RICHMOND, Ky. –
Devin Orr kicked three field goals, including the go-ahead 33-yarder with 9:01 remaining, as the Eastern Kentucky University football team defeated No. 23 West Florida 16-13 on Saturday at CG Bank Field at Roy Kidd Stadium.
The Colonels (3-5, 2-1 UAC) recovered two second-half fumbles to set up the tying and winning field goals, held the Argonauts to 225 yards of total offense and controlled possession for the final 4:53 to secure the Homecoming victory.
Orr connected from 34, 36 and 33 yards, accounting for EKU's final nine points. His winning kick followed a strip-sack by
Jayden Marable that
Keshawn Hayden recovered at the West Florida 32-yard line.
Blake Kendall completed 16 of 26 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown without an interception in the first start of his collegiate career. Wide Receivers
Elijah Caldwell caught a team-high six passes for 68 yards and EKU's lone touchdown, while
Jayden West added 68 yards on two receptions.
Freshman running back and return specialist
Ryder Hooks totaled 126 all-purpose yards, including 82 yards on four punt returns. His 48-yard return in the first quarter gave the Colonels possession at the West Florida 23-yard line.
Defenders
Kaden Smith and
Cam Jessee led EKU with seven tackles apiece. Smith added a tackle for loss and two pass breakups, while Jessee recorded a fourth-quarter sack that helped end West Florida's final possession of the night.
Marable finished with five tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
Jeffrey Kinley forced and recovered a fumble on punt coverage to set up Orr's tying field goal in the third quarter. The Richmond native has forced defensive turnovers in consecutive games.
EKU finished with 261 yards of offense and held the ball for 35:36. The Colonels limited West Florida (4-3, 1-3 UAC) to 88 rushing yards and four conversions on 14 third-down attempts, surrendering only three points after halftime.
EKU forced a three-and-out on the opening possession before striking quickly on offense. Tight end
Colbey Lamberth, who was inserted at quarterback on the opening drive, connected with West for 48 yards on the Colonels' first offensive play, setting up Kendall's 4-yard touchdown pass to Caldwell with 12:14 remaining in the first.
The defense forced punts on all four West Florida possessions in the first quarter and held the Argonauts without a completed pass. Hooks' 48-yard punt return created another scoring opportunity, but Orr's 33-yard attempt missed.
Orr extended the lead to 10-0 with a 34-yard field goal at the 11:55 mark in the first, finishing an eight-play, 35-yard drive that began late in the first quarter.
West Florida answered late in the half. Quarterback Ty'Ray Davis found wide receiver Luc Carroll for a 15-yard touchdown with 58 seconds remaining, and Reid Grek added a 43-yard field goal as time expired to tie the game at 10 apiece.
West Florida recovered a fumble on EKU's opening possession of the third quarter and took its first lead, 13-10, on Grek's 38-yard field goal with 12:01 remaining.
Kinley provided the response on special teams, forcing and recovering a fumble on a punt return at the West Florida 27-yard line. Orr converted the opportunity into a 36-yard field goal with 4:59 left in the third to pull EKU even.
Marable stripped Davis on a sack, and Hayden recovered at the West Florida 32-yard line with 11:11 remaining in the fourth quarter. Five plays later, Orr's 33-yard field goal put EKU ahead, 16-13.
Jessee sacked Davis on third down to force a punt on West Florida's next possession. EKU took over with 4:53 remaining and never gave the ball back, converting two third downs.
Kendall found running back
Brady Hensley for a 4-yard gain on third-and-1 before picking up another first down with a 2-yard keeper, allowing the Colonels to run out the clock.
Eastern Kentucky returns to action next Saturday facing No. 1 Tarleton State on the road. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium.
