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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A 15-yard touchdown catch over the middle by Devin Borders gave Eastern Kentucky a 14-point lead at Kentucky with 7:39 left in the game, but the Wildcats scored two late fourth quarter touchdowns and won 34-27 in overtime.
 
EKU (2-2) out-rushed UK 180-55 and averaged 3.5 yards per carry.  The success on the ground allowed the Colonels to control the ball for 31:15.
 
A 19-yard punt return by Stanley Absanon with 14:40 left in the game gave Eastern Kentucky the ball at the UK 26 yard line.  Dy'Shawn Mobley rushed four times on the short drive for 20 yards.  His final carry went up the middle from six yards out for a touchdown.  The extra-point put the visitors on top 20-13 with 12:38 left to play.
 
The Colonel defense held on Kentucky's next possession.  Bennie Coney marched EKU down the field for another touchdown to make it a 14-pont lead.  Coney connected with Ben Madon for 27 yards to the UK 37, found Joel Brown for 12 yards to the 22 and then finished it off with the 15-yarder to Borders for six.
 
Kentucky put together two late scoring drives to tie the game.  JoJo Kemp's 7-yard touchdown run with 4:59 left capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive that took just 2:40 off the clock.  Dorian Baker's 5-yard touchdown reception in the right corner of the end zone completed the comeback with 52 seconds left in regulation.  The point-after tied it 27-27.
 
The Wildcats (4-1) opened overtime with a Patrick Towles to Baker touchdown toss from three yards out.  A pass interference call helped Eastern get to the 11 yard line on its possession, but Mobley was gobbled up in the backfield for a 12-yard loss.  On 4th-and-12 from the 13, Arien Beasley was sacked on a wide receiver pass play.
 
Freshman Ethan Thomas carried for 84 yards.  Mobley finished with 74 yards and a touchdown.  Towles went 29-for-42 for 329 yards for Kentucky.  He tossed two interceptions but also had three touchdown throws.
 
The Colonels got off to a good start when Trey Thomas forced a fumble that Kobie Grace recovered and returned 24 yards into UK territory.  A 13-yard pass from Coney to Thomas set up a 4th-and-2 for the Colonels at Kentucky's 20 yard line.  The Wildcats stopped Thomas for no gain on the next play to end the scoring threat.
 
EKU kept Kentucky off the scoreboard until the final minute of the first quarter when Towles capped a 10-play, 81-yard drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
 
Eastern's second quarter fumble was just its second turnover of the season and gave UK the ball at the 50 yard line.  However, after a 9-yard pass completion by Towles, Absanon picked off a pass down the right sideline and returned it 22 yards. 
 
EKU took advantage of the turnover, marching down to the UK six yard line.  Coney got it started with a 13-yard pass to Thomas.  Thomas picked up 34 yards on seven carries, including an 11-yard gainer on 3rd-and-1 from the 20 yard line.  On 3rd-and-goal from the six, Coney hooked up with Borders in the left corner for a touchdown.  The point-after attempt to tie, hit the right upright to leave the score 7-6.
 
On the ensuing drive, Noah Spence took Towles down for a 6-yard loss on 3rd-and-11 to force a Wildcat punt.  Coney connected on a screen pass to Mobley to get Eastern back in UK territory.  Mobley eluded a tackle and then raced down the right sideline for a gain of 31 yards to the 43.  On 3rd-and-8 from the 41, Coney kept the drive alive by scampering nine yards for a first down at the 32 yard line.  EKU's attempt to take the lead, on a 47-yard field goal, was blocked.
 
Kiante Northington's interception of a Towles pass down the right sideline in the final minute of the first half allowed Eastern Kentucky to stay within one at the break.
 
Absanon's 42-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter fueled Eastern's go-ahead scoring drive.  Thomas chewed up 18 yards on three carries, but the drive appeared to stall when Coney couldn't find an open receiver on a 4th-and-6 at the UK 35 yard line.  He slipped out of a sack and ran off the left side to pick up seven yards and a first down.  Thomas and Mobley followed with 10 and 13 yard runs to get to the five yard line.  After a pair of carries by Mobley got the ball down to the one, Coney rushed to the right to score.  Lucas Williams added the point-after for a 13-7 Colonel lead.
 
Towles kept Kentucky's next drive alive with a 4-yard run on 4th-and-2 and then put the Wildcats back on top with a 36-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Jeff Badet.  UK missed the extra-point, leaving the score tied 13-13.
 
Eastern Kentucky has a short week to prepare for a visit from Tennessee Tech on Thursday at Roy Kidd Stadium.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
NOTES
EKU DEFENSE CAME TO PLAY
The Colonels forced three first half turnovers, which ties the most they have forced in a game all season.
 
INTERCEPTION!
A couple Colonels came up with interceptions against Kentucky. Stanley Absanon recorded his second interception of the season and seventh of his career with 13:02 to play in the second quarter. He returned it 22 yards.  Also in the second quarter, Kiante Northington came up with his first of the year and third career with 23 seconds left in the half.
 
DOMINATING THE GROUND GAME
EKU had a net total of 180 rushing yards, the most of any game this season. The running back duo of true freshman Ethan Thomas and Dy'Shawn Mobley combined for 172 of those yards. The Colonels also out-rushed Kentucky by 125 yards.
 
SPENCE CONTINUES DOMINANCE
Noah Spence continues his relentless pressure of the quarterback. He has recorded a sack in every game he has played this season.
 
KELLY WITH THE STOP
Chris Kelly recorded 11 tackles against Kentucky, the most any Colonel has had in a game this season. Trey Thomas wasn't far behind with 10.
 
BIG RETURNS
Stanley Absanon averaged 25 yards per kickoff return against Kentucky, eight more yards than his season average. His longest return in the game of 42 yards, was his second longest of the season.