Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Trey Burke T.J. Pryor went 16 for 22 passing for 156 yards Saturday. Eastern's offense had just 339 yards, but won the battle for time of possession by more than 10 minutes.

Eastern treated its home fans with a victory on Halloween, ensuring a ninth straight OVC winning record.

Eastern controlled the clock and out-gained the Skyhawks 339 yards to 244 yards en route to a 20-6 win.

The Colonels (5-3,5-2 OVC) had an early scare when defensive standout Jeremy Caldwell took the opening kickoff, fumbled as he was tackled and remained down on the field for several moments after a hard hit to the head.

Caldwell played sparingly in the second quarter but was sick to his stomach, sidelining him for the rest of the game.

That was the only scare the Colonels would have to deal with on Saturday.

The offense was able to wear down the Redhawks' defense, running the ball 31 times and controlling the ball for more than 20 minutes in the first half.

"We wanted to come out and establish the run," Coach Dean Hood said. "Sometimes it's not so much making a point, but it's more of what they give you. We thought they were a little better at pass defense, with the exception of certain formations. So we had to try and take advantage of the run."

Time of possession and the ground attack played into Eastern's opening drive.

Running backs C.J. Walker and H.B. Banjoman combined with quarterback T.J. Pryor for nine runs and 60 yards rushing, eating up six minutes along the way.

Walker found the end zone on the 13th play of the drive on a nine-yard rush. Kicker Logan O'Connor missed the extra point.

O'Connor has taken on punting, place kicking and field goal duties and has struggled to stay consistent at times.

"That's a tough spot to be in," Hood said. "It's like shooting a free throw; the whole game stops. When everything is moving fast, then stop everything and have everyone watching you. That's a tough skill to master. But he's like a rookie being the first time guy, having all the duties."

Eastern's defense has carried the Colonels for most of the season.

On the Redhawks' (1-7, 0-6 OVC) first drive, running back Henry Harris fumbled the ball. Defensive lineman Andrew Soucy recovered.

Soucy has been one of several players on the defensive side of the ball that has made an impact.

"My linebackers and my defensive lineman take a lot of pressure off me to do what I do best, which is get on blocks and get off blocks," Soucy said. "It's a total defense thing: It's not just me. We take pride in our defense."

The Colonels took over at their own 33-yard line.

Pryor, who had a relatively quiet game, found Shannon Davis for a diving 56-yard completion. But Eastern's offense turned the ball over on downs after a failed fourth down attempt.

Both teams attempted nine fourth down conversions. Eastern converted 2 of 4 attempts while the Redhawks converted 3 of 6.

"There was a little different feel for why we would go for it compared to why they would go for it," Hood said. "We were going for it because of wind and can we make the field goal. They were going for it because they had to take some risks to win the football game."

On fourth down, the Redhawks would attempt another conversation, but Eastern's run defense stuffed running back Mike Jones at the Redhawks 23-yard line.

Six plays later Eastern's C.J. Walker found the end zone, this time on a 1-yard run giving Eastern a 13-0 lead.

The Colonels had the chance to build a bigger lead, but Redhawks' linebacker Philip Kalproth blocked O'Connor's 23-yard field goal attempt.

With time winding down in the second quarter, quarterback Matt Scheible heaved a Hail Mary down the right sideline, but Caldwell picked the pass off to run out the clock. Caldwell would not return in the second half due to the mentioned injury acquired earlier in the game.

Scheible was picked off for the second time during the Redhawks' opening drive of the third quarter.

Scheible, who finished 11-for-29 for 95 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown, drove his team downfield.

On the 14th play of the drive, Patrick McClellan made an interception at the back of the end zone.

"It was a tough ball to get to, but I went up and got it," McClellan said. "When I got it, I was debating if I should come out and run the ball, but I took the knee and the 20 yards."

With less than four minutes in the fourth quarter Scheible got the Redhawks on the board.

Scheible threw the ball up into the left end of the end zone for wide out Walter Peoples. Peoples made a one-handed catch, closing the gap 13-6.

Soucy continued to impact the game with a blocked extra point.

All Eastern had to do was run out the clock, but running back Bruce Frieson broke several tackles for a 28-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds left in the game, giving the Redhawks no chance for a comeback.

Walker, Frieson and Pryor combined for 43 of the teams 49 runs. Banjoman had the other six rushes. The team finished with 49 rushes for 183 yards.

Next week the Colonels head to Lexington to face the University of Kentucky, but Hood was happy to see his team get back on track with a win.

"Football is life," Hood said. "Every single football game is like a lifetime. It is a great lesson for the kids. You lose, you have three choices. You can blame someone else, you can quit or you can dig a little deeper and that's what they did today."

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