Blake, McKinney spark Eastern Kentucky past Tarleton State 41-35 in 2OT

RICHMOND, Ky. (AP) — Parker McKinney scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper in the second overtime after Logan Blake intercepted a Victor Gabalis pass to prevent Tarleton State from scoring and Eastern Kentucky rallied to beat the Texans 41-35 on Saturday.

McKinney completed 19 of 33 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown for Eastern Kentucky (3-3, 2-0 United Athletic Conference). He also carried 10 times for 98 yards. Braedon Sloan carried the load for the Colonels, rushing 24 times for 120 yards and three scores. Sloan also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from McKinney in the third quarter to give EKU a 28-21 lead.

Gabalis completed 16 of 30 passes for 211 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions for Tarleton (4-3, 1-2). Kayvon Britten ran for 187 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Derrel Kelley III rushed 17 times for 102 yards and a score. Darius Cooper hauled in six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Gabalis opened the scoring with a 2-yard TD toss to Benjamin Omayebu on Tarleton’s first possession. EKU answered with Joshua Carter’s 48-yard touchdown run before Kayvon Britten scored on a 4-yard run for a 14-7 Texans’ lead after one quarter.

Sloan sandwiched touchdown runs covering 2 and 1 yards around a 27-yard scoring strike from Gabalis to Cooper to knot the score at 21 at halftime.

Kelley’s 3-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for Tarleton forced overtime. Sloan scored on a 5-yard run in the first OT and Gabalis answered with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Cooper.

The two teams combined for 604 yards on the ground — 316 by the Texans.

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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll