SFA (4-3) vs. EKU (2-4)
WHEN: NOV. 7 (SAT.) 3:00 P.M.
WHERE: RICHMOND, KENTUCKY (ROY KIDD STADIUM)
TV: ESPN3
The Lumberjacks take it to the road this week, destination, Richmond, Kentucky for an FCS matchup with the 2-4 Colonels of Eastern Kentucky.
The beginning of the season was not kind to EKU as they were outscored 115-10 against FBS competition Marshall and West Virginia and took a home loss to SLC team Houston Baptist.
But the Colonels have rebounded very nicely of late and are playing some very good football with a near win at Troy, where the Titans had to come from behind to win on a last second field goal. In their last contest EKU took down SLC powerhouse Central Arkansas 31-28.
The EKU offense is led by sophomore QB Parker McKinney 6-3; 210 who has completed 102 passes for 1,358 yards, 12 TD and 5 INTs (64.2%) as well as 150 yards on the ground (2nd on the team in rushing) this season.
McKinney threw for a season high 370 yards and 2 TDs at Troy (including a 90-yard bomb to set a new EKU record for longest passing TD in a game), but McKinney had his most efficient game against UCA completing 75% of his passes for 216 yards and 2 TDs with no INTs and no sacks before leaving the game with an injury.
Back-up junior QB Dakota Allen 6-4; 225 replaced McKinney in that game, completing 9 of 14 for 85 yards and 1 TD also rushing for 59 yards and a score. The passing TD came with seconds remaining in the game, to defeat UCA. Allen could possibly be the starter against SFA this weekend.
At receiver look for speedster and Tennessee transfer junior WR Jacquez Jones 5-10; 170 who had 136 yards against UCA, and their big target senior wide out Keyion Dixon 6-3; 190 who leads the team in receiving yards (494) and TDs (5)
The rushing attack is led by junior running back and 2nd team all-conference player Alonso Booth 6-1; 250 who has rushed for 365 yards (4.5 pc) and 3 TDs so far this season.
On defense the Colonels are led by junior linebacker Matthew Jackson 6-2; 210 who leads the team in tackles with 62 and TFL with 7.0 to go along with 2.5 sacks.
EKU is coached by first year head coach Walt Wells who came over from the University of Kentucky where he served as a quality control assistant for the Wildcats in the last two seasons. This is Coach Wells first time as a head coach in his career. Wells takes over a program that is coming off of back to back 7-win seasons.
The Lumberjacks look to extend their winning streak to 5 games, which would be the first time since the SLC Champion team of 2010, as well as trying to stay on track for their first winning season in 6 years.
AXE'EM