Box Score Final Stats (PDF)

NACOGDOCHES, Texas. – The Eastern Kentucky football team dropped its first ASUN-WAC Challenge game of the season with a 31-17 loss to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night at Homer Bryce Stadium.

Stephen F. Austin led 14-0 early in the second quarter before EKU got on the board with a 27-yard field goal from Patrick Nations with 8:47 left in the half. On SFA's next offensive snap, Kelton Dawson stripped the Lumberjack quarterback and Roland Walder recovered the fumble, returning the ball to the SFA 24-yard line. Three plays later, Parker McKinney found Matt Wilcox Jr. for a seven-yard score.

SFA extended the lead in the third quarter, scoring on its first possession of the second half to go up 24-10.

Braedon Sloan pulled the Colonels within seven with 11:39 left in the fourth quarter when he took an option pitch from McKinney and scampered eight yards for the touchdown. However, the Lumberjacks answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive to push lead to 31-17 with 7:44 remaining. 

McKinney was 30-of-50 for 273 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also led the Colonels with 100 yards rushing. Jyran Mitchell caught a team-high eight passes for 69 yards. 

Kyle Bailey led EKU's defense with 12 tackles, while Matthew Jackson added nine stops. Jaden Woods notched an interception and T.K. McClendon Jr. made six tackles. 

Eastern Kentucky travels to No. 1 Sam Houston on Saturday, Nov. 13, for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.