STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Trailing in the final minutes did not startle the No. 1 nationally ranked team in FCS, with Tarleton State Football scoring the game-winning touchdown with 1:54 left in regulation and defeating Eastern Kentucky 28-24 on Halloween at Memorial Stadium.
Saturday's win gave the Texans their second 9-0 start in the D1 era. It is the sixth time in program history Tarleton State Football (9-0, 4-0 UAC) has opened a season with nine straight wins (2026, 2025, 2019, 2018, 1990, 1935) thanks to the victory over EKU (3-6, 2-2).
Quarterback Kaden Anderson threw for 351 yards and completed 18-of-32 passes to go with two touchdowns. Wide receiver Marquis Willis had 173 yards off four receptions and one touchdowns, with fellow wide receiver Tanner Schmidt also accumulating 107 yards off eight receptions. Running back Tylan Hines netted 110 yards, his fourth game with 100+ yards.
Linebacker Chris Robinson collected a season-high 16 total tackles, the most by a Texan in a game since 2024. Fifth year linebacker Omar Emmons forced a fumble to go with five tackles defensively.
"I'm really pleased with the way our team fought and the way they played together," head coach
Todd Whitten said. "We certainly made a lot of mistakes. We had some penalties that would have gotten our defense off the field. We made a lot of plays on both sides of the ball, but we kept shooting ourselves in the foot. Even though we didn't play particularly well at times, we battled until the end and I'm proud of these guys for their effort."
Halloween was business as usual for Tarleton State, who got off to its usual fast start in the first quarter. After a tackle from defensive lineman Seven Cloud stopped EKU on fourth down on the Colonels' opening drive, the Texans continued momentum on the offensive side of the ball. Anderson found Willis for a 27-yard catch and score that gave the Texans the early lead.
After the Texans held EKU scoreless through the end of the first quarter, the Colonels countered a response in the second quarter. EKU running back Brady Hensley took it 63 yards to the house for the touchdown that allowed the Colonels to tie the game with the extra point.
The Texans responded to the rushing attack through their own run game, with Hines going for a 24-yard run that put Tarleton State on the one-yard line. Fellow running back James Paige pounded his way to the one-yard touchdown that allowed the Texans to retake the lead with 5:22 left in the first half.
EKU was unfazed by Tarleton State's offensive attack, tying it up on the final drive of the half. After completing a 61-yard pass, EKU capped off the half with a five-yard touchdown pass and made it a 14-14 game going into the locker room.
Tarleton State used a 38-yard pass completion to open the second half before EKU came up with an interception to get the ball back. EKU capitalized off the takeaway by converting a 41-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead.
The Colonels looked to extend their lead after stopping Tarleton State on fourth down, setting up a first and goal on the five yard line. EKU looked to find the end zone, but the Texans had other plans. Tarleton State prevented EKU from getting the one yard needed to convert on fourth down and kept it a three-point game going into the fourth quarter.
Following a 34-yard touchdown from running back Miequle Brock to put the Texans back on top, EKU looked to answer by marching down to the red zone. The Texans, however, got the ball back by forcing a fumble and recovering it on their own 12 yard line. Tarleton State looked to extend the lead, but fumbled the ball to give possession back to the Colonels.
EKU converted on third and short with a 48-yard pass, eventually getting inside the red zone. The Colonels got the go-ahead touchdown with 3:18 left to play, taking a 24-21 lead. Following a pass interference penalty and 23-yard run by Hines, Anderson found wide receiver
BJ Fleming for the game-winning catch with under two minutes to play. The Texans stopped EKU on four straight downs, allowing Tarleton State to maintain its undefeated record.
Tarleton State is back at Memorial Stadium next week on Saturday, Nov. 7 against in-conference rival Abilene Christian at 6 p.m. It will be the final regular season home game of the 2026 season and Senior Dar, sponsored by the Tarleton Alumni Association. Tickets are available for purchase online or in person at the Memorial Stadium Box Office.
