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RICHMOND, Ky. – With Eastern Kentucky University clinging to a four-point lead and less than four minutes left to play, newcomer Jeremiah Williams scored his second touchdown of the game, but it took a #H.B. Banjoman# 16-yard run for a first down, after Missouri State University cut the lead to four again, to seal a 28-24 victory for the Colonels in their 2011 home-opener.

EKU built a 14-0 halftime lead but the Bears cut the lead to four points three times in the fourth quarter. Williams powered through a would-be tackler at the one-yard line to polish off a 12-yard touchdown run with 3:55 left in the game. The extra-point gave EKU a 28-17 lead. On its ensuing possession, Missouri State drove 60 yards in 1:54 to draw within four for the third time. Trevor Wooden’s nine-yard touchdown pass capped the drive.

Banjoman began Eastern’s final possession with a three-yard run. After MSU used its second timeout, Banjoman ripped off a 16-yard gainer for an EKU first down with 1:12 left on the clock. The Bears used their final timeout, but Colonel quarterback #T.J. Pryor# took a knee twice to kill the final ticks.

Pryor, who returned to action after missing the first game of the season with a hand injury, capped Eastern Kentucky’s first possession of the game with a 33-yard scoring toss to Chris Moore on fourth-and-two. With 8:09 remaining in the second quarter, Williams rushed up the middle from seven yards out. After making contact with a pack of defenders, the junior popped out of the left side and took it to the house for a 14-0 Colonel lead.

Eastern controlled the first half, out-gaining Missouri State 276 to 132 and holding the ball three minutes longer.

But the third quarter was a different story. MSU quarterback Wooden rushed for just 25 yards in the first half and the Bears totaled just 64 yards as a team. Through their first two possessions of the second half, Wooded ran for 41 of Missouri State’s 84 rushing yards. EKU had the ball for less than two minutes in the third quarter and MSU converted seven of their first eight third down situations of the second half.

Wooden got the Bears on the board by finishing off a 14-play, 60-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Early in the fourth quarter Austin Witmer’s 18-yard field goal capped MSU second possession of the half and cut the Colonel lead to four, 14-10, for the first time. Missouri State’s first two possessions of the second half lasted a combined 14:09.

The two teams then exchanged a pair of quick scores. Jeremy Caldwell followed MSU’s field goal with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. On the first play of the Bears’ ensuing possession Wooden tossed a 71-yard scoring pass to make it a 21-17 game.

Pryor finished 14-for-22 with 146 yards through the air in his return. He finished with one touchdown pass and did not throw an interception. Williams ran the ball 24 times for 119 yards. The only time all night that he did not gain yards was a one-yard loss. Pryor had 69 yards on the ground.  Banjoman finished with 24 yards, but none more important than his big fourth quarter 16-yard gainer.

Wooden finished 22-for-32 for 262 yards and two touchdowns for Missouri State. He led the team with 71 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Jermaine Saffold caught six passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

The Colonels will host Chattanooga next Saturday at 6 p.m.

NOTES
--Jeremy Caldwell’s kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the third of his career.

--T.J. Pryor’s touchdown toss in the first quarter was the 19th of his career.

--Jeremiah Williams, a junior college transfer in his first season at EKU, scored his first touchdown as a Colonel in the second quarter. He added his second score in the fourth quarter.

--Ichiro Vance had a game-high 19 tackles, including two for a loss.

--Missouri State out-gained Eastern Kentucky 411 to 391. The Colonels held a 245-149 advantage on the ground. MSU totaled 262 yards through the air compared to 146 for EKU.

--EKU improved to 9-3 in home openers since 2000.  The Colonels have won three straight home openers.

--Eastern Kentucky extended its home-field winning streak to six straight.