Topic: Eastern Kentucky University Foot
Eastern Kentucky University vs. Jacksonville State University
Burgess-Snow Field
Jacksonville State University
Jacksonville, AL
November 23, 2019
© 2019 by Ron Harrison
Eastern Kentucky University used a record-setting performance by kicker Sam Hayworth to defeat Jacksonville State University by a score of 29-23 to finish the season at 7-5. Hayworth kicked five field goals and two extra points to give him 17 points for the game which set a program record for points by a kicker in the game and his five field goals tied another EKU record. Jacksonville State had one last opportunity but the game ended on a quarterback back by Aaron Patrick which moved him into second place among all sack leaders at EKU. Eastern Kentucky University recorded 26 first downs and 396 yards of total offense. The Colonels were penalized five times for 40 yards. Jacksonville recorded 22 first downs and 391 yards of total offense. The Gamecocks were penalized seven times for 48 yards and lost one fumble.
Daryl McCleskey led Eastern Kentucky’s ground game with 110 yards on 24 carries. Alonzo Booth carried the ball 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown. Conor Blount recorded 31 yards on five carries. Conor Blount completed 18 of 35 passes for 172 yards and one touchdown. Dakota Allen completed his only pass for 21 yards. Jerome Gross caught six passes for 63 yards. Matt Wilcox Jr. added four receptions for 18 yards. BK Smith recorded three receptions for 38 yards. Daryl McCleskey chipped in with two catches for 27 yards. Keyion Dixon added one reception for 18 yards and Jackson Beerman caught a 17 yard touchdown pass. Quentin Pringle returned three kickoffs for 68 yards including a long return of 32 yards. Sam Hayworth connected on field goals of 34, 24, 25, 50, and 28 yards, missed on a 48 yard attempt and connected on two conversion kicks. Hayworth also kicked off seven times for a 56.1 average and three touchbacks. Corey Glass led the defense with seven solo and two assisted tackles. Allante Leapheart added four solo and five assisted tackles with one of his tackles resulting in a two yard loss. Ben Bascom recorded six solo tackles and Brentton Ervin chipped in with four solo and one assisted tackles with one of his tackles resulting in a three yard loss. Taquan Evans added two solo and two assisted tackles with 2.5 of his tackles resulting in losses totaling 11 yards. Aaron Patrick recorded three solo tackles with two of his tackles resulting in losses totaling six yards. Steven Crowder recovered a fumble.
Zerrick Cooper led Jacksonville State’s ground game with 44 yards on 17 carries. Michael Matthews carried the ball eight times for 33 yards. Zerrick Cooper completed 21 of 35 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. Jamari Hester caught nine passes for 186 yards. KJ Stepherson added seven receptions for 80 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Pearson added two receptions for 28 yards. Zack Woodard led the defense with five solo and six assisted tackles with one of his tackles resulting in a one yard loss. Jalen Choice added two solo and nine assisted tackles. Charles Crawford and Yul Gowdy each recorded four solo and two assisted tackles. Traco Williams added three solo and one assisted tackles with one of his tackles resulting in an eight yard loss.
Scoring Summary
| School | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 6 | 3 | 14 | 6 | 29 |
| Jacksonville State University | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| JSU | - | KJ Stepherson 20 yard pass from Zerrick Cooper (Bryan Wallace run fumbled) |
| EKU | - | Sam Hayworth kicks a 34 yard field goal |
| EKU | - | Sam Hayworth kicks a 24 yard field goal |
| JSU | - | Bryant Wallace kicks a 21 yard field goal |
| EKU | - | Sam Hayworth kicks a 25 yard field goal |
| EKU | - | Jackson Beerman 17 yard pass from Conor Blount (Sam Hayworth kick) |
| JSU | - | KJ Stepherson 10 yard pass from Zerrick Cooper (BryantWallace kick) |
| EKU | - | Alonzo Booth 1 yard run (Sam Hayworth kick) |
| EKU | - | Sam Hayworth kicks a 50 yard field goal |
| EKU | - | Sam Hayworth kicks a 28 yard field goal |
| JSU | - | KJ Stepherson 18 yard pass from Zerrick Cooper (Bryant Wallace kick) |
Selected Statistics
| Eastern Kentucky University | ||||
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| Rushing | No. | Yds. | Avg. | Long |
| Daryl McCleskey | 24 | 110 | 4.6 | 23 |
| Alonzo Booth | 16 | 54 | 3.4 | 12 |
| Conor Blount | 5 | 31 | 6.2 | 12 |
| Davion Ross | 1 | 8 | 8,0 | 8 |
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| Passing | A-C-I | Yds. | TD | Long |
| Conor Blount | 35-18-0 | 172 | 1 | 27 |
| Dakota Allen | 1-1-0 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
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| Receiving | No. | Yds. | TD | Long |
| Jerome Gross | 6 | 63 | 0 | 21 |
| Matt Wilcox Jr. | 4 | 18 | 0 | 7 |
| BK Smith | 3 | 38 | 0 | 17 |
| Daryl McCleskey | 2 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| Keyion Dixon | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Jackson Beerman | 1 | 17 | 1 | 17 |
| Ethan Bradds | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Davion Ross | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
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| Jacksonville State University | ||||
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| Rushing | No. | Yds. | Avg. | Long |
| Zerrick Cooper | 17 | 44 | 2.6 | 14 |
| Michael Matthews | 8 | 33 | 4.1 | 13 |
| Uriah West | 2 | 3 | 1.5 | 5 |
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| Passing | A-C-I | Yds. | TD | Long |
| Zerrick Cooper | 35-21-0 | 311 | 3 | 40 |
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| Receiving | No. | Yds. | TD | Long |
| Jamari Hester | 9 | 186 | 0 | 40 |
| KJ Stepherson | 7 | 80 | 3 | 20 |
| Josh Pearson | 2 | 28 | 0 | 20 |
| Jerad Washington | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Michael Matthews | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| YeMajesty Sanders | 1 | -6 | 0 | 0 |
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to the Jacksonville State University Stats Crew for the comprehensive stats provided for today’s games.
Please feel free to send your comments and questions concerning the event, teams, or players to me at prepgridiron@yahoo.com.
Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other football events appear on https://www.angelfire.com/ky2/prepgridiron.