Box Score

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky State University Thorobreds football team came up short in their bid for a homecoming victory, falling to the Miles College Golden Bears, 19-13, on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Alumni Stadium.

Kentucky State struggled offensively through the first three quarters, turning the ball over three times and being held scoreless by the stingy Miles defense.

Late in the third quarter Head Coach Josh Dean decided to insert freshman quarterback Ora Johnson. While Johnson struggled with decision making at times, being sack four times, he helped spark the Thorobreds offense late in the game.

Johnson, who picked up his first collegiate completion and touchdown on Saturday, finished the game going 9-for-13 for 180 yards and a pair of touchdowns, both coming with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Johnson connected with wide receiver John Jackson for a 10-yard strike with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter. After the KSU defense forced a quick three-and-out on Miles next possession, Johnson found Moronkie Tapper streaking down the right side of the field on the third play of the Thorobreds next possessionfor an 87-yard touchdown to pull the Thorobreds to within sixpoints at 19-13.

With just 19 seconds left on the clock, the Thorobreds lined up for an onside kick attempt but when Miles recovered the ball it effectively ended the furious Kentucky State comeback.

Senior running back Jacquise Lockett finished the game with a team-high 74 yards on the ground. Tapper led Kentucky State with a game-high99 receiving yardsand a touchdown.

Defensively the Thorobreds played well, especially in the second half when KSU held Miles to just 106 total offensive yards and six points. Lydell Simon had a game-high 14 tackles for Kentucky State. Safety Jermaine Graham finished with nine tackles. Linebackers Trevon Spencer and Joshua Williams finished with seven tackles each.

The loss drops Kentucky State to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in SIAC action this season. Miles improves their overall record to 4-3 and their conference record to 3-1.

Next up for Kentucky State is a road trip to Tuskegee, Ala. for an SIAC West Division match-up against the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. (CT).