RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team held its first scrimmage of Fall camp on Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium ahead of the 2024 season that begins in 21 days on the road at Mississippi State.
 
"One big positive today was the energy that we had," said head coach Walt Wells. "We got some players with athletic ability and they are doing things the right way. We have to continue to develop and understand our systems both offensively and defensively… very pleased for a first scrimmage, but we still have things to clean up."
 
The EKU defense brought energy from the start with multiple stops highlighted on the fourth drive of the scrimmage as Gabe Fletcher recorded a sack (play blown dead before quarterback was hit), before Garnell Wilds Jr. made a great break on a stop route to pick the pass off.
 
The offense responded on its next drive as two swing passes to Jalen Montgomery combining for 31 yards served as a catalyst, setting Patrick Nations up for a 29-yard field goal which he converted.
 
On the following drive, the offense stayed hot starting at the 50-yard line as wide receiver Jayden West took the drive over with three receptions totaling 35 yards culminating in a five-yard reception at full vertical extension at the goal line for the offenses' first touchdown of the day.
 
Two drives later, the defense got their payback as defensive lineman Ryan Jackson broke through and forced a fumble in the backfield that was scooped-up by linebacker Kaden Smith for a 27-yard scoop-and-score.
 
The final highlight of the scrimmage came on the 16^th drive as quarterback Colbey Lamberth led a 10-play, 50-yard drive that ended with five-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Banks at the front corner pylon through two defenders.
 
EKU will have two more scrimmages before they kick the season off on Aug. 31 at Mississippi State.
 
Single-game and season tickets for the 2024 EKU football season are now on sale through the EKU athletics ticket office. Tickets can be purchased online here, by phone at 859-622-2122, or by email to raymond.white@eku.edu.