Without its head coach and on the road, EKU nearly knocks off FBS foe in season opener

Eastern Kentucky was forced to open its 2022 football season without its head coach and facing a Football Bowl Subdivision team on the road, but the Colonels pushed Eastern Michigan to the limit before falling 42-34 on Friday night.

Parker McKinney completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Dakota Allen with 1:11 remaining to pull the Football Championship Subdivision Colonels within one score of the Eagles. Eastern Michigan secured EKU’s onside kick to seal the victory.

Eastern Kentucky made the trip without head coach Walt Wells, who was hospitalized last weekend after suffering a cardiac episode. The Colonels played their season opener with chief of staff Garry McPeek serving as acting head coach.

McKinney was 35-for-51 passing for 351 yards and three scores for Eastern Kentucky. The junior quarterback also rushed for 49 yards and a score. Allen caught nine passes for 118 yards and two scores.

Taylor Powell passed for 271 yards and three touchdowns and Samson Evans rushed for 89 yards and two scores for Eastern Michigan.

Powell rushed for a 7-yard score early in the fourth quarter to extend Eastern Michigan’s lead to 35-17. After 10 straight points from EKU, Powell led a six-play, 65-yard drive ending in a 22-yard scoring pass to Hassan Beydoun for a 42-27 lead with 3:22 left.

EKU then marched 65 yards in 11 plays to Allen’s touchdown catch.

Tanner Knue caught four passes for 43 yards and two touchdowns for Eastern Michigan. Beydoun added 48 yards receiving and a score.

Eastern Kentucky (0-1) goes on the road again in Week 2, again against a Mid-American Conference foe, when it faces Bowling Green at 4 p.m. Saturday. The Falcons were to open their season Saturday at UCLA.

This story was originally published September 3, 2022 at 8:37 AM.