As junior transfer Jaylen Myers took a pair of knees from the victory formation, a dominating performance was sealed as the Kentucky State University football team went on the road to upset Football Championship Subdivision member Robert Morris, 13-7, Saturday in non-conference action at Joe Walton Stadium.
Kentucky State snapped a 12-game overall losing streak, a four-game losing streak in openers and knocked off a Division I opponent for the first time since 2002.
With Robert Morris threatening to take a two-possession lead in the second quarter, senior Xavier Johnson (Lexington, KY) recovered a Colonial fumble on the six-yard line and breathing life into the Thorobreds.
The Thorobreds took the turnover, drove 94 yards on 20 plays eating up almost 12 minutes off the clock, and punctuated the scoring drive with a four-yard pass from Myers (Maryville, Tenn.) to redshirt junior Brett Sylve (Hammond, La.). Kentucky State ran the ball 16 times on the drive and converted a pair of third downs and a fourth down.
Another extended drive put KSU’s rushing prowess on display as the Green and Gold drove 80 yards on 12 plays to take the 13-7 lead when freshman Israel Fields (Wildwood, Fla.) smashed his way to paydirt from a yard out.
A 44-yard leaping reception from senior Jonathan Powell (Greenville, Ala.) on third and 20 kept the drive alive.
The defense came up with another big stop on the ensuing drive when junior Earnest Austin (Rockford, Ill.) recovered the RMU fumble on the one with almost 12 minutes remaining.
Robert Morris never regained possession.
Kentucky State ran out the clock with a 17-play drive, covering 54 yards. The Thorobreds earned four first downs on the drive, including a pair of fourth-down conversions, one of which came in KSU territory.
Sylve toted the rock 20 times for 87 yards and had one reception for a four-yard touchdown, while Myers added 65 yards on 13 attempts. Myers was 4-of-10 for 70 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions.
Speaking of the defense, they limited Robert Morris to just 217 yards on 50 plays, forced a pair of crucial turnovers and didn’t allow a single point in the final three quarters.
Freshman Xavier Hill (Colorado Springs, Col.), senior Chris Roberts (Frankfort, Ky.) and Austin each tallied five tackles, while junior Kalmorris Robinson (Macon, Miss.), freshman Jeremiah Owens (Greenville, Ala.) and sophomore Artest Banks (Thomson, Ga.) all had pass breakups.
Kentucky State (1-0) kicks off Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action 4 p.m. Saturday, hosting Tuskegee.
Courtesy: KSU Athletics
