# 2024 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team

The 2024 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team represented Eastern Kentucky University as a member of the United Athletic Conference (UAC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Colonels were be coached by fifth-year head coach Walt Wells and played at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Kentucky.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 6:00 p.m. | at Mississippi State* | | Davis Wade StadiumMississippi State, MS | SECN+/ESPN+ | L 7–56 | 48,724 |
| September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | at Western Kentucky* | | Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith StadiumBowling Green, KY (Battle of the Bluegrass) | ESPN+ | L 0–31 | 16,712 |
| September 14 | 6:00 p.m. | West Georgia | | Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, KY | ESPN+ | W 26–7 | 6,387 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | Morehead State* | | Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, KY (Old Hawg Rifle) | ESPN+ | W 42–13 | 7,087 |
| September 28 | 2:00 p.m. | Robert Morris* | | Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, KY | ESPN+ | W 31–7 | 2,868 |
| October 12 | 4:00 p.m. | at Southern Utah | | Eccles ColiseumCedar City, UT | ESPN+ | L 21–42 | 5,134 |
| October 19 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 17 Abilene Christian | | Wildcat StadiumAbilene, TX | ESPN+ | L 20–34 | 10,411 |
| October 26 | 3:00 p.m. | Utah Tech | | Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, KY | ESPN+ | W 28–17 | 7,491 |
| November 2 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Tarleton State | | Memorial StadiumStephenville, TX | ESPN+ | W 17–13 | 15,281 |
| November 9 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 16 Central Arkansas | | Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, KY | ESPN+ | W 31–24 | 7,902 |
| November 16 | 2:00 p.m. | at Austin Peay | | Fortera StadiumClarksville, TN | ESPN+ | W 30–27 $^{OT}$ | 6,117 |
| November 23 | 2:00 p.m. | North Alabama | No. 25 | Roy Kidd StadiumRichmond, KY | ESPN+ | W 21–15 | 4,226 |
| November 30 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Villanova* | No. 22 | Villanova StadiumVillanova, PA (NCAA Division I First Round) | ESPN+ | L 17–22 | 1,722 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Game summaries
### at Mississippi State (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Bulldogs (FBS) | 14 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 56 |
at Davis Wade Stadium • Starkville, MS
* Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C) • Wind: SE 5 mph
* Game attendance: 48,724
* Referee: Wayne Winker
* TV announcers (SECN+/ESPN+): Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play) and Charlie Strong (analyst)
* Box Score
| Statistics | EKU | MSST |
| First downs | 16 | 19 |
| Total yards | 295 | 450 |
| Rushing yards | 126 | 203 |
| Passing yards | 169 | 247 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–38–1 | 15–22–0 |
| Time of possession | 38:06 | 21:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 22/38, 169 yds, TD, INT |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 19 rushes, 75 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Marcus Calwise Jr. | 5 receptions, 45 yds |
| Mississippi State | Passing | Blake Shapen | 15/20, 247 yds, 3 TD |
| Mississippi State | Rushing | Blake Shapen | 7 rushes, 44 yds, TD |
| Mississippi State | Receiving | Jordan Mosley | 5 receptions, 104 yds, TD |

### at Western Kentucky (FBS) (Battle of the Bluegrass)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hilltoppers (FBS) | 10 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
at Houchens Industries-L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, Kentucky
* Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 16,712
* Referee: Reed Brotherton
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Steve Schlanger (play-by-play) and Terry Obee (analyst)
* Box Score
| Statistics | EKU | WKU |
| First downs | 13 | 25 |
| Total yards | 266 | 467 |
| Rushing yards | 190 | 116 |
| Passing yards | 76 | 351 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 11–20–0 | 27–39–0 |
| Time of possession | 34:10 | 25:50 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 9/17, 70 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 19 rushes, 100 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Marcus Calwise Jr. | 4 receptions, 24 yds |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | TJ Finley | 27/39, 351 yds, TD |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Elijah Young | 13 rushes, 52 yds, 2 TD |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Kisean Johnson | 6 receptions, 119 yds |

### vs. West Georgia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolves | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Colonels | 3 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 26 |
at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY
* Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,387
* Referee: Matthew Jones
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | UWG | EKU |
| First downs | 21 | 19 |
| Total yards | 380 | 365 |
| Rushing yards | 185 | 88 |
| Passing yards | 195 | 277 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–31–0 | 17–30–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:53 | 33:07 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Georgia | Passing | Davin Wydner | 16/31, 195 yds |
| West Georgia | Rushing | Rajaez Mosley | 23 rushes, 85 yds, TD |
| West Georgia | Receiving | Karmello English | 9 receptions, 109 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 17/30, 277 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 19 rushes, 61 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Jalen Montgomery | 1 reception, 46 yds |

### vs. Morehead State (Old Hawg Rifle)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Colonels | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY
* Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C)
* Game attendance: 7,087
* Referee: Michael Frain
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | MORE | EKU |
| First downs | 13 | 27 |
| Total yards | 228 | 463 |
| Rushing yards | 77 | 301 |
| Passing yards | 151 | 162 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–27–2 | 13–19–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:08 | 28:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Morehead State | Passing | Bryce Patterson | 8/14, 106 yds, INT |
| Morehead State | Rushing | James Louis | 13 rushes, 69 yds |
| Morehead State | Receiving | Nathan Garnett Jr. | 4 receptions, 55 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 13/19, 162 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Brayden Latham | 11 rushes, 76 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Dequan Stanley | 3 receptions, 49 yds, 2 TD |

### vs. Robert Morris

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonials | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Colonels | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY
* Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Rain • Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C)
* Game attendance: 2,868
* Referee: Michael Lennie
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | RMU | EKU |
| First downs | 17 | 23 |
| Total yards | 232 | 513 |
| Rushing yards | 71 | 242 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 271 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 19–38–1 | 18–34–0 |
| Time of possession | 28:05 | 31:55 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Robert Morris | Passing | Anthony Chiccitt | 18/36, 142 yds, INT |
| Robert Morris | Rushing | Tyvon Edmonds Jr. | 14 rushes, 31 yds |
| Robert Morris | Receiving | Noah Robinson | 9 receptions, 89 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 17/29, 265 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 19 rushes, 123 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Dequan Stanley | 4 receptions, 78 yds, TD |

### at Southern Utah

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 21 |
| Thunderbirds | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
at Eccles Coliseum • Cedar City, UT
* Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: NE 13 miles per hour (21 km/h)
* Game attendance: 5,134
* Referee: John Kellermeier
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | EKU | SUU |
| First downs | 23 | 27 |
| Total yards | 276 | 482 |
| Rushing yards | 69 | 278 |
| Passing yards | 207 | 204 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–36–1 | 13–23–0 |
| Time of possession | 23:18 | 36:42 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 24/36, 207 yds, TD, INT |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 11 rushes, 43 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Dequan Stanley | 6 receptions, 47 yds, TD |
| Southern Utah | Passing | Jackson Berry | 13/23, 204 yds, 3 TD |
| Southern Utah | Rushing | Targhee Lambson | 34 rushes, 170 yds, 3 TD |
| Southern Utah | Receiving | Devin Downing | 3 receptions, 69 yds, TD |

### at No. 17 Abilene Christian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| No. 17 Wildcats | 0 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 34 |
at Wildcat Stadium, Abilene, Texas
* Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
* Game time: 4:00 pm
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 10,411
* Referee: Zach Erdmann
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | EKU | ACU |
| First downs | 19 | 27 |
| Total yards | 357 | 552 |
| Rushing yards | 92 | 212 |
| Passing yards | 265 | 340 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20–33–3 | 24–37–1 |
| Time of possession | 29:24 | 30:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 20/33, 265 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 16 rushes, 79 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Dequan Stanley | 5 receptions, 116 yds, TD |
| Abilene Christian | Passing | Maverick McIvor | 24/37, 340 yds, 3 TD, INT |
| Abilene Christian | Rushing | Sam Hicks | 24 rushes, 146 yds, TD |
| Abilene Christian | Receiving | Blayne Taylor | 10 receptions, 154 yds, 2 TD |

### vs. Utah Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Trailblazers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Colonels | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY
* Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
* Game time: 3:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 7,491
* Referee: Branden McCain
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | UTU | EKU |
| First downs | 21 | 24 |
| Total yards | 346 | 362 |
| Rushing yards | 115 | 287 |
| Passing yards | 231 | 75 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–40–0 | 10–18–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:19 | 33:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Utah Tech | Passing | Bronson Barben | 22/39, 231 yds, 2 TD |
| Utah Tech | Rushing | Bronson Barben | 13 rushes, 37 yds |
| Utah Tech | Receiving | Josh Rillos | 7 receptions, 72 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 10/18, 75 yds |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 31 rushes, 167 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Ron Vann Jr. | 4 receptions, 33 yds |

### at No. 7 Tarleton State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colonels | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| No. 7 Texans | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Memorial Stadium • Stephenville, TX
* Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: SE 14 miles per hour (23 km/h)
* Game attendance: 15,281
* Referee: Brad Carrell
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | EKU | TAR |
| First downs | 16 | 22 |
| Total yards | 274 | 397 |
| Rushing yards | 243 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 31 | 234 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 6–11–1 | 17–41–3 |
| Time of possession | 33:46 | 25:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 6/11, 31 yds, INT |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 22 rushes, 147 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Caeleb Schlachter | 1 reception, 11 yds |
| Tarleton State | Passing | Victor Gabalis | 17/41, 234 yds, TD, 3 INT |
| Tarleton State | Rushing | Kayvon Britten | 25 rushes, 154 yds |
| Tarleton State | Receiving | Benjamin Omayebu | 9 receptions, 100 yds |

### vs. No. 16 Central Arkansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Bears | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Colonels | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY
* Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 pm
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind: E 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 7,902
* Referee: Drew Myers
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | UCA | EKU |
| First downs | 25 | 14 |
| Total yards | 458 | 268 |
| Rushing yards | 201 | 160 |
| Passing yards | 257 | 108 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–36–1 | 10–20–0 |
| Time of possession | 31:26 | 28:34 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Central Arkansas | Passing | Will McElvain | 10/14, 113 yds, 2 TD |
| Central Arkansas | Rushing | Darius Hale | 16 rushes, 90 yds |
| Central Arkansas | Receiving | Trejan Bridges | 8 receptions, 143 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 10/20, 108 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Brayden Latham | 11 rushes, 73 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Marcus Calwise Jr. | 3 receptions, 37 yds, TD |

### at Austin Peay

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Colonels | 7 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 30 |
| Governors | 10 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
at Fortera Stadium • Clarksville, TN
* Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C) • Wind: E 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 6,117
* Referee: Gabriel Tomlin
* TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD
* Box Score
| Statistics | EKU | APSU |
| First downs | 27 | 12 |
| Total yards | 402 | 287 |
| Rushing yards | 172 | 48 |
| Passing yards | 230 | 239 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–33–1 | 23–35–0 |
| Time of possession | 38:16 | 21:44 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 21/33, 230 yds, TD, INT |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Joshua Carter | 26 rushes, 106 yds, 2 TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Marcus Calwise Jr. | 6 receptions, 83 yds, TD |
| Austin Peay | Passing | Austin Smith | 23/35, 239 yds, 2 TD |
| Austin Peay | Rushing | La'Vell Wright | 8 rushes, 16 yds |
| Austin Peay | Receiving | Jaden Barnes | 8 receptions, 131 yds, TD |

### vs. North Alabama

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 15 |
| No. 25 Colonels | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Roy Kidd Stadium • Richmond, KY
* Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 42 °F (6 °C) • Wind: W 7 miles per hour (11 km/h)
* Game attendance: 4,226
* Referee: Zach Erdmann
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Greg Stotelymyer (play-by-play), Wes Chandler and Jim Tirey (analysts)
* Box Score
| Statistics | UNA | EKU |
| First downs | 26 | 16 |
| Total yards | 441 | 395 |
| Rushing yards | 116 | 241 |
| Passing yards | 325 | 154 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 23–39–2 | 9–15–1 |
| Time of possession | 31:55 | 28:05 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North Alabama | Passing | TJ Smith | 23/39, 325 yds, TD, 2 INT |
| North Alabama | Rushing | Jayvian Allen | 17 rushes, 79 yds |
| North Alabama | Receiving | Tanaka Scott | 6 receptions, 109 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing | Matt Morrissey | 9/15, 154 yds, TD, INT |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing | Brayden Latham | 19 rushes, 103 yds, TD |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving | Marcus Calwise Jr. | 5 receptions, 99 yds, TD |

### at No. 12 Villanova (NCAA Division I playoff–first round)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Colonels | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| No. 12 Wildcats | 0 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
at Villanova Stadium, Villanova, PA
* Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Jordan Reid (analyst)
* Statistics
* First downs
* Total yards
* Rushing yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: Comp–Att–Int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Eastern Kentucky | Passing |
| Eastern Kentucky | Rushing |
| Eastern Kentucky | Receiving |
| Villanova | Passing |
| Villanova | Rushing |
| Villanova | Receiving |