2026 · Week ZeroFinal

Saturday, August 29, 2026 · 7:00 PM EDT

Eastern Kentucky at Western Carolina

Eastern KentuckyColonelsUnited Athletic Conference

Western CarolinaCatamountsSouthern Conference

2145

Game details

Kickoff: Saturday, August 29, 2026 · 7:00 PM EDT
Matchup: Eastern Kentucky at Western Carolina
Venue: E. J. Whitmire Stadium

Scoring by period

Box score

Team	1	2	3	4	T
Eastern Kentucky	7	7	7	0	21
Western Carolina	7	3	21	14	45

Excitement index: 7.1
Eastern Kentucky final win probability: 0.8%
Western Carolina final win probability: 99.2%

Full comparison

Team stats

Eastern KentuckyWestern Carolina

First downs: 20; 28
Third-down efficiency: 5-13; 8-14
Fourth-down efficiency: 2-3; 0-2
Total yards: 370; 508
Passing yards: 305; 320
Completions / attempts: 22-34; 27-35
Yards per pass: 9.0; 9.1
Rushing Yards: 65; 188
Rushing Attempts: 29; 40
Yards per rush: 2.2; 4.7
Penalties / yards: 9-74; 8-80
Turnovers: 2; 0
Fumbles lost: 1; 0
Interceptions: 1; 0
Time of possession: 27:45; 32:15
Passes defended: 1; 5
QB hurries: 4; 1
Sacks: 2; 3
Tackles: 39; 32
Defensive touchdowns: 0; 0
Tackles for loss: 7; 4
Total fumbles: 1; 0
Fumbles recovered: 0; 1
Kicking Points: 3; 9
Kick returns: 2; 1
Kick Return TDs: 0; 0
Kick Return Yards: 39; 59
Passing touchdowns: 3; 3
Rushing touchdowns: 0; 3
Passes Intercepted: —; 1
Interception TDs: —; 0
Interception Yards: —; 8
Punt returns: —; 2
Punt Return TDs: —; 0
Punt Return Yards: —; 8

Every recorded category

Player stats

Passing

Eastern Kentucky

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Tyler Travers	22/34	305	9.0	3	1

Western Carolina

Player	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Lex Thomas	27/35	320	9.1	3	0

Rushing

Eastern Kentucky

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	LONG
Brayden Latham	16	41	2.6	9
Cortez Stone	2	19	9.5	15
Brady Hensley	6	15	2.5	4
Tyler Travers	5	-10	-2.0	5

Western Carolina

Player	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Lex Thomas	14	69	4.9	1	17
Marlin Cochran	5	60	12.0	1	34
Josh Perry	16	31	1.9	0	11
Anthony Benjamin	3	26	8.7	1	14
Michael Rossin	2	2	1.0	0	2

Receiving

Eastern Kentucky

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Elijah Caldwell	6	102	17.0	1	29
Jarvis Hayes	5	47	9.4	1	19
Caeleb Schlachter	2	37	18.5	0	21
Jackson House	2	37	18.5	0	22
Brady Hensley	2	36	18.0	0	30
Cameron Hergott	3	29	9.7	0	14
Brayden Latham	2	17	8.5	1	9

Western Carolina

Player	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Michael Rossin	6	94	15.7	0	42
AJ Colombo	6	90	15.0	0	25
Bode Burns	4	51	12.8	1	18
Santana Carlos	1	36	36.0	0	36
Josh Perry	6	29	4.8	2	12
Jai Boyd	2	13	6.5	0	8
Lex Thomas	1	4	4.0	0	4
Jake Young	1	3	3.0	0	3

Fumbles

Eastern Kentucky

Player	FUM	LOST	REC
Elijah Caldwell	1	1	0

Western Carolina

Player	FUM	LOST	REC
Nas Ashenafi	0	0	1

Defensive

Eastern Kentucky

Player	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HUR
Jeffrey Kinley	12	7	0	0	0	0
Derek Taylor	10	3	0	0	0	0
Aden Tagaloa-Nelson	7	4	0	0	0	0
Cam Jessee	7	3	0	0	0	1
Jack McGrath	6	4	0	1	0	0
Daviyon Hawkins-Ingram	5	2	0	0.5	0	1
Nasir Spruill	4	3	0.5	1.5	0	1
Caleb Redd	4	2	1	1.5	0	0
Jayden Marable	4	2	0	1.5	0	0
Kaden Smith	4	1	0	0.5	0	1
Brock Driver	3	2	0	0	0	0
Keshawn Hayden	3	1	0	0	0	0
Jackson Marshall	2	1	0	0	0	0
Payne Miller	2	0	0.5	0.5	0	0
Kaleb Neal	1	1	0	0	0	0
Jackson House	1	1	0	0	0	0
Jack Chappell	1	1	0	0	0	0
Braylon Newcomb	1	1	0	0	0	0
Cristian Conyer	1	0	0	0	0	0
D.J. Galva	1	0	0	0	1	0

Western Carolina

Player	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HUR
Joshua Collins	7	4	1	1.5	0	0
Alant'e Reese	5	3	0	0	0	0
Ken Moore Jr.	5	1	0	0.5	0	0
Trystan Anderson	4	4	1	1	0	0
Nas Ashenafi	4	2	0	0	1	0
Andre Jackson Jr.	3	3	0	0	3	0
Jayden Cornelius	3	3	0	0	0	0
Marco Patierno	3	2	0	0	0	0
Na'koma Simpson-Nealy	3	2	0	0	0	0
Julian Quintero	3	2	0	0	0	0
Caleb Turner-Allen	2	1	1	1	0	0
Ryan Mckinnis	2	1	0	0	0	0
Ja'Torian Mack	2	1	0	0	0	0
Hank Bodine	2	1	0	0	0	0
Fernando Jeanty	2	1	0	0	0	0
AJ Mintze	1	1	0	0	0	0
Gavin Rowell	1	0	0	0	0	0
Marseille Taylor	1	0	0	0	1	0
Adrian Stone	1	0	0	0	0	0
Jordan Martin-Durham	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jakoby Diamond	1	0	0	0	0	0
Braylon Jones	1	0	0	0	0	0
Chase Kerns	1	0	0	0	0	0
Quency Grant III	1	0	0	0	0	0
Terrell Poyser	1	0	0	0	0	0

Kick returns

Eastern Kentucky

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Cortez Stone	2	39	19.5	22	0

Western Carolina

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Richard Hollis	1	59	59.0	59	0

Kicking

Eastern Kentucky

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Buzz Flabiano	0/0	0.0	0	3/3	3

Western Carolina

Player	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Bryan McCollum	1/1	100.0	20	6/6	9

Punting

Eastern Kentucky

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Jettson Brown	5	206	41.2	0	2	52

Western Carolina

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	In 20	LONG
Mark Fitzgerald	4	183	45.8	0	2	52

Interceptions

Western Carolina

Player	INT	YDS	TD
Marseille Taylor	1	8	0

Punt returns

Western Carolina

Player	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
AJ Colombo	2	8	4.0	5	0

Efficiency and impact

Advanced stats

Eastern KentuckyWestern Carolina

Total predicted points added

Plays: 63; 77
Overall · Total: 14.4; 20.3
Overall · Q1: 8; 5.1
Overall · Q2: 3.3; -3.9
Overall · Q3: 3.4; 11.9
Overall · Q4: -0.3; 7.2
Passing · Total: 20.5; 22.7
Passing · Q1: 10.9; 4.8
Passing · Q2: 4.9; -2.1
Passing · Q3: 6.6; 14.7
Passing · Q4: -2; 5.4
Rushing · Total: -7.3; 4.4
Rushing · Q1: -4.2; 0.3
Rushing · Q2: -1.6; 4.4
Rushing · Q3: -3.2; -2.1
Rushing · Q4: 1.7; 1.8

Explosiveness

Overall · Total: 1.51; 1.69
Overall · Q1: 1.66; 1.14
Overall · Q2: 1.52; 2.49
Overall · Q3: 1; 2.08
Overall · Q4: 1.72; 1.68

Field position

Average starting field position: 75.2; 66.4
Average starting predicted points: 1; 1.71

Havoc

Total: 10.4%; 17.5%
Front Seven: 9.1%; 7.9%
Defensive backs: 1.3%; 9.5%

Predicted points added per play

Plays: 63; 77
Overall · Total: 0.23; 0.26
Overall · Q1: 0.5; 0.3
Overall · Q2: 0.2; -0.28
Overall · Q3: 0.31; 0.46
Overall · Q4: -0.02; 0.36
Passing · Total: 0.57; 0.61
Passing · Q1: 1.56; 0.68
Passing · Q2: 0.62; -0.36
Passing · Q3: 1.1; 0.92
Passing · Q4: -0.13; 0.67
Rushing · Total: -0.28; 0.12
Rushing · Q1: -0.52; 0.03
Rushing · Q2: -0.18; 0.63
Rushing · Q3: -0.64; -0.23
Rushing · Q4: 0.42; 0.15

Rushing profile

Power Success: 100%; 0%
Stuff Rate: 11.5%; 26.3%
Line Yards: 75; 117
Line Yards Average: 2.9; 3.1
Second Level Yards: 19; 47
Second Level Yards Average: 0.7; 1.2
Open Field Yards: 8; 48
Open Field Yards Average: 0.3; 1.3

Scoring opportunities

Opportunities: 3; 10
Points: 21; 45
Points Per Opportunity: 7; 4.5

Success rates

Overall · Total: 38.1%; 39%
Overall · Q1: 50%; 58.8%
Overall · Q2: 29.4%; 14.3%
Overall · Q3: 45.5%; 38.5%
Overall · Q4: 31.6%; 40%
Standard Downs · Total: 42.5%; 34%
Standard Downs · Q1: 50%; 57.1%
Standard Downs · Q2: 40%; 0%
Standard Downs · Q3: 44.4%; 29.4%
Standard Downs · Q4: 36.4%; 40%
Passing Downs · Total: 30.4%; 48.1%
Passing Downs · Q1: 50%; 66.7%
Passing Downs · Q2: 14.3%; 40%
Passing Downs · Q3: 50%; 55.6%
Passing Downs · Q4: 25%; 40%

Advanced player metrics

Player usage

Eastern Kentucky

Player	Pos	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Rush	Pass
Caeleb Schlachter	TE	4.8%	0%	5.9%	18.2%	0%	0%	8.3%
Cameron Hergott	WR	6.3%	6.3%	5.9%	0%	10.5%	0%	11.1%
Jarvis Hayes	WR	1.6%	0%	0%	9.1%	0%	0%	2.8%
Jackson House	WR	3.2%	0%	0%	0%	10.5%	0%	5.6%
Brayden Latham	RB	27%	43.8%	47.1%	9.1%	5.3%	57.7%	5.6%
Brady Hensley	RB	12.7%	12.5%	11.8%	36.4%	0%	23.1%	5.6%
Tyler Travers	QB	60.3%	43.8%	47.1%	72.7%	78.9%	11.5%	97.2%
AJ Johnson	WR	1.6%	0%	5.9%	0%	0%	0%	2.8%
Cortez Stone	RB	3.2%	0%	0%	0%	10.5%	7.7%	0%

Western Carolina

Player	Pos	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Rush	Pass
Lex Thomas	QB	62.3%	52.9%	78.6%	69.2%	50%	28.9%	100%
Jake Young	TE	1.3%	0%	7.1%	0%	0%	0%	2.7%
AJ Colombo	WR	7.8%	5.9%	7.1%	11.5%	5%	0%	16.2%
Anthony Benjamin	RB	2.6%	0%	0%	0%	10%	5.3%	0%
Marlin Cochran	RB	5.2%	11.8%	7.1%	0%	5%	10.5%	0%
Josh Perry	RB	23.4%	23.5%	7.1%	34.6%	20%	42.1%	5.4%
Michael Rossin	WR	2.6%	5.9%	0%	0%	5%	5.3%	0%

Average player PPA

Eastern Kentucky

Player	Pos	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Rush	Pass
Caeleb Schlachter	TE	0.9	—	2.26	0.22	—	0	0.9
Cameron Hergott	WR	0.62	1.19	0.54	—	0.37	0	0.62
Jarvis Hayes	WR	2.56	—	—	2.56	—	0	2.56
Jackson House	WR	3.21	—	—	—	3.21	0	3.21
Brayden Latham	RB	-0.11	-0.35	0.12	-0.26	-0.12	-0.29	1.21
Brady Hensley	RB	0.14	-0.64	-0.28	0.74	—	-0.43	1.86
Tyler Travers	QB	0.51	1.56	0.62	0.55	-0.06	-0.69	0.61
AJ Johnson	WR	-1.07	—	-1.07	—	—	0	-1.07
Cortez Stone	RB	0.85	—	—	—	0.85	0.85	0

Western Carolina

Player	Pos	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Rush	Pass
Lex Thomas	QB	0.5	0.28	0.23	0.81	0.45	0.12	0.61
Jake Young	TE	-0.11	—	-0.11	—	—	0	-0.11
AJ Colombo	WR	1.35	1.32	-0.19	1.82	1.48	0	1.35
Anthony Benjamin	RB	0.09	—	—	—	0.09	0.09	0
Marlin Cochran	RB	0.15	0.35	-0.24	—	0.13	0.15	0
Josh Perry	RB	-0.01	-0.26	0.04	0.4	-0.67	-0.35	2.72
Michael Rossin	WR	-0.81	-0.67	—	—	-0.96	-0.81	0

Total player PPA

Eastern Kentucky

Player	Pos	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Rush	Pass
Caeleb Schlachter	TE	2.7	0	2.3	0.4	0	0	2.7
Cameron Hergott	WR	2.5	1.2	0.5	0	0.7	0	2.5
Jarvis Hayes	WR	2.6	0	0	2.6	0	0	2.6
Jackson House	WR	6.4	0	0	0	6.4	0	6.4
Brayden Latham	RB	-1.9	-2.5	0.9	-0.3	-0.1	-4.3	2.4
Brady Hensley	RB	1.1	-1.3	-0.6	3	0	-2.6	3.7
Tyler Travers	QB	19.3	10.9	4.9	4.4	-1	-2.1	21.4
AJ Johnson	WR	-1.1	0	-1.1	0	0	0	-1.1
Cortez Stone	RB	1.7	0	0	0	1.7	1.7	0

Western Carolina

Player	Pos	Total	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Rush	Pass
Lex Thomas	QB	24	2.5	2.5	14.5	4.5	1.3	22.7
Jake Young	TE	-0.1	0	-0.1	0	0	0	-0.1
AJ Colombo	WR	8.1	1.3	-0.2	5.5	1.5	0	8.1
Anthony Benjamin	RB	0.2	0	0	0	0.2	0.2	0
Marlin Cochran	RB	0.6	0.7	-0.2	0	0.1	0.6	0
Josh Perry	RB	-0.1	-1.1	0	3.6	-2.7	-5.6	5.4
Michael Rossin	WR	-1.6	-0.7	0	0	-1	-1.6	0