Game #3 - Eastern Kentucky Colonels

In Western's third game of the still young 2023 season, the Catamounts travel to Richmond, Kentucky to face the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky University.

Western faces the Colonels for just the eighth time overall, as the two teams last played in Cullowhee in 2021, where the Cats dropped a three-point loss to the Colonels when a last minute game tying  field goal attempt fell just short of the cross bar. 

Game #3 - Eastern Kentucky Colonels

When: Saturday, September 16 

Time:   6 PM (EST)
Where: Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000), Richmond, KY
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
   - announcers:  Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers • Color Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV / video:  ESPN+

   - announcers:  Greg Stotelmyer, play-by-play; Jim Tirey, analyst; Wes Chandler, sideline

Live Stats:  EKU Live Stats
EKU Conference:  United Athletic Conference 
Nickname: Colonels
Colors: Maroon and White
Enrollment:  13,327
Message Board:  Maroon Nation
EKU Game Day: Football Game Day Info
Game Notes:  Western Carolina   -   Eastern Kentucky  -  SoCon

The Series: In only the 8th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 2-5 record overall against the Colonels. Western is 1-3 against the Colonels in games played in Richmond. 

Last Game vs. EKU (September 4, 2021) - Catamounts Battle in Season-Opening 31-28 Loss to EKU - Trailing by three in the waning moments of Saturday's 2021 season-opener, Western Carolina moved into field goal range on a pair of Rogan Wells completions to Raphael Williams to set-up second-year freshman placekicker Paxton Robertson for a game-tying field goal. However, his career-long attempt of 56 yards fell just short of the crossbar as Eastern Kentucky held on for the 31-28 victory at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.

Head Coach:  Walt Wells - 4th Season.  Wells was hired as the 15th head coach in program history on Dec. 9, 2019. Wells most recently served as a quality control assistant at the University of Kentucky during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The 2018 Wildcat team beat Florida for the first time in 32 years, posted the program’s best Southeastern Conference (SEC) record in 41 years and beat No. 12-ranked Penn State in the VRBO Citrus Bowl. All totaled, the 10-3 record was Kentucky's best season in 41 years and only the third 10-win season in school history.

Wells record at EKU (Years) / Career :  17-17 (3 years)  /   same  

Wells record vs. WCU:  2-0

Kerwin Bell's record vs. EKU: 0-1

Last Season's Record  (2022 - EKU): 7-5 overall, 5-2 home, 2-3 away, 3-2 OVC
EKU Offensive Formation: Multiple Spread

Offensive Starters Returning/Lost:  6/5
EKU Defensive Formation: 4-3

Defensive Starters Returning/Lost: 3/8

Specialist Returning/Lost: 5/1

Players Returning/Lost: 58/50 

Newcomers: 45

Last season, EKU punched their ticket to the 2022 FCS playoffs by capturing a share of the ASUN regular season championship. The Colonels finished in a three-way tie for the league crown with Central Arkansas and Austin Peay. As the highest-ranked team of the three ASUN contenders in the ASUN-WAC Power Rankings, EKU earned the tiebreaker and claimed the automatic qualifier status by virtue of being ranked above WAC champion Stephen F. Austin.  The Colonels finished 7-5 overall last year, losing 52-41 to Gardner-Webb in the first round of the FCS playoffs. EKU returns two players off the ASUN all-conference team, QB Parker McKinney & OL Payton Collins were 1st team, and TE Lucas Raber was 3d team on the All-Pioneer at Davidson.  

Five EKU Colonels earned recognition on the 2023 Preseason UAC All-Conference Team. Quarterback Parker McKinney was named the UAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and is joined on the team by offensive linemen Payton Collins and Josiah Ezirim, defensive lineman Ryan Jackson, and defensive back Franky West Jr.  McKinney entered the season as the FCS active career leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He was named a preseason All-American by three different organizations and is the Phil Steele Preseason UAC Offensive Player of the Year. 

The Colonels lost 4 players' to the portal after last season, but picked up a total of 12 from the portal, seven from FBS teams and seven from FCS teams.  The FBS transfers are defensive back Tony Davis (Duke), offensive lineman Antonio Gaines (Charlotte), wide receiver Jackson Hensley (Wake Forest), linebacker Cam Junior (Cincinnati), linebacker Kyle Kelly (Ohio), wide receiver Dequan Stanley (South Florida), linebacker Gabe Stephens (North Carolina); 

Offensively, EKU ranked No. 11 in scoring last season, averaging 36.2 points per game. The passing attack averaged 329.7 yards per game, which was No. 3 in the subdivision. Returning are their star quarterback, the No. 1 wide receiver, the No. 1 running back, and five offensive line starters from that team.  Last year, Parker McKinney went 315/459 (69%) passing for 3,956 yards, 33 touchdowns, and eight interceptions while rushing for 354 yards and eight TDs. 2023 marks the first season of United Athletic Conference football. EKU will battle Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, North Alabama, Southern Utah, Stephen F. Austin, Tarleton State, and Utah Tech for the title. 

Defensively, EKU allowed 35.2 points per game (No. 101 in the FCS), 240.2 rushing yards per game (No. 120), and 208.8 passing yards per game (No. 44). To help shore up the defense, Wells brought in transfers in Duke DB Tony Davis and Ohio LB Kyle Kelly along with FCS transfers in Elon DL Marvion Field, ETSU's DL Rodney Wright, and Illinois State DB Franky West (DB). From last year’s squad, the Colonels lose their top three tacklers and only return four of their top 11 tacklers. EKU's defense will be severely tested in their opening two games, as they face two FBS opponents to open the season on the road, as they face Cincinnati (Big 12) and Kentucky (SEC).  

Eastern Kentucky has dropped their opening 2 games of the season, both games played on the road, against FBS opponents.  They opened the schedule with a 13-66 loss to Cincinnati, and then played at Kentucky, with a very respectable 17-28 final score against the Wildcats. 

2023 Eastern Kentucky Statistics (2 games):
Rushing Offense: 217 yards
Yards per game: 108.5
Yards per rush: 3.7 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 12
TDs rushing: 1
Passing Offense: 396 yards or 198 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 7.3 yards
Passing 1st downs: 17
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 32-54-3
TDs Passing: 2
Total Offense: 613 yards or 306.5 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 4-2
3d Down Conversions: 9 of 23 (39%)
4th Down Conversions: 0 of 1 (0%)
Field goal attempts: 3 - 4
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 5 of 5 (100%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 3 of 5 (60%)

PAT-attempts: 3 of 3