St. George, Utah – The Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University ended 2025 strong, with a 33-10 road win over Utah Tech on Saturday night.
 
"Really pleased with how our guys came out tonight," said head coach Wells following the win. "Really pleased with how our guys ran the ball. Our defense was lights out, and I was happy how they stayed focused and just kept going after them."
 
The Colonels' defense was a force all night, holding the Trailblazers to only 197 yards of total offense and 3-of-11 on third downs.
 
The Maroon Doom also added a sack, a strip-sack with fumble recovery, a safety, and a pick-six in the emphatic win.
 
On the flip side, the EKU offense produced 394 yards of total offense with 264 yards on the ground and 130 yards through the air while going 10-of-17 on third downs.
 
The offensive efficiency showed in the time of possession, with the Colonels holding possession for 37:02 to UT's 22:58.
 
On offense, Brayden Latham rushed for a season-high 113 yards on 23 carries while Myles Burkett threw for 130 yards, going 12-of-19 through the air for two touchdowns.
 
In a loaded stat sheet defensively, Frank Lee IV and Braden Sullivan had sacks, with Sullivan's producing a fumble recovered by Kaden Smith, Gabe Stephens recorded a safety, and Jaheim Ward capped the season off with a pick-six.
 
Sullivan and Jacquez McGowan led the Colonels with 7 total tackles each.
 
The win sees EKU end its season at 5-7 for the year and 3-5 in United Athletic Conference play.
 
How It Happened
 
Utah Tech got on the board quickly, scoring on the first drive of the game via a 12-yard catch and run out to the right flight to go up, 7-0 with 11:46 left in the first quarter.
 
The score was set up by a 45-yard pass down the middle of the field to EKU's 15-yard line.
 
The Colonels punched right back on their opening drive, methodically marching 75 yards on 11 plays, capped off by Myles Burkett rolling out to find Jayden West in the back of the end zone on a 14-yard strike.
 
The scoring drive took 5:54 off the clock with the score tied with 5:52 remaining in the opening period.
 
After the initial scoring flurry, neither team was able to put any more points on the board in the first quarter, with three three-and-outs between the two teams before the end of the quarter.
 
EKU broke the deadlock after their first drive in the second quarter was extended via a holding penalty against the Trailblazers on third down at UT's 38-yard line.
 
On the following play, Burkett found tight end Jakobie Hughes at the front right pylon with an 18-yard pass to go up, 14-7 with 12:04 left in the first half.
 
The score finished off a 10-play, 70-yard drive that chewed up 4:55 of game time.
 
After another trio of punts was shared between the two teams, the Trailblazers' defense made its first big play, stripping Burkett as he scrambled, recovering the loose ball at the 50-yard line with 42 seconds remaining.
 
Five plays later, UT hit a 50-yard field goal as time expired on the half, bringing the score to 14-10.
 
A notable stat in the first half for EKU was the Colonels' efficiency on third down, converting on 7-of-9 third downs in the first half while holding the Trailblazers to just 1-of-5.
 
Additionally, EKU outgained UT with 201 yards of total offense compared to the Trailblazers' 141 yards in the first half.
On the opening drive of the second half, the Colonels drove 50 yards on 10 plays to the Trailblazers' 23-yard line, but came up empty, missing a 40-yard field goal attempt with 9:15 on the clock in the third quarter.
 
Following a UT three-and-out on the subsequent drive, another EKU miscue set up the Trailblazers, as the Colonels muffed a punt with UT recovering the ball at the Colonels' 34-yard line.
 
The Colonels escaped unscathed, though, forcing their fourth three-and-out on eight total UT drives at the time, with the Trailblazers missing a 53-yard field goal attempt, wide left with 6:32 left in the third quarter.
 
On the ensuing EKU possession, Brady Hensley ripped off a 29-yard run with an additional 15 yards from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against UT.
 
Two plays later, Hensley hit a cut back on a rush off the left side and powered nine yards into the end zone to put the Colonels up 21-10 with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter.
 
Late in the third quarter, EKU's next possession ended on a fumble at UT's 34-yard line at the end of what would have been a 14-yard catch and run.
 
UT looked to get back in the game following the fumble, driving down to the Colonels' 7-yard line before Braden Sullivan came through the line untouched for a strip sack with fellow linebacker Kaden Smith pouncing on the loose ball at the EKU-29.
 
Late in the fourth quarter, UT went for it on fourth down from its own 17-yard line, with EKU getting the stop on an incomplete pass, taking over inside the red zone.
 
This set up a 31-yard field goal by Buzz Flabiano to put EKU up, 24-10, with 2:44 left in the game.
 
It just got better for EKU's defense, as on the next drive, Gabe Stephens batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage, which UT's quarterback then caught in his own end zone before Stephens continued pursuit and got a sack for a safety to go up 26-10 with 2:39 remaining.
 
Defensive back Jaheim Ward put the icing on the cake with 45 seconds left snagging an interception over the middle, returning it 37 yards for the pick-six pushing the score to its final of 33-10.