3-2
Eastern Kentucky
0-13-3 , WAC
Kats scratch out late win at No. 23 EKU
10/15/2022 8:37:00 PM | Football
Morgan had already done his job in keeping the Kats (3-2) in front with three field goals of over 40 yards, including two in the second half, but his last one proved to be the biggest after EKU (3-3) had gone 83 yards on its last drive for a go-ahead touchdown. The four field goals by Morgan is only the fifth time in school history a kicker has made four or more field goals in a single game.
The 2-yard pass from EKU quarterback Parker McKinney to Jayden Higgins had the Colonels up 17-16 with only 1:01 to play; however, SHSU quarterback Keegan Shoemaker quickly engineered another game-winning drive, directing the Kats 55 yards after a huge completion of 25 yards to Cody Chrest to get into range for Morgan.
It was just Chrest's second catch of the night, the first coming from 10 yards out in the first quarter for a touchdown that put SHSU up 10-0. It would be the Kats' last touchdown until Tony Williams fell on a fumble in the end zone on the last play of the game.
Running back Zach Hrbacek turned in a big game on the ground with 111 yards on 17 carries, pacing a Bearkat running attack that netted 194 yards on the night. Shoemaker finished with 127 yards in the air with 41 of those yards coming on the final drive.
Defensively, Sam Houston was led by Jaylen Phillips' 10 tackles, while Kavian Gaither added nine and a pair of TFLs.
The Kats converted each of their first two drives into points in the opening quarter, getting a 45-yard field goal from Morgan on the first drive and then a 10-yard touchdown pass from Shoemaker to Cody Chrest to cap a 15-play, 93-yard drive.
Sam Houston outgained EKU 115-27 in the opening quarter, but the second 15 minutes belonged to the home team as the Colonels racked up 148 yards of offense and knotted things up with 10 points of their own, evening the score on a 23-yard touchdown pass from McKinney to Jeremy Edwards and a 26-yard field goal by Patrick Nations.
Morgan was then the difference in the second half, nailing a 47-yard field goal late in the third quarter to put the Kats up 13-10 and then adding another three points from 45 yards out with 7:07 to play in the game.
The Kats will continue their 3-game road trip next week when it travels westward for a Saturday night game at Utah Tech.
Team Stats
SAM 3, EKU 0
SAM - Morgan,Seth 45 yd field goal 10 plays, 37 yards, TOP 03:55
SAM 10, EKU 0
SAM - Chrest,Cody 10 yd pass from Shoemaker,Keegan (Morgan,Seth kick) 15 plays, 93 yards, TOP 07:20
SAM 10, EKU 7
EKU - Edwards Jr.,Mo 23 yd pass from McKinney,Parker (Nations,Patrick kick) 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:53
SAM 10, EKU 10
EKU - Nations,Patrick 26 yd field goal 12 plays, 42 yards, TOP 05:09
SAM 13, EKU 10
SAM - Morgan,Seth 47 yd field goal 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 01:51
SAM 16, EKU 10
SAM - Morgan,Seth 45 yd field goal 8 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:28
SAM 16, EKU 17
EKU - Higgins,Jayden 2 yd pass from McKinney,Parker (Nations,Patrick kick) 10 plays, 83 yards, TOP 03:00
SAM 19, EKU 17
SAM - Morgan,Seth 34 yd field goal 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 00:49
SAM 25, EKU 17
SAM - Williams,Tony 0 yd fumble recovery ()
