{"id":391947,"date":"2026-09-06T06:02:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T06:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/391947\/"},"modified":"2026-09-06T06:02:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T06:02:13","slug":"eastern-kentucky-falls-49-7-at-jacksonville-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/391947\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Kentucky Falls 49-7 at Jacksonville State"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n <\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"090526 <\/p>\n


\n
\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Eastern<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t7 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tEastern Ky.
\n\t\t\t\tEKU
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t0-2 , 0-0 \n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Jacksonville<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t49 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tWinner
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tJacksonville St.
\n\t\t\t\tJSU
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t1-1 , 0-0 \n\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Eastern<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\tEastern Ky.
\n\t\t\t\tEKU \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

0-2 , 0-0<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t7 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t49 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\tJacksonville St.
\n\t\t\t\tJSU \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

1-1 , 0-0<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Jacksonville<\/p>\n

\t\t\tWinner<\/p>\n


\n Score By Quarters
\n
\n
\n Team
\n
\n
\n 1st
\n
\n
\n
\n 2nd
\n
\n
\n
\n 3rd
\n
\n
\n
\n 4th
\n
\n
\n F
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n EKU
\n Eastern Ky.
\n
\n
\n 0
\n
\n 7
\n
\n 0
\n
\n 0
\n
\n 7
\n
\n
\n
\n JSU
\n Jacksonville St.
\n
\n
\n 14
\n
\n 21
\n
\n 7
\n
\n 7
\n
\n 49
\n
\n <\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

Game Recap: Football | 9\/5\/2026 11:44:00 PM | Alex Pryor, EKU Athletics Communications <\/p>\n


\n
\n Eastern Kentucky Falls 49-7 at Jacksonville State
\n
\n Hensley Rushes for 91 Yards and Touchdown
\n
\n <\/p>\n


\n
\n <\/p>\n

\"Chattanooga\"\/<\/p>\n

Next Game:<\/p>\n

Chattanooga<\/p>\n

9\/12\/2026 | 6:00 PM<\/p>\n


\n ESPN+ \n <\/p>\n


\n EKU Sports Network \n <\/p>\n


\n Sep. 12 (Sat) \/ 6:00 PM \n <\/p>\n

\"Chattanooga\"\/<\/p>\n


\n \u00a0Chattanooga \n <\/p>\n

History <\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. \u2013 The Eastern Kentucky University football team fell to Jacksonville State by a score of 49-7 on Saturday night at AmFirst Stadium in the 20th all-time meeting between the longtime rivals.
\n\u00a0
\nJacksonville State (1-1) scored the first 28 points of the night before junior running back Brady Hensley<\/a> broke free for a 72-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter.
\n\u00a0
\nThe Gamecocks added another touchdown before halftime and scored once in each of the final two quarters to pull away for the victory.
\n\u00a0
\nHensley led Eastern Kentucky (0-2) on the ground with 91 yards and a touchdown on seven carries as the Colonels rushed for 195 total yards. Freshman Cortez Stone<\/a> added 58 yards on eight attempts.
\n\u00a0
\nDefensively, EKU safety Derek Taylor<\/a> recorded his second consecutive double-digit tackle performance with 10 tackles, including six solo stops and one tackle for loss. Linebacker Cam Jessee<\/a> added eight tackles, while Kaden Smith<\/a> had five stops and Jack McGrath<\/a> added five tackles and an interception.
\n\u00a0
\nJacksonville State opened the scoring with a 13-play, 70-yard drive that ended when quarterback Caden Creel connected with Jamill Williams for a 13-yard touchdown with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter.
\n\u00a0
\nThe Gamecocks doubled their advantage less than two minutes later. After taking over at their own 26-yard line, Creel found Williams for a 55-yard touchdown on the second play of the possession to make it 14-0.
\n\u00a0
\nEastern Kentucky moved into Jacksonville State territory late in the quarter, but the drive ended when Ty Sims intercepted sophomore quarterback Tyler Travers<\/a> with 11 seconds remaining.
\n\u00a0
\nJacksonville State extended its lead to 21-0 early in the second quarter when Creel found Williams again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown that capped a 91-yard drive.<\/p>\n

The Gamecocks added a defensive score on EKU’s ensuing possession as Caleb Nix intercepted Travers and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0 with 10:27 left in the half.

\n\u00a0

\nEKU immediately responded as Hensley took a handoff up the middle and raced 72 yards for a touchdown with 9:45 remaining, tying his career-long rush. Kicker Buzz Flabiano<\/a> converted the extra point to cut the deficit to 28-7.

\n\u00a0

\nJacksonville State responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by Jalen Likely’s 45-yard touchdown run to take a 35-7 advantage into halftime.

\n\u00a0

\nThe Colonel defense created its first turnover of the game on Jacksonville State’s opening possession of the third quarter when McGrath intercepted Creel at the EKU 29-yard line.

\n\u00a0

\nJacksonville State eventually added to its lead later in the quarter as Creel connected with Luke Gilbert for a 24-yard touchdown with 6:03 remaining, pushing the score to 42-7.

\n\u00a0

\nThe Gamecocks added one more score in the fourth quarter to cap the 49-7 victory and earn their first win of the season.

\n\u00a0

\nEKU returns to Roy Kidd Stadium for its 2026 home opener next Saturday against Chattanooga. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET, and tickets are available online here<\/a>.

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