Panthers lose 36-33 in OT

Aldo Soto, Sports Editor | @AldoSoto21

Eastern Kentucky kicker Andrew Lloyd made a 29-yard field goal attempt in overtime to lift the Colonels over Eastern 36-33 at Roy Kidd Stadium, in Richmond, Ky., Saturday night.

The Panthers tied the game at 33, with 1:04 left in the fourth quarter, when Jalen Whitlow threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Adam Drake on fourth and goal.

Starting with the ball in overtime, Eastern running back Shepard Little received a handoff from Whitlow on the second play. Running up the middle of the field, Little fumbled, for the second time in the game, with Eastern Kentucky recovering.

The Colonels gave the ball to their featured back in Dy’Shawn Mobley three straight times. Mobley picked up a first down and after a five-yard gain and a loss of one, Eastern Kentucky head coach Dean Hood called the field goal unit in on third down and seven.

Lloyd made his first game-winning field goal, giving the Colonels their second Ohio Valley Conference win, while improving to 6-0 overall.

Meanwhile, the Panthers dropped to 1-1 in the OVC and 1-5 overall, losing a 26-5 third-quarter lead.

After allowing only a field goal in the first half, the Eastern defense surrendered 28 points in the second half, before they lost in overtime.

Mobley finished the game with 118 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, which tied and gave Eastern Kentucky the lead in the fourth quarter, respectively.  Mobley also finished as the Colonels leading receiver, with five catches for 63 yards.

Little’s first fumble came when he could not secure Eastern Kentucky’s punt. The red-shirt junior fumbled at the Eastern 18-yard, as the Colonels ended up with the ball at the 14-yard line. Mobely rushed in from one yard out to tie the game at 26, with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter.

Whitlow, who ended the game with 88 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, while throwing two passing touchdowns as well, also fumbled in the second half. His fumble near the end of the third quarter led to a Jared McClain five-yard touchdown pass to Devin Borders that made it 26-19, with 13:04 left to play in the fourth quarter.

McClain played all of the second half for Eastern Kentucky, after splitting time with Bennie Coney in the first half. Coney threw an interception and was 3-of-7 for 22 yards.

McClain finished 17-of-29 for 198 yards, including his touchdown pass to Borders. McClain also had a 28-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

Drake had a game-high 13 receptions, 146 yards and two receiving touchdowns for the Panthers, with most of his work coming in the first half. Eastern entered halftime with a 23-5 lead.

Nick Bruno made 4-of-5 field-goal attempts for the Panthers, but his fifth attempt was blocked, with 11:11 remaining in regulation. The kick would have given the Panthers a 29-19 lead.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].