The Kentucky State University football team looks to secure its best winning percentage in more than 40 years as the Thorobreds travel to SIAC-foe Benedict for a non-conference game. Kentucky State went 7-2-1 in 1978, and the seven wins would be the most since the 2004 team went 7-4. The game was added late following the cancellation of the St. Louis Football Heritage Classic. 
 
TICKETS: All fans who bring in five cans of food, which will be donated to local food banks or needy families, will receive free admission.

PRESEASON ALL-SIAC: Graduate defensive lineman Chris Roberts was the lone Thorobred to earn first team honors. Roberts led the team with 12 tackles for loss and was second on the team with 63 tackles. 
    Junior offensive lineman Eliezer Hernandez and redshirt junior returner Brett Sylve earned second team honors. Sylve returns to the gridiron after missing all but three quarters of the 2018 season. He rushed for 159 yards on 20 carries in his brief appearance. 

MILITARY TIES: The Kentucky State University coaching staff, led by head coach Charlie Jackson, is flush with a military background. Jackson starred at the United States Air Force Academy.
    Assistant coach Stephen Pipes is also a graduate of the United State Air Force Academy and is a 20-year combat veteran. He began his coaching career at the US Air Force Academy Prep Academy before coaching at his alma mater. 
    Assistant coach Charlie Hopkins coached at The Citadel, while director of player development Jahrod Matlock was also a member of the US Air Force Academy. 

RETURN SPECIALISTS: Redshirt junior Brett Sylve was 10th nationally, and second in the SIAC, averaging 28.6 yards per kickoff return.

GROUND AND POUND: Redshirt junior Brett Sylve needs one yard to get reach 1,000 yards on the season for the first time in his career. In his first season with the Thorobreds, Sylve finished with 974 yards. He will be the first KSU player since Jacquise Lockett ran for 1,154 yards in 2014.
    He enters the game against Benedict, leading the conference with 111.6 yards per game. 

SLOW START: Kentucky State has only scored 20 points in the first quarter this season. The 14 points in the first quarter against Central State were the first points since the touchdown against Jackson State in the Circle City Classic. 

SHAKY FINISH: The Thorobreds have allowed more points in the fourth quarter than they have in the first three quarters, combined. Kentucky State is yielding 89 points over the first three quarters and have surrendered 78 points in the fourth quarter. 

HANG TIME: Thanks to the punting ability of freshman Michael Bobak and the coverage teams, the Kentucky State punt coverage team is leading NCAA Division II in punt coverage defense allowed -0.20 yards per return. 

TICK, TICK, TICK: Using the triple option offense, the Thorobreds have done a phenomenal job of maintaining possession. In fact, Kentucky State is currently third nationally, and first in the SIAC, in time of possession - holding the ball for 34:16. Division II leader Eastern New Mexico possesses the ball for 35:29.
    Kentucky State has won the time of possession battle in seven its nine games this season. 

PASS EFFICIENCY: Kentucky State leads the conference, and is 12th nationally, in passing efficiency with a rating of 162.67. The Thorobreds have thrown for nine touchdowns and just one interception.

THIRD DOWN CONVERSATIONS: The Kentucky State football team is on opposite ends of the third down conversions spectrum. KSU leads the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in third down conversion, converting 40 percent of their opportunities. 
    However, the Thorobreds are last in the SIAC allowing opponents to convert 40 percent of their attempts.