RICHMOND, Ky. – After nearly upsetting a Southeastern Conference opponent, the Eastern Kentucky University football team will play host to Tennessee Tech University on Thursday night at Roy Kidd Stadium.
Thursday’s game is a “Blackout.” Colonel fans are encouraged to wear black. Free black t-shirts will be available for students while supplies last. Thursday is also Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night. EKU faculty and staff can receive two free tickets to the game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
The live radio broadcast of the game is available in the Richmond area on WCYO 100.7 FM, and can be heard worldwide on EKUSports.com. A live free video broadcast is available on OVCDigitalNetwork.com.
The Colonels (2-2, 1-0 OVC) built a 14-point lead at Kentucky on Saturday, but couldn’t hold off a Wildcat rally and lost 34-27 in overtime. Eastern dominated the game for three-and-a-half quarters. EKU controlled the ground game to the tune of 180-55. Of UK’s 384 yards of offense, 124 came on the final two drives of regulation and its possession in overtime.
Eastern protected the ball, finishing with two fewer turnovers than the Wildcats, and the defense was camped out in the Kentucky backfield for most of the night. EKU had four sacks and two more quarterback hurries. The Colonel offensive line allowed just two sacks, one of which didn’t come until the final play of the game.
Tennessee Tech is 2-3 this season and 1-1 against Ohio Valley Conference teams. The Golden Eagles had won two in a row before falling at home to Tennessee-Martin, 31-17, on Saturday. TTU managed just 199 yards of offense. UTM had a 228-123 advantage in rushing and a 248-76 edge in passing yards. Three fumbles kept the Skyhawks from putting even more points on the board.
Tech running back Ladarius Vanlier finished with 118 yards, but quarterback Jared Davis completed just 8-of-34 passes.
EKU is second in the OVC in rushing defense (110.8 ypg) and Tennessee Tech is last (252.2 ypg). The game does feature two of the top three teams in the conference in turnover margin. EKU is first at +1.5 per game while Tech is tied for third at +1.0 per game.
Eastern Kentucky freshman running back Ethan Thomas has come on strong the last two games. After totaling just six yards in the first two games of the season, Thomas has led the Colonels in rushing each of the last two, finishing with 59 yards and two touchdowns against Austin Peay and 84 yards at Kentucky. Senior All-American Dy’Shawn Mobley, who had been slowed by an injury through the first three games, ran the ball a season-high 21 times for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Wildcats.
Defensively, Ohio State transfer Noah Spence had 1.5 sacks against UK and has at least one sack in each game this season. Senior cornerback Stanley Absanon picked up his second interception of the season at Kentucky and has a team-best four pass breakups. Linebacker Chris Kelly had 11 tackles on Saturday and was chosen as the OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
Eastern Kentucky leads the all-time series with Tennessee Tech 52-19, but the Golden Eagles earned a 39-31 victory last season in Cookeville.
Please note the important information below regarding parking, tailgating, street closures and student seating.
GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE
Ticket Office
The EKU ticket office in Alumni Coliseum will close at 2 p.m. in preparation for the game. The ticket booths at Roy Kidd Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m.
Parking
• In preparation for the Thursday night home football game, the east side commuter section of the Alumni Coliseum parking lot and a portion of the commuter section of the Van Hoose commuter parking lot will be closed beginning at 10 p.m. Wednesday, October 7th, all vehicles must vacate the lots by this time. Vehicles left in these lots will be ticketed and impounded at the owner’s expense. The Alumni Coliseum Lot will reopen for parking at 4 p.m., Thursday, October 8, 2015.
• Additional commuter parking will be available in the Ashland parking lot which is served by the campus shuttle service. In addition commuter students may also park in the EKU Center for the Arts in the back parking lots located off Lancaster Ave. and the Perkins Building parking lots. Two dedicated express shuttles to and from the Whitlock Building will be provided 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• A reminder to Colonel Club members: an alternate route to the Colonel Club parking area is available by entering near Model School.
• Alternate parking areas include: Brockton Lot, located off Van Hoose Drive and behind the Brockton Apartments; Greg Adams Tennis Complex Lot, located across the Bypass from Roy Kidd Stadium.
• Please use one parking space per car or truck.
• From 5:30 p.m. and until 30 minutes after the conclusion of this football game, Roy and Sue Kidd Way will be closed to vehicle traffic from Van Hoose Drive to the Eastern Bypass.
• After each game, Kit Carson Drive will be closed to southbound traffic from the Park Drive intersection to the Van Hoose intersection. This closing will occur at the end of each game and will last normally for a period of thirty (30) to forty-five (45) minutes. However, the closing may occur earlier and last longer than anticipated depending on traffic conditions and the size of the crowd.
Tailgating
To ensure that you and all fans have a positive tailgating experience, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:
• All state and local laws must be observed.
• Responsible alcohol consumption will be allowed in designated locations in the Colonel Club and Alumni Parking lots for attendees age 21 or older only.
• For safety reasons, all beverages shall be consumed from plastic or paper cups and not in cans or bottles.
• Kegs are not permitted.
• Please clean up your tailgating area before going to the game or leaving the parking area.
• Please behave in an appropriate and responsible manner. Throwing objects or climbing on vehicles is not permitted.
Student Section
Changes have been made to improve student seating during the reconstruction of Roy Kidd Stadium:
• Student seating is available in the upper rows of sections A and B.
• Students can also sit in the 2nd level in sections AA through CC, FF through HH and AAA through GGG.
Handicapped Ticket Information
• The handicapped seating area at Roy Kidd Stadium is located on top of the hill in the end zone opposite the scoreboard.
• Patrons must purchase a General Admission ticket to watch the game from this area.
• Patrons are welcome to have a companion sit with them in the area. Folding chairs are provided for any guests that need them.
• The handicapped accessible restrooms are located inside the Begley Building, behind section A under the ramp from the student entrance.
• Handicapped parking is available in the Moberly Lot past the Stadium off Roy and Sue Kidd Way on the right from the Bypass.
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