RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky will face Jacksonville State in the Opportunity Bowl presented by Dinsmore & Shohl on Saturday at
Roy Kidd Stadium. The Colonels will also celebrate Military Appreciation Day and Senior Day.
The game will air live on ESPN+ with kickoff scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Greg Stotelmyer will handle play-by-play duties with Jim Tirey serving as the analyst and Wes Chandler working as the sideline reporter. The audio broadcast will also be simulcast in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, and can be heard worldwide on EKUSports.com.
INSIDE THE SERIES
- EKU trails the all-time series with the Gamecocks, 7-10.
- The Colonels won the last meeting, 29-23, on the road in 2019.
THE COLONELS
- Eastern Kentucky enters Saturday with a 6-4 record and is looking to snap a two-game skid after losses at Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston.
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Parker McKinney threw for a season-high 338 yards against the top-ranked Bearkats last Saturday.
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Matt Wilcox Jr. caught nine passes for a career-high 103 yards in the loss to Sam Houston. Wilcox became the first Colonel to top 100 yards receiving this season.
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Davion Ross returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown last weekend, earning ASUN Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts.
- Ross currently ranks 10th in the nation with 27.8 yards per kickoff return. He's also fourth nationally in passes defended per game and kick return touchdowns.
- The Colonel defense is one of only six units in all of FCS with four defensive touchdowns.
- EKU's offensive line has allowed just 11 sacks all season.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
- Jacksonville State owns a 5-5 record and is coming off a 38-7 win over Lamar.
- The Gamecocks lead the nation with five defensive touchdowns this season.
- Maxwell Thurmond is entering his second game as JSU's interim head coach.
- Running back Ron Wiggins ran for a career-best 98 yards and two touchdowns in the victory over Lamar.
- Quarterback Zerrick Cooper is JSU's all-time leading passer with 9,373 career passing yards.
