Colonels remain undefeated on the road in OVC play
Eastern's defense shines, grabs three interceptions in a 23-13 win Saturday over rival Murray State
Darren Zancan
Issue date: 10/1/09 Section: Sports
Eastern's offense went to work quickly in the second quarter. Pryor completed an 11-yard pass to Shannon Davis, and two plays later running back C.J. Walker found the end zone to cap an 11 play, 55-yard drive and give the Colonels a 6-0 lead. O'Connor's extra point attempt was blocked.
Pryor said he was comfortable running the offense and credits that to the confidence his coaches and players have in him.
"I have a lot on my shoulders, but I feel like I can step up to the plate," Pryor said. "I'm a soft-spoken guy, but coaches looked to me to become a leader and I think slowly that's what I am becoming."
Pryor is not the only quarterback on the team making plays, however. Cody Watts lines up at receiver when he is not in at quarterback. Pryor has made Watts a primary target.
"(Watts) being a quarterback and a receiver, it helps a lot because he knows where the open holes are and how to get defenders off of him," Pryor said. "We are in sync together."
Both offenses were in sync for much of the second quarter.
Ehrhardt drove the Racers 31 yards to set up a 31-yard field goal by Kienan Cullen to cut Eastern's lead in half 6-3, but the Colonels quickly responded with an 11-play, 74-yard drive resulting in an O'Connor 23-yard field goal.
Murray State looked to capitalize and cut the lead down again, but Ehrhardt's second interception of the night, this time to Marcus Williams, stopped their momentum.
Pryor only needed two minutes to drive his team downfield and score. Walker, who finished with 17 carries for 66 yards, took a handoff from Pryor and scored on a short run to give Eastern a 16-3 lead.
Murray State would tack on another field goal by Cullen, this time from 46-yards out to finish out the second quarter.
The Racers came out of halftime looking to make something happen on offense, but another key defensive play by Bell stopped Murray State in its tracks.
Bell intercepted a Nick Yantko pass in the end zone to give the ball back to Eastern.
Pryor said he was comfortable running the offense and credits that to the confidence his coaches and players have in him.
"I have a lot on my shoulders, but I feel like I can step up to the plate," Pryor said. "I'm a soft-spoken guy, but coaches looked to me to become a leader and I think slowly that's what I am becoming."
Pryor is not the only quarterback on the team making plays, however. Cody Watts lines up at receiver when he is not in at quarterback. Pryor has made Watts a primary target.
"(Watts) being a quarterback and a receiver, it helps a lot because he knows where the open holes are and how to get defenders off of him," Pryor said. "We are in sync together."
Both offenses were in sync for much of the second quarter.
Ehrhardt drove the Racers 31 yards to set up a 31-yard field goal by Kienan Cullen to cut Eastern's lead in half 6-3, but the Colonels quickly responded with an 11-play, 74-yard drive resulting in an O'Connor 23-yard field goal.
Murray State looked to capitalize and cut the lead down again, but Ehrhardt's second interception of the night, this time to Marcus Williams, stopped their momentum.
Pryor only needed two minutes to drive his team downfield and score. Walker, who finished with 17 carries for 66 yards, took a handoff from Pryor and scored on a short run to give Eastern a 16-3 lead.
Murray State would tack on another field goal by Cullen, this time from 46-yards out to finish out the second quarter.
The Racers came out of halftime looking to make something happen on offense, but another key defensive play by Bell stopped Murray State in its tracks.
Bell intercepted a Nick Yantko pass in the end zone to give the ball back to Eastern.
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