STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State dropped a tight contest at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, the Texans’ first loss to an FCS program in over a year and their first loss in conference play this season.
The No. 7 Texans (7-2, 4-1 UAC) had their six-game winning streak snapped, their longest in their NCAA Division I era, at the hands of Eastern Kentucky (5-4, 3-2 UAC) 17-13 in Stephenville on Saturday on Military Appreciation day.
Tarleton State held EKU to just 31 passing yards in the game and outgained the Colonels in total yardage 397-274, but the Texans’ three interceptions plagued them.
EKU scored the go-ahead and eventual game-winning touchdown with 2:26 remaining in the game. Tarleton had held off the Colonels’ scoring threat at the 1-yard line at the start of the fourth quarter with a forced fumble and recovery, but gave EKU too many chances.
Texan QB Victor Gabalis completed 17-of-41 for 234 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Kayvon Britten rushed for 154 yards on 25 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per rush. This marked Britten’s seventh straight 100-yard game and his sixth 150-yard game of the season. Benjamin Omayebu logged 100 yards on nine receptions. Darius Cooper had 74 yards on four catches, and Cody Jackson caught a touchdown, finishing with 52 yards on three receptions.
Bam Smith finished with 10 tackles and a half-sack. Brandon Tolvert recorded 10 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Tramaine Chism had a fumble recovery and eight total tackles. Donta Stuart finished with an interception and seven tackles. Caden Holt had seven tackles, Blake Smith had six, and AJ Owens tallied six with a half-sack.
EKU’s Matt Morrissey threw for 31 yards on 6-of-11 passing, with an interception. The reigning UAC Offensive Player of the Week, Joshua Carter, scored two touchdowns to go with 149 yards on 23 carries (6.5 YPC). A trio of Colonels had an interception; Maddox Marcellus (nine tackles), Mike Smith Jr. (six tackles) and D.J. Galva (two tackles).
Tarleton State struck first in this one after Stuart picked off Morrissey. Gabalis led the Texans on a nine-play, 89-yard drive, capping it off on a lob to Jackson in the left corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown. The Texans led 7-0 after the first quarter.
Tarleton forced a three-and-out on the next series, then followed up with another solid drive, this time a seven-play, 62-yard march for a Corbin Poston 24-yard field goal. The Texan defense came up big on EKU’s next series, as the Colonels got all the way to the 1-yard line before Tarleton forced a turnover on downs. But, the Texans gave it right back on an interception, leading to a Carter 1-yard touchdown rush on the next play to make it a 10-7 game.
At the end of the first half, Poston nailed a 42-yard field goal to make it a 13-7 Texan lead at the break.
Of the 10 combined drives in the second half, there were three punts, two interceptions, a fumble, a turnover on downs, a touchdown, a field goal and the end of regulation.
The Texans opened the third quarter with an interception thrown on their first drive, then EKU made a field goal to make it a 13-10 game. Tarleton turned it over on downs after that, but the Texan defense held strong once again, forcing a fumble on their own 1-yard line and recovering it. Eventually the dam broke however, and Carter scampered in from 23 yards out to give the Colonels the lead with 2:26 to play.
Tarleton made a dent on its potential game-winning drive, going 12 plays and getting as far as the EKU 36-yard line before a 4th and 15 prayer was intercepted to end the game.
The Texans are now 0-3 against the Colonels, who also dealt them their last non-FBS loss over a year ago, breaking an 11-game such winning streak. Tarleton was 8-1 at home over its last nine entering Saturday.
Tarleton has three regular season games remaining. The Texans will play their final road regular season contest this next Saturday, Nov. 9, at West Georgia at 1 p.m. CT. After that, the Texans will host Abilene Christian at home on Nov. 16 and Central Arkansas at home on Nov. 23.
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