RICHMOND, Ky. – The two preseason Ohio Valley Conference favorites square off in the league opener Saturday night when the Eastern Kentucky University football team hosts Jacksonville State. Kick-off at Roy Kidd Stadium is set for 6 p.m.

Saturday’s game is also Kids Day, which means all kids ages 12-and-under will receive FREE admission.

Both Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State enter the contest ranked in the national polls with EKU sitting at No. 21 and JSU at No. 24 in The Sports Network FCS poll. The Colonels (2-1) are coming off an emphatic 35-17 victory at Coastal Carolina last Saturday while the Gamecocks (1-1) had the week off following a last-second 27-24 win versus Chattanooga on Sept. 8.

Since Jacksonville State joined the OVC in 2003, no other teams rank better than EKU and JSU in conference winning percentage. The Colonels are 55-16 (.775) in that span while the Gamecocks are right behind at 54-17 (.760). The two teams have also accounted for five of the last nine league titles.

Last year, the Colonels produced a magical comeback on their way to a 52-48 victory. EKU trailed by 24 points with 7:25 remaining before scoring four consecutive touchdowns. Senior WR Tyrone Goard tallied the game-winning score, a 37-yard touchdown catch with 1:24 left. Senior QB #T.J. Pryor# set a program single game record by tossing five touchdown passes in the epic win.

Prior to kick-off, the EKU Department of Athletics will honor members of the 1982 football team for the 30-year anniversary of their undefeated season and national championship.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION

Game Notes
--Click here for EKU game notes.

Opponent Information
--Click here for the Jacksonville State football web site.
--Click here for Jacksonville State’s game notes.

Television
--None

Video Streaming
-- Saturday’s game can be seen on the web for FREE at the new OVCDigitalNetwork.com.

Live Audio
--Saturday’s game can be heard locally on WCYO 100.7 FM. Click here for live radio broadcast!  WCYO is now streaming on most mobile devices. Download the TuneIn Radio app, available for iPhone/iPod/iPad, Android, Blackberry, Palm and Windows Phone.

Live Stats
--Click here for live stats!

Ticket Information
--Tickets are available by calling the EKU ticket office at 859-622-2122. The ticket box office will open at the stadium Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Stadium gates will open at 4:30 p.m. as well.

Directions
--Click here for directions to Eastern Kentucky University.

Weather
--Saturday’s forecast in Richmond calls for isolated thunderstorms and a high of 76 degrees. Sunset is scheduled for 7:34 p.m.

Storylines
-- The Colonels are 45-19 all-time in OVC openers. From 1981-99, Eastern Kentucky won 19 consecutive league openers. Tennessee Tech ended that streak in 2000 with a 9-3 victory in Richmond. EKU is 2-2 in OVC openers under head coach Dean Hood.

-- Senior DB Brooklyn Fox has three interceptions this year, including a first quarter interception at Coastal Carolina last week. The EKU defense broke up seven pass attempts and forced two fumbles to go along with Fox’s interception in the victory.

--In five years under head coach Dean Hood, the Colonels are 5-7 against ranked FCS teams. Last year, Eastern faced four ranked squads and went 1-3.

GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE

Parking
• The Alumni Coliseum east side parking lot will close at 11 p.m. on Friday night before the game. Any cars remaining in the lot after that time are subject to tow. The lot will reopen on Saturday at 9 a.m.
• A reminder to Colonel Club members: an alternate route to the Colonel Club parking area is available by entering near Model School.
• Alternate parking areas include: Brockton Lot, located off Van Hoose Drive and behind the Brockton Apartments; Greg Adams Tennis Complex Lot, located across the Bypass from Roy Kidd Stadium.
• Please use one parking space per car or truck.
• Because of the large amount of pedestrian traffic that occurs on Kit Carson Drive after each home football game, Kit Carson Drive will be closed to southbound traffic from the Park Drive intersection to the Van Hoose intersection and will be closed to all traffic from the Van Hoose intersection to the Eastern Bypass intersection after each home game. This closing will occur at the end of each game and will last normally for a period of thirty (30) to forty-five (45) minutes. However, the closing may occur earlier and last longer than anticipated depending on traffic conditions and the size of the crowd.

Tailgating
To ensure that you and all fans have a positive tailgating experience, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:
• All state and local laws must be observed.
• Responsible alcohol consumption will be allowed in designated locations in the Colonel Club and Alumni Parking lots for attendees age 21 or older only.
• For safety reasons, all beverages shall be consumed from plastic or paper cups and not in cans or bottles.
• Kegs are not permitted.
• Please clean up your tailgating area before going to the game or leaving the parking area.
• Please behave in an appropriate and responsible manner. Throwing objects or climbing on vehicles is not permitted.

Handicapped Ticket Information
• The handicapped seating area at Roy Kidd Stadium is located on top of the hill in the end zone opposite the scoreboard.
• Patrons must purchase a General Admission ticket to watch the game from this area.
• Patrons are welcome to have a companion sit with them in the area. Folding chairs are provided for any guests that need them.
• The handicapped accessible restrooms are located inside the Begley Building, behind section A under the ramp from the student entrance.
• Handicapped parking is available in the Moberly Lot past the Stadium off Roy and Sue Kidd Way on the right from the Bypass.