RICHMOND, Ky. – Charleston Southern football fell in its second-straight tilt away from home Saturday night as Eastern Kentucky topped the visiting Bucs 40-17 at Roy Kidd Stadium.

STRONG SECOND STANZA
The Bucs found themselves down 16-0 to start the second quarter as Eastern Kentucky took full advantage of the opening period, but the second quarter went the way of Charleston Southern. Sam Babbush put the Bucs on the board with a long field goal midway through the quarter before the final minute saw Vinson Davis haul in a 28-yard toss from the signal caller Ross Malmgren to pull within one score before the midway break.

SPECIAL TEAMS SHINE, AGAIN
Babbush continues to shine for the Charleston Southern special teams, as the placekicker showed the leg with a 57-yard field goal in the second quarter. It marks the third time in as many contests that Babbush has converted a field goal try. Two of those three tilts saw Babbush convert from at least 50 yards, as he was good from 50 in the opener against Western Carolina. 

SPREADING THE LOVE
The Charleston Southern receivers were called on multiple times on the evening as Malmgren and Isaiah Bess completed passes to seven different targets. Vinson Davis hauled in seven passes for 60 yards and a score while Seth Anderson led the way with 97 yards and a score on five catches. TJ Ruff and Kale Anderson stood as the other two CSU receivers that were called on more than once on the night.

GROUND GAME BY COMMITTEE
Charleston Southern relied on multiple backs in the backfield throughout the night, Ruff led a unit of five different players to record rushing yards. To add to his production through the air, Ruff toted the rock 17 times, amassing 39 yards. The two signal callers that appeared under center in Malmgren and Isaiah Bess also recorded carries as the offense looks to find its footing heading into Big South play.
 
EXTRA POSSESSIONS
The Charleston Southern defense continues to create more opportunities for the offense in creating turnovers. Jamel Johnson recorded an interception and added a return of 26 yards to account for the turnover forced by the CSU defense. The Bucs were able to get into the backfield quite a few times as well, recording a combined six tackles for loss led by two Quintin Seguin TFLs and a sack to add up to 17 total yards lost. 
 
TALE OF TWO HALVES
Charleston Southern found themselves down just one score as the teams entered the midway break, but it was all Colonels in the second stanza as EKU outscored Charleston Southern 24-7 in the final 30 minutes of play. 

RECORDS
Charleston Southern: 0-3
Eastern Kentucky: 2-1

UP NEXT
Head Coach Autry Denson and his bunch will return home for just the second time this season a week from today as Charleston Southern will play host to Furman Saturday, September 24. The contest is set for a noon kick at Buccaneer Stadium. The meeting will be just the second between the two programs, with Furman laying claim to the only meeting back in 2019.