Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky did not allow an offensive touchdown against second-ranked Jacksonville State, but the Gamecocks used five interceptions to fuel a 24-7 win in front of an EKU Homecoming crowd at Roy Kidd Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Colonel defense was solid, holding the high-scoring Gamecock offense without an offensive touchdown for the first time since 2012. The defense held the JSU offense to 105 yards below its average. However, EKU turnovers proved costly as the Jacksonville State returned three interceptions for scores, converting the miscues into 21 points.  
 
Down 17-0 in the third, redshirt sophomore Tyler Swafford found Ryan Markush down the sideline for an acrobatic 30-yard touchdown pass to put the Colonels on the board with 5:27 on the clock.
 
After forcing another three-and-out from the nation's 25th ranked scoring offense, the Colonels once again looked to cut into the JSU lead.
 
Swafford and the Colonels started at their own 16 and penetrated JSU territory minutes into the final frame. Following a 16-yard run from Henry Enyenihi, JSU's Reggie Hall swiped a throw from Swafford and took it 88 yards for the score and put the Gamecocks up 24-7.
 
The EKU defense repeatedly stood tall against the Jacksonville State offense. The Colonels thwarted the first JSU scoring attempt, as a 37-yard field goal attempt from Cade Stinnett missed wide right to keep the score tied a zero with 9:05 left in the opening quarter.  
 
The teams traded possessions until mid-way through the second quarter, when JSU's Joel McCandless stepped in front of a Bennie Coney pass and returned it 41 yards to give the visitors a 7-0 advantage.
 
A 34-yard kickoff return from Nigel Bethel gave the Colonels possession at their own 40 yard line. Coney found Neiko Creamer for a seven-yard gain on first down before back-to-back rushes from Enyenihi left EKU with a fourth-and-one opportunity from its own 49. The Colonels gambled and Enyenihi was stopped short of the marker, giving JSU possession.
 
The Gamecocks racked up 18 yards on their first play of the drive after Eli Jenkins found Josh Barge, giving JSU first-and-10 from the EKU 31. Jacksonville State added 17 yards on the ensuing two rushes from Josh Clemons down to the Colonels' 14 yard line. However, the EKU defense didn't fret.
 
EKU redshirt freshman Ben Bascom wrangled Jenkins for an eight-yard loss. On the following play, a mishandled snap from Jenkins put the ball on the ground, moving the Gamecocks to the Colonel 28 yard line.
 
Redshirt senior Patrick Graffree denied Clemmons the first down conversion following the completion, forcing another JSU field goal attempt.
 
As he has done time and time again in his career, redshirt senior Devin Borders elevated and knocked down the Stinnett field goal attempt for Borders' OVC record eighth career field goal block.
 
With time winding down in the opening half, the Colonels looked to get on the board but a third-and-11 throw from Coney went into the hands of Gamecock defender.
 
The Colonels came up with a timely takeaway, as redshirt sophomore Jared Tucker broke on a Jenkins' throw for the pick.
 
On the first play of the EKU drive, JSU's Jaylen Hill gave the Gamecocks a 14-0 cushion with a 60-yard interception return for the score before Stinnett tacked on a 25 yard field goal at the 7:04 mark in the third.
 
Junior defensive back Kobie Grace led the Colonel defense, finishing with 13 stops. Redshirt junior linebacker Jeffrey Canady and sophomore linebacker Corey Glass both added 10 tackles.
 
Eastern Kentucky held Jacksonville State to 351 total yards.  The Colonels held the edge through the air, 179-122, but were out-gained on the ground 229-81.  .
 
Notes
Devin Borders logged his eighth blocked field goal of his career. Borders remains the OVC leader in career blocked kicks (13) and blocked field goals (8). He is just two field goal blocks away from tying the national FCS record for blocked field goals.
 
Devin Borders recorded 63 receiving yards on Saturday and passed Elmo Boyd for seventh place on EKU's top-10 career receiving yards list with 1,940 yards.
 
Tyler Swafford's 30-yard touchdown throw to Markush marked the third of his career.
 
Ryan Markush's touchdown catch from Tyler Swafford marked the third of the season for the junior wide receiver.