ATLANTA – Kentucky State football returns to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday, Sept. 12, when the Thorobreds travel to Atlanta to face Clark Atlanta at 6 p.m. inside CAU Panther Stadium. The conference matchup will air live on ESPN+.

Kentucky State enters Saturday at 1-1 overall and 1-0 in SIAC play after facing NCAA Division I opponent Southern University last weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Despite falling 34-15, the Thorobreds produced a game-high 378 yards of total offense and outgained the Jaguars, who finished with 372.

Saturday will mark the 17th documented meeting between Kentucky State and Clark Atlanta dating back to 1998. The Thorobreds hold a 13-3 advantage in the series and have won three consecutive meetings against the Panthers. Kentucky State is also 8-2 over the last 10 matchups and has outscored Clark Atlanta 496-293 across the documented series.

The teams last met Nov. 1, 2025, when Kentucky State earned a 43-28 victory at Alumni Stadium. The Thorobreds generated 498 yards of total offense in the win, led by quarterback Denim Johnson's 393 passing yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver Darius Cyprian finished with six receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns.

Kentucky State will look to carry some of the offensive production it generated against Southern into Saturday's conference matchup.

The Thorobreds controlled much of the opening quarter against the Jaguars, outgaining Southern 85-37 and running 18 offensive plays while keeping Southern off the scoreboard. Kentucky State later put together a third-quarter surge behind quarterback Jaun Gainous, who threw a pair of touchdown passes.

Gainous finished with 196 passing yards, while Tristan Thomas provided balance in the backfield with a game-high 110 rushing yards. Thomas also made an impact in the passing game, hauling in a 72-yard touchdown reception.

Darius Cyprian continued to serve as one of Kentucky State's primary offensive weapons, leading both teams with eight receptions for 77 yards.

Defensively, Roman Hernandez led both teams with 12 tackles, including eight solo stops and four assisted tackles, while also recording two pass breakups.

Kentucky State's special teams unit also received another strong performance from Leland Gantz, who totaled 384 punting yards. His night included a 52-yard punt that pinned Southern at its own 4-yard line.

Clark Atlanta also enters Saturday at 1-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Panthers opened their season with a 49-7 road loss at Grambling State before bouncing back with a 31-21 victory over Morehouse in the ATL Labor Day Classic.

Clark Atlanta totaled 394 yards of offense against Morehouse, including 223 through the air and 171 on the ground.

Quarterback Xzavier Jackson completed 13 of 22 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns in the victory. Running back Dae'Jeaun Dennis added 104 rushing yards on 18 carries, while wide receiver Chry'shawn Sellers caught four passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns.

Through two games, Jackson has thrown for 321 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Sellers leads the Panthers' receiving corps with eight catches for 168 yards and three touchdowns, while Dennis has totaled 127 yards on the ground.

The matchup could provide Kentucky State with another opportunity to establish its offensive balance. Clark Atlanta has allowed an average of 417.5 yards of total offense through its first two games, including 194.5 rushing yards and 223 passing yards per contest.

For the Thorobreds, the combination of Thomas in the rushing attack and Gainous and Cyprian through the air gives Kentucky State multiple ways to challenge the Panthers defensively.
Saturday's contest also presents an opportunity for Kentucky State to extend its winning streak against Clark Atlanta to four games while building on its early position in SIAC play.

Kickoff between Kentucky State and Clark Atlanta is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at CAU Panther Stadium in Atlanta. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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