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2020 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 2020

| team = Eastern Kentucky Colonels

| sport = football

| image = Eastern Kentucky Colonels logo.svg

| image_size = 150

| conference = Ohio Valley Conference

| short_conf = OVC

| record = 3–6

| conf_record = 0–0

| head_coach = Walt Wells

| hc_year = 1st

| off_coach = Andy Richman

| oc_year = 1st

| off_scheme =

| def_coach = Jake Johnson

| dc_year = 1st

| def_scheme =

| captain =

| stadium = Roy Kidd Stadium

| champion = Opportunity Bowl champion

}}

{{2020 Ohio Valley Conference football standings}}

The 2020 Eastern Kentucky Colonels football team represented Eastern Kentucky University during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by Walt Wells in his first season as the program's 15th head coach.{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Josh|url=https://www.kentucky.com/sports/college/kentucky-sports/uk-football/article238195669.html|title=Kentucky quality control assistant Walt Wells named head coach at EKU|publisher=Lexington Herald-Leader|date=December 9, 2019|accessdate=April 16, 2020}} The Colonels played their home games at Roy Kidd Stadium and competed as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.

Schedule

While the Ohio Valley Conference moved conference games to the spring of 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while allowing member schools to play four non-conference games in the fall of 2020, Eastern Kentucky scheduled eight non-conference games for the fall of 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.nationofblue.com/eastern-kentucky-football-goes-against-ovc-plan-schedules-8-non-conference-games/ |title=Eastern Kentucky football goes against OVC plan, schedules 8 non-conference games |website=nationofblue.com |date=August 21, 2020 |accessdate=September 5, 2020}}

{{CFB schedule

| time = y

| tv = y

| attend = y

| opprank = y

| rankyear = 2020

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS

| poll = STATS

| timezone = Eastern

| September 5 | 1:00 p.m. |@| Marshall | Joan C. Edwards Stadium | Huntington, WV | ESPN | L 0–59 | 12,001

| September 12|12:00 p.m. |@| West Virginia | Milan Puskar Stadium | Morgantown, WV | FS1 | L 10–56 | 976

| September 26| 1:00 p.m. |@| The Citadel | Johnson Hagood Stadium | Charleston, SC | ESPN+ | W 37–14 | 3,081

| October 3 | 3:00 p.m. | | Houston Baptist | Roy Kidd Stadium | Richmond, KY | ESPN+ | L 30–33 | 2,916

| October 17 | 7:00 p.m. |@| Troy | Veterans Memorial Stadium | Troy, AL | ESPN3 | L 29–31 | 10,500

| October 24 | 3:00 p.m. | | No. 11 Central Arkansas | Roy Kidd Stadium | Richmond, KY | ESPN+ | W 31–28 | 2,932

| November 7 | 3:00 p.m. | | Stephen F. Austin | Roy Kidd Stadium | Richmond, KY | ESPN+ | L 6–24 | 2,569

| November 14 | 4:00 p.m. |@| No. 11 Central Arkansas | Estes Stadium | Conway, AR | ESPN+ | L 25-37 | 2,000

| November 21 | 3:00 p.m. | | Western Carolina | Roy Kidd Stadium | Richmond, KY
(Opportunity Bowl){{cite web |title=EKU To Host Inaugural Opportunity Bowl |url=https://ekusports.com/news/2020/10/26/football-eku-to-host-inaugural-opportunity-bowl.aspx |publisher=Eastern Kentucky University |access-date=November 22, 2023 |date=October 26, 2020}}| ESPN+ | W 49-17 | 3,009

}}

{{cite web |title=2020 Eastern Kentucky Football Schedule |url=https://fbschedules.com/eastern-kentucky-football-schedule/ |website=FBSchedules.com |accessdate=September 5, 2020}}

Game summaries

=At Marshall=

{{see also|2020 Marshall Thundering Herd football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Eastern Kentucky Colonels}}; text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|bg=#fff

|bg2=#eee

|title=Game One – Eastern Kentucky Colonels at Marshall Thundering Herd

|date=Saturday, September 5, 2020

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Colonels

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0

|home=Thundering Herd

|H1=21|H2=17|H3=14|H4=7

|stadium=Joan C. Edwards Stadium • Huntington, West Virginia

|attendance=

|weather=Clear • Temperature: {{convert|77|F|C}} • Wind: ENE 3 mph

|referee=

|TV=ESPN

|TVAnnouncers=Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst), Katie George (sideline)

|reference=Pregame line: Marshall –25.5 • Odds to win: Marshall 95.8%

|scoring=

;First quarter

  • (12:19) MRSH – Xavier Gaines 22 yard pass from Grant Wells, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 2:41; Marshall 7–0)
  • (8:04) MRSH – Brendan Knox 8 yard rush, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 1:31; Marshall 14–0)
  • (2:01) MRSH – Talik Keaton 21 yard pass from Grant Wells, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:05; Marshall 21–0)

;Second quarter

  • (10:02) MRSH – Garet Morrell 2 yard pass from Grant Wells, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 15 plays, 72 yards, 6:12; Marshall 28–0)
  • (6:07) MRSH – Shane Ciucci 23 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 49 yards, 1:37; Marshall 31–0)
  • (3:07) MRSH – Jaron Woodyard 42 yard pass from Grant Wells, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 1 play, 42 yards, 0:06; Marshall 38–0)

;Third quarter

  • (7:04) MRSH – Sheldon Evans 6 yard rush, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 12 plays, 90 yards, 5:05; Marshall 45–0)
  • (0:43) MRSH – Lawrence Papillon 13 yard rush, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 2:47; Marshall 52–0)

;Fourth quarter

  • (4:02) MRSH – Amir Richardson 3 yard pass from Luke Zban, Shane Ciucci kick (Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 8:22; Marshall 59–0)

}}

{{AmFootballGameStatistics

| Float = left

| Visitor = Eastern Kentucky Colonels

| VisitorDisplay = EKU

| Home = Marshall Thundering Herd

| HomeDisplay = MRSH

| VisFirsts = 7

| VisPlaysYds = 47–166

| VisRushing = 31–86

| VisPassYds = 80

| VisPassing = 10–16–1

| VisTOP = 25:37

| HomeFirsts = 34

| HomePlaysYds = 83–627

| HomeRushing = 54–282

| HomePassYds = 345

| HomePassing = 22–29–0

| HomeTOP = 34:23

}}

{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers

| Float = right

| Visitor = Eastern Kentucky Colonels

| VisitorDisplay = Eastern Kentucky

| Home = Marshall Thundering Herd

| HomeDisplay = Marshall

| VisPasser = Parker McKinney

| VisPassStats = 7/10, 71 yards, 1 INT

| VisRusher = Quentin Pringle

| VisRushStats = 6 carries, 39 yards

| VisReceiver = Keyion Dixon

| VisReceivingStats = 3 receptions, 34 yards

| HomePasser = Grant Wells

| HomePassStats = 16/23, 307 yards, 4 TD

| HomeRusher = Knowledge McDaniel

| HomeRushStats = 14 carries, 93 yards

| HomeReceiver = Talik Keaton

| HomeReceivingStats = 2 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

}}

{{clear}}

=At West Virginia=

{{see also|2020 West Virginia Mountaineers football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Colonels

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=0

|Home=Mountaineers

|H1=14|H2=28|H3=7 |H4=7

}}

{{Clear}}

=At The Citadel=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Colonels

|R1=13

|R2=10

|R3=7

|R4=7

|Home=Bulldogs

|H1=7

|H2=7

|H3=0

|H4=0

}}

{{see also|2020 The Citadel Bulldogs football team}}

{{Clear}}

=Houston Baptist=

{{see also|2020 Houston Baptist Huskies football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Eastern Kentucky Colonels|color=white}}; text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Houston Baptist Huskies at Eastern Kentucky Colonels

|date=October 3

|time=3:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Huskies

|R1=14|R2=10|R3=7|R4=2

|home=Colonels

|H1=7|H2=0|H3=10|H4=13

|stadium=Roy Kidd Stadium, Richmond, Kentucky

|attendance=2,916

|weather=Cloudy 43% Humidity • Temperature: {{convert|62-69|°F|°C}} • Wind: 1-3 SW MPH

|referee=Steve Hazle

|TV=ESPN3

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://ekusports.com/sports/football/stats/2020/houston-baptist/boxscore/7255 Box score], [https://ekusports.com/news/2020/10/3/comeback-bid-comes-up-short-for-eku-football.aspx Recap]

|scoring=

;First quarter

  • HBU – Vernon Harrell 8-yard pass from Bailey Zappe (Gino Garcia kick), 7:45. Huskies 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 49 yards, 1:12.
  • HBU – Jerreth Sterns 42-yard pass from Bailey Zappe (Gino Garcia kick), 6:01. Huskies 14–0. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:21.

EKU – Matt Wilcox Jr. 10-yard pass from Parker McKinney (Alexander Woznick kick), 1:32. Huskies 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:29.

;Second quarter

  • HBU – Gino Garcia 24-yard field goal, 14:01. Huskies 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 2:31.
  • HBU – Dreshawn Minnieweather 1-yard run (Gino Garcia kick), 0:43. Huskies 24–7. Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:49.

;Third quarter

  • EKU – Matt Wilcox Jr. 7-yard pass from Parker McKinney (Alexander Woznick kick), 10:53. Huskies 24–14. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:07.
  • EKU – Alexander Woznick 26-yard field goal, 1:36. Huskies 24–17. Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 4:25.
  • HBU – Josh Sterns 65-yard pass from Bailey Zappe (Gino Garcia kick), 0:38. Huskies 31–17. Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:58.

;Fourth quarter

  • EKU – Alonzo Booth 29-yard run (A. Woznick kick), 13:21. Huskies 31–24. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:17.
  • EKU – Keyion Dixon 27-yard pass from Parker McKinney (Alexander Woznick kick blocked), 4:04. Huskies 31–30. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:22.
  • HBU – Tra Fluellen 98-yard PAT return, 4:04. Huskies 33–30

}}

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Statistics !! style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Houston Christian Huskies|color=white}}"|HBU!!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Eastern Kentucky Colonels|color=white}}"|EKU

First downs2426
Total yards520480
Rushing yards140184
Passing yards380296
Turnovers03
Time of possession27:4132:19

class="wikitable" style="float: right;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Houston Christian Huskies|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|Houston BaptistPassingBailey Zappe35/46, 380 yards, 3 TD
RushingDreshawn Minnieweather9 rushes, 38 yards, TD
ReceivingVernon Harrell10 receptions, 98 yards, TD
rowspan=3 style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Eastern Kentucky Colonels|color=white}}; text-align:center;"|Eastern KentuckyPassingParker McKinney25/40, 296 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
RushingAlonzo Booth17 rushes, 108 yards, TD
ReceivingKeyion Dixon6 receptions, 112 yards, TD

{{clear}}

=At Troy=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=Eastern Kentucky at Troy

|Visitor=Colonels

|Host=Trojans

|V1=7|V2=10|V3=0|V4=12

|H1=14|H2=7|H3=7|H4=3

|Date=October 17, 2020

|Location=Veterans Memorial Stadium
Troy, AL

|TimeZone=CDT

|StartTime=2:35 p.m.

|ElapsedTime=3 hours and 37 minutes

|Attendance=10,500

|Weather={{Convert|71|°F|°C}} • Weather: Clear • Wind: W 5 MPH

|Referee=Marshall Lewis

|TVAnnouncers=Will Kollmeyer (play–by–play) and Ben Stanfield (analyst)

|TVStation=ESPN3

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|FirstEntry=yes|Quarter=1|QuarterEntries=3|Time=12:53|Team=TROY|Event=AJ Lewis 16-yard pass from Gunnar Watson (Evan Legassey kick)
{{Small|(6 plays, 91 yards, 2:07)}}|Score=TROY 7–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=06:38|Team=EKU|Event= Keyion Dixon 90-yard pass from Parker McKinney (Alexander Woznick kick)
{{Small|(2 plays, 96 yards, 0:45)}}|Score=TIE 7–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=03:16|Team=TROY|Event=Khalil McClain 9-yard pass from Gunnar Watson (Evan Legassey kick)
{{Small|(8 plays, 60 yards, 3:22)}}|Score=TROY 14–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=2|QuarterEntries=3|Time=13:37|Team=EKU|Event=Alexander Woznick 19-yard field goal
{{Small|(4 plays, 1 yard, 1:34)}}|Score=TROY 14–10}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=04:49|Team=EKU|Event=Alonzo Both 12-yard rush (Alexander Woznick kick)
{{Small|(14 plays, 85 yards, 6:45)}}|Score=EKU 17–14}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=02:26|Team=TROY|Event=Kimani Vidal 1-yard rush (Evan Legassey kick)
{{Small|(7 plays, 77 yards, 2:23)}}|Score=TROY 21–17}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=3|Time=09:35|Team=TROY|Event=Reggie Todd 22-yard pass from Gunnar Watson (Evan Legassey kick)
{{Small|8 plays, 80 yards, 2:33)}}|Score=TROY 28–17}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=4|QuarterEntries=4|Time=14:41|Team=EKU|Event=Alexander Woznick 22-yard field goal
{{Small|(9 plays, 42 yards, 3:25)}}|Score=TROY 28–20}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=05:50|Team=EKU|Event=Alexander Woznick 25-yard field goal
{{Small|(4 plays, 22 yards, 1:43)}}|Score=TROY 28–23}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=00:21|Team=EKU|Event=Keyion Dixon 4-yard pass from Parker McKinney (two-point pass conversion attempt failed)
{{Small|(10 plays, 80 yards, 2:28)}}|Score=EKU 29–28}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=00:00|Team=TROY|Event=Evan Legassey 47-yard field goal
{{Small|(3 plays, 30 yards, 0:21)}}|Score=TROY 31–29|LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{see also|2020 Troy Trojans football team}}

class="wikitable"
align="center"

! style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Troy Trojans|color=white}}|Pregame line!!style={{CollegePrimaryStyle|Troy Trojans|color=white}}|Over/under

align="center"

| TROY −30

60{{cite web |title=Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Troy Trojans |url=https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/eastern-kentucky-troy-odds-october-17-2020-1291506 |website=Odds Shark |accessdate=18 October 2020 |language=en}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Eastern Kentucky Colonels}}"|Eastern Kentucky!!style="{{NCAA color cell|Troy Trojans}}"|Troy

First downs2127
Total yards425507
Rushing yards55174
Passing yards370333
Turnovers13
Time of possession34:1225:48

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{NCAA secondary color cell|Eastern Kentucky Colonels}}; text-align:center;"|Eastern KentuckyPassingParker McKinney30/47, 370 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingAlonzo Booth15 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKeyion Dixon8 receptions, 196 yards, 2 TDs
rowspan=3 style="{{NCAA color cell|Troy Trojans}}; text-align:center;"|TroyPassingGunnar Watson26/38, 333 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingKimani Vidal13 carries, 143 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingKaylon Geiger7 receptions, 100 yards

{{Clear}}

=No. 11 Central Arkansas=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 11 Bears

|R1=0

|R2=7

|R3=7

|R4=14

|Home=Colonels

|H1=0

|H2=17

|H3=0

|H4=14

}}

{{see also|2020 Central Arkansas Bears football team}}

{{Clear}}

=Stephen F. Austin=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Lumberjacks

|R1=14

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=3

|Home=Colonels

|H1=0

|H2=3

|H3=3

|H4=0

}}

{{see also|2020 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team}}

{{Clear}}

=At No. 11 Central Arkansas=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Colonels

|R1=0

|R2=9

|R3=16

|R4=0

|Home=No. 11 Bears

|H1=17

|H2=7

|H3=0

|H4=13

}}

{{see also|2020 Central Arkansas Bears football team}}

{{Clear}}

=Western Carolina=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Catamounts

|R1=0

|R2=10

|R3=0

|R4=7

|Home=Colonels

|H1=7

|H2=14

|H3=0

|H4=28

}}

{{see also|2020 Western Carolina Catamounts football team}}

{{Clear}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Eastern Kentucky Colonels football navbox}}

Eastern Kentucky

Category:Eastern Kentucky Colonels football seasons

Eastern Kentucky Colonels football

Category:Long stubs with short prose

{{collegefootball-2020s-season-stub}}