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RICHMOND, Ky. – Junior running back Matt Denham scored the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 remaining to lift the Eastern Kentucky University football team to a 23-16 win over UT Martin Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium. With the win, the Colonels claimed a share of the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference title.

The Colonels conclude the regular season 7-4 overall and 6-2 in the OVC. The conference title is the 21st overall for EKU and the second in four years under head coach Dean Hood. However, Tennessee Tech claimed the OVC automatic berth to the FCS playoffs with a convincing win over Austin Peay.

Eastern Kentucky scored on its first three possessions to take a 13-0 lead. Following a blocked punt, the Colonels got on the board with a 19-yard field goal from sophomore Luke Pray. Junior quarterback #T.J. Pryor then found fellow junior Tyrone Goard# behind the Skyhawks’ defense for a 32-yard score midway through the first quarter. The Colonels moved inside the UT Martin 10-yard line on the third possession, but had to settle for another field goal.

UT Martin’s only score in the first half came on a wind-aided 53-yard field goal. The Skyhawks looked ready for another score late in the second quarter until junior linebacker Kevin Hamlin came away with an interception at the EKU seven-yard line.

EKU had a chance to extend its lead on its first possession of the second half, but had a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked. The Skyhawks quickly turned the game around just three plays later when quarterback Derek Carr hit Stephen Shiver for a 62-yard touchdown strike.

The Colonels then missed numerous chances to pull away from UT Martin. Eastern was stuffed at the UTM one-yard line on 4th-and-goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Later in the fourth, the Colonels missed on two more field goal attempts including a second blocked field goal with 7:35 remaining.

UTM finally took advantage of EKU’s missed opportunities when Carr found a wide open Quentin Sims for a 44-yard touchdown pass with 2:43 left. However, the Skyhawks missed the PAT which kept the score tied at 16-all.

A pivotal UT Martin fumble in the final two minutes gave life back to Eastern Kentucky at the UT Martin 23-yard line. The Colonels would not miss on this chance as the home team found the end zone two plays later. Denham accounted for all 23 yards with a 16-yard rush followed by a seven-yard touchdown scamper around the left end.

Eastern’s defense sealed the win with its fourth turnover seconds later thanks to sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Brown’s sack and forced fumble. Senior Emory Attig recovered the loose ball allowing the Colonels to run out the clock.

Denham reached 100 yards rushing for the seventh consecutive game as he finished with a career-high 41 carries and 188 yards. The native of Rineyville, Ky., tallied 1,445 rushing yards this season which ranks sixth on the single season EKU charts.

EKU will find out if it made the NCAA FCS playoffs as an at-large team tomorrow when the 20-team bracket will be announced on ESPNU at 10 a.m. ET.

NOTES:
--Linebacker Khiry Maddox blocked a punt on UT Martin’s first possession which led to a Colonel field goal. It marked the second blocked punt by EKU this season.

--Wide receiver Tyrone Goard has caught a touchdown pass in five consecutive games. Goard’s 11 touchdown catches are the second most ever in a single season by a Colonel.

--UT Martin hit a 53-yard field goal with the wind in the second quarter, which tied a school record.

--The Eastern Kentucky defense has forced a turnover in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Colonels finished +4 in turnover margin against the Skyhawks. EKU also held UT Martin to a season-low 16 points.