Tennessee Tech scored the game-winning touchdown with 6:35 remaining to earn a 28-21 win over the Eastern Kentucky University football team Saturday afternoon at Roy Kidd Stadium.

No. 20 Tennessee Tech (6-3, 5-2 OVC) is now in position to earn its first conference title since 1975. TTU wraps up its regular season next weekend with a home game against Austin Peay.

Eastern (6-4, 5-2), which had won five straight entering this game, could not sustain drives the entire game as the Colonels were held to 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) on third-down conversions. EKU recorded just 194 yards of total offense, its second lowest output of the season.

With the score tied at 14 coming out of halftime, the Golden Eagles made a pivotal play early in the third quarter. The Colonels were punting with a heavy wind at their backs, but TTU blocked the punt to take possession at the EKU 17-yard line. The Golden Eagles then stuffed the ball in the end zone on a 4th-and-1 play to go ahead, 21-14.

Eastern Kentucky capitalized on Tennessee Tech’s third turnover to even the score again at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Junior Matt Denham got the Colonels rolling with a 38-yard rush to the TTU 12-yard line. Two plays later, junior quarterback #T.J. Pryor lobbed a perfect pass to junior Tyrone Goard# in the right corner of the end zone to make the score 21-all.

However, Tennessee Tech responded on the ensuing drive with the game-winning score. The Golden Eagles moved the ball 58 yards on 11 plays while converting a pair of third downs, including a 3rd-and-11. Quarterback Tre Lamb finally scored on a four-yard rush.

The Colonels moved the ball back to midfield on their final possession, but were forced to punt following a sack on 3rd-and-10. TTU then converted its 10th third down of the contest to help run out the clock.

Lamb led the Golden Eagles with 126 yards passing and 70 yards rushing. He threw for two touchdowns before using his legs for the final score. Meanwhile, running back Adam Urbano recorded 137 yards on the ground.

EKU’s Denham reached 100 yards rushing for the sixth straight game as he finished with a game-high 151 rushing yards. Pryor finished just 8-of-17 passing for 65 yards, but had numerous passes dropped. Defensive tackle Emory Attig produced a career game with 12 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles.

Tennessee Tech converted 10-of-19 (52.6 percent) third downs and held the ball for 35:11 in its first win at Eastern since 2000.

Eastern Kentucky still has a shot at the OVC title, but needs to win its regular season finale next Saturday, Nov. 19 against UT Martin. Kick-off at Roy Kidd Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

NOTES:
-- The Eastern Kentucky defense has forced a turnover in 11 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Colonels turned three Tennessee Tech turnovers into 14 points.

--EKU had a punt blocked in the third quarter, marking the first time this year the Colonels have had a punt blocked. Tennessee Tech eventually turned that play into a touchdown.

--The Colonels went three-and-out on four possessions in the third quarter and were held to minus-six yards.

--Tyrone Goard tallied his 10th touchdown reception of the season in the fourth quarter. He is just the fifth Colonel ever to record 10 touchdown receptions in a season.