Eastern Kentucky Colonels
Ohio Valley
Eastern Kentucky started the 2014 campaign with six straight wins. And that included trips to Miami (OH) and Tennessee-Martin. The defense let them down after that with a 39-31 loss at Tennessee Tech. In their first five games, EKU allowed just 11.4 points per game. In their next six games, they allowed nearly 32 points per game and we even left the Florida game out of that equation.
2014 Record: 9-3, 6-2
Coach: Dean Hood
Big Wins: 9/6 at Miami OH (17-10), 9/20 at Tennessee-Martin (49-24)
Bad Losses: 10/18 at Tennessee Tech (31-39), 11/8 Jacksonville State (6-20)
Strengths:
When the ball is on the ground, which really is not all that often in the OVC, the Colonels are a tough team to beat. Running back Dy’Shawn Mobley rushed for 1,395 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year. He is an absolute workhorse who can also break out some big runs. Besides Mobley, the running game will mostly come from quarterback Jared McClain. He rushed for 561 yards and eight scores. The defense is pretty good when the opposition runs too. Safety Brandon Stanley is a tackling machine and he will get plenty of help from fellow safety Kiante Northington and linebacker Tyrelle Johnson. Having your safeties lead the team in tackling is not a good thing though and just goes to show how often the opposition prefers to test the secondary instead of trying to run against EKU.
Weaknesses:
And most teams have had success through the air. The secondary can make some big plays, but they also get burnt on a semi-regular basis. In the loss to Tennessee Tech back on October 18th, the Colonels took a 31-10 lead into the fourth quarter. TTU threw for three fourth quarter touchdowns and added a two-point conversion to take the lead. This team is going to run into better passing offenses than Tennessee Tech in the playoffs and somebody has to step up and make defensive plays. On the other side of the ball, McClain has been more productive with his feet than with his arm. On the year he has thrown for just 1,133 yards and five touchdowns, while getting intercepted nine times. It works out fine when Eastern Kentucky has the lead, but this team will continue to have trouble coming from behind.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: Dy’Shawn Mobley, 1,395 yards
Passing: Jared McClain, 1,133 yards
Receiving: Jeff Glover, 672 yards
Tackles: Brandon Stanley, 109
Sacks: Marquise Piton, 3.0
Interceptions: Brandon Stanley, 4
2014 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 243.1 (9th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Passing Offense: 199.6 (76, 7)
Total Offense: 442.7 (24, 4)
Scoring Offense: 35.1 (20, 2)
Rushing Defense: 156.0 (44, 3)
Pass Defense: 253.8 (104, 9)
Total Defense: 409.8 (78, 5)
Scoring Defense: 22.5 (34, 3)
Turnover Margin: 0.27 (41, 1)
Sacks: 1.55 (95, 5)
Sacks Allowed: 1.82 (47, 6)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2011 First Round Lost to James Madison
2008 First Round Lost to Richmond
2007 First Round Lost to Richmond
1997 First Round Lost to Western Kentucky
1995 First Round Lost to Montana
1994 First Round Defeated Boston University
1994 Quarterfinals Lost to Youngstown State
1993 First Round Lost to Georgia Southern
1992 First Round Lost to Marshall
1991 First Round Defeated Appalachian State
1991 Quarterfinals Defeated Middle Tennessee State
1991 Semifinals Lost to Marshall
1990 First Round Lost to Furman
1989 First Round Lost to Youngstown State
1988 First Round Defeated Massachusetts
1988 Quarterfinals Defeated Western Kentucky
1988 Semifinals Lost to Georgia Southern
1987 First Round Defeated Western Kentucky
1987 Quarterfinals Lost to Louisiana Monroe
1986 First Round Defeated Furman
1986 Quarterfinals Defeated Eastern Illinois
1986 Semifinals Lost to Arkansas State
1984 First Round Lost to Middle Tennessee State
1983 First Round Lost to Boston University
1982 Quarterfinals Defeated Idaho
1982 Semifinals Defeated Tennessee State
1982 Championship Defeated Delaware
1981 First Round Defeated Delaware
1981 Semifinals Defeated Boise State
1981 Championship Lost to Idaho State
1980 First Round Defeated Lehigh
1980 Championship Lost to Boise State
1979 First Round Defeated Nevada
1979 Championship Defeated Lehigh
*all team stats through 11/15
