RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University came out on top in Saturday night's "Clash of the Colonels," knocking off Nicholls at home, 27-7.
 
After allowing Nicholls to score on just the third play from scrimmage, the EKU defense was stout and resolute, keeping Nicholls off the board the remainder of the game, forcing three turnovers on downs, a fumble recovery, and an interception.
 
The interception was a 16-yard pick-six by linebacker Kaden Smith that proved to be the game-winner in the third quarter.
 
Running back Brady Hensley had a career game as the sophomore from Richmond totaled 148 yards on the ground on 14 carries, including a 68-yard touchdown blast up the middle that tied the game for EKU in the second quarter.
 
Kicker Buzz Flabiano totaled nine points with two field goals on two attempts and three PATs.
 
"It's always good to get a win," said head coach Walt Wells. "The kids are excited, the coaches are excited, and I'm excited… I'm proud of our guys for stepping up like they did and making the plays that they did. We struggled early offensively, but it was nice to see them come together, move the ball, and start doing some good things."
 
The win sees EKU improve to 2-3 on the season while Nicholls drops to 1-4. The win also marks nine straight wins at Roy Kidd Stadium for EKU.
 
How It Happened
 
Nicholls started the game quickly, scoring on just the third play from scrimmage on a running back screen pass that went for 60 yards down the sideline to go up 7-0 with only a minute and six seconds off the clock.
 
After the teams traded punts, Nicholls found itself driving into EKU territory once again, but EKU stood tall to force a turnover-on-downs late in the first quarter at EKU's 33-yard line.
 
Nicholls threatened to score again early in the second quarter, marching down to EKU's 12-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth-and-four on a pass to the endzone, leaving the score at 7-0, Nicholls.
 
The Maroon and White came to life offensively two possessions later as running back Brady Hensley broke a 68-yard run up the middle, knifing his way through the Nicholls' defense for six.
 
The score saw the game tied at 7-7 with 4:48 remaining in the half.
 
In the second half, the "Maroon Doom" defense of EKU provided its third touchdown of the season as linebacker Kaden Smith intercepted a screen pass in Nicholls' backfield before sprinting 16 yards for the pick-six to put EKU up, 14-7, early in the third quarter.
 
After both teams traded two punts each, EKU extended its lead courtesy of a 38-yard field goal from Buzz Flabiano to go up 17-7 with 1:10 remaining in the period.
 
The field goal capped off a 7-play, 36-yard drive.
 
EKU's defense struck again on the ensuing drive for Nicholls as defensive lineman Gabe Fletcher pounced on a botched snap exchange, setting EKU up at Nicholls' 45-yard line.
 
10 plays later, EKU hit paydirt as quarterback Myles Burkett found wide receiver Dequan Stanley all alone in the middle of the end zone for the score.
 
The touchdown marked Burkett's first passing touchdown at EKU and extended the lead to 24-7 with 9:41 left in the fourth quarter.
 
EKU's defense followed up the fumble recovery by forcing its third turnover on downs on the evening as Nicholls went for it on fourth-and-three from their own 37 and failed to convert with an incomplete pass.
 
 
EKU tacked on a field goal for insurance with Flabiano hitting his second of the night, this time from 36 yards with just under five minutes left in the game, putting EKU up, 27-7.
 
The defense of EKU put the nail in the coffin on the following drive as Vito Tisdale snagged a pass at the goal line to seal the victory for EKU.
 
Up Next
 
EKU now enters its off week and will next play on Oct. 11 at Roy Kidd Stadium against nationally ranked Austin Peay.