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RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team split up into offensive and defensive units for the first scrimmage of the season Saturday morning at Roy Kidd Stadium.

The Colonel defense controlled play throughout much of the session and only allowed a Luke Pray field goal in the first half. The offense’s lone first half points were set up by a long pass play from freshman quarterback Travis Carlyle to fellow freshman Jaucady Rutledge.

Sophomore punter Jordan Berry looked to be in midseason form. After one of the many holds by the defense in the first half, Berry perfectly landed a punt at the five-yard line before the ball bounced to a stop back at the seven.

A bad snap in the end zone allowed sophomore Anthony Brown to sack freshman quarterback Jared McClain for a safety. Later in the first half, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Caleb Coulliette forced a fumble on a sack which was recovered by the defense.

The offense missed a prime opportunity to score before halftime when McClain found redshirt freshman wide receiver #Ja’Tyuan Landing# for a deep pass behind the defense. Landing was tripped up and the offense proceeded to miss a field goal.

Most of the second half featured situational football. The half began with the first team offense facing the first team defense in a 1st-and-goal series. The defense held the offense to a field goal thanks in part to sophomore linebacker Ichiro Vance. He broke up a third-down pass that was headed towards tight end Matt Lengel in the end zone.

Minutes later, newcomer Cejay Ceniza intercepted a pass and returned the ball for a touchdown.

The defense also held the offense on a pair of fourth-and-short plays following intermission.

Eastern’s offense finally found the end zone when McClain scored on a one-yard quarterback bootleg. The scoring play was set up from a 20-yard run by redshirt freshman LaGreg Burns.

Towards the end of the scrimmage in the two-minute drill, junior quarterback #T.J. Pryor hooked up with newcomer Cameron Bailey# for a 60-yard scoring strike.

EKU returns to practice Monday morning at Roy Kidd Stadium. The team is scheduled to have practice every morning next week at 7:45 a.m. The second scrimmage is slated for next Saturday morning, Aug. 20, beginning around 8 a.m.