RICHMOND, Ky. (Interstat) — Eastern Kentucky used a fourth-quarter touchdown run by Brayden Latham and a final defensive stand to defeat Chattanooga 22-17 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Roy Kidd Stadium. The Colonels improved to 1-2, and the Mocs also fell to 1-2. The game gave Eastern Kentucky its first victory of the 2026 season and left Chattanooga with a narrow road loss after a second-half rally.

Eastern Kentucky opened the scoring in the first quarter when T. Travers completed a short pass to the left to B. Newcomb for a 16-yard touchdown. Newcomb caught the ball and finished the play for the score. The conversion pass failed, so the Colonels led by six. Chattanooga answered in the second quarter with Jude Kelley’s 31-yard field goal. The kick capped a Chattanooga possession and cut into the Eastern Kentucky lead. The Mocs had trouble generating explosive plays early, but Kelley’s field goal kept the visitors within striking distance.

Eastern Kentucky responded with a huge play before halftime. Brady Hensley took a rush up the middle and broke free for a 96-yard touchdown. The run changed field position and momentum in an instant, and Buzz Flabiano made the extra point. Flabiano later added a 33-yard field goal, giving the Colonels more breathing room before the break. Eastern Kentucky’s special teams and running game provided the difference in the first half, while Chattanooga’s offense searched for consistency.

Chattanooga emerged from halftime with a stronger attack. K. Lalin rushed through the middle for a 27-yard touchdown, and Kelley kicked the extra point. The score brought the Mocs closer and quieted the home crowd. Eastern Kentucky tried to answer, but Flabiano’s 48-yard field goal attempt missed. That miss kept Chattanooga within reach, and the Mocs took advantage on their next scoring chance.

Battle Alberson scored on a 5-yard rush to the left, and Kelley added the extra point. The touchdown gave Chattanooga the lead and completed a second-half comeback. The Mocs had turned a deficit into a one-point advantage. Eastern Kentucky, which had controlled much of the first half, suddenly needed a response in the fourth quarter. The Colonels’ offense went back to the ground and found the end zone when Latham rushed up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. The conversion pass failed, but Eastern Kentucky had regained the lead.

Chattanooga had chances to answer in the final minutes but could not produce another touchdown. Eastern Kentucky’s defense held on key downs and protected the lead. The Colonels’ stop on the final Chattanooga possession sealed the win. The Mocs moved the ball at times during the second half, but the failed conversion and missed opportunities proved costly. Eastern Kentucky’s late score and defensive resilience allowed the Colonels to close out the game at home.

The win moved Eastern Kentucky to 1-2 after losses at Jacksonville State and Western Carolina. The Colonels fell 49-7 at Jacksonville State on Sept. 5 and opened the season with a 45-21 loss at Western Carolina on Aug. 29. Chattanooga’s record also moved to 1-2. The Mocs beat West Georgia 24-10 on Aug. 27 before losing to Tennessee Tech 24-9 at home on Sept. 5. The loss at Roy Kidd Stadium marked Chattanooga’s second straight defeat and continued a difficult nonconference stretch.

Chattanooga will host Wofford on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Mocs then travel to The Citadel on Sept. 26, visit East Tennessee State on Oct. 3, host Samford on Oct. 10, and play at Western Carolina on Oct. 24. Chattanooga also hosts Virginia Military Institute on Oct. 31 and Mercer on Nov. 7. The Mocs travel to Furman on Nov. 14 and finish the listed schedule at Alabama on Nov. 21. Eastern Kentucky hosts Dayton on Sept. 19, North Alabama on Oct. 3, West Georgia on Oct. 10, and West Florida on Oct. 24. The Colonels travel to Tennessee Tech on Oct. 17, Tarleton State on Oct. 31, Austin Peay on Nov. 7, and Abilene Christian on Nov. 21. Central Arkansas visits Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 14.

Eastern Kentucky’s offensive effort included the early touchdown pass from Travers to Newcomb, the long touchdown run by Hensley, two field goals from Flabiano, and the late touchdown by Latham. Chattanooga’s scoring came on Kelley’s field goals and extra points, Lalin’s long touchdown run, and Alberson’s short touchdown run. The Colonels’ defense made the final stop after Chattanooga had rallied to take the lead. The game remained close throughout the second half, and the final quarter featured the decisive sequence.

Eastern Kentucky also listed a long group of contributors in the game, including Kaleb Neal, Braylon Newcomb, Jackson House, Caeleb Schlachter, Elijah Caldwell, Jarvis Hayes, AJ Johnson, Kaden Smith, Cam Jessee, Payne Miller, Keshawn Hayden, Derek Taylor, Jeffrey Kinley, Rishad Hence, Cameron Hergott, Davi’yon Hawkins-Ingram, Caleb Redd, Jack McGrath, Aden Tagaloa-Nelson, Jalen Hand, D.J. Galva, Jettson Brown, Jackson Marshall, Jayden Marable, Preston Swope, Nasir Spruill, Brock Driver, Ryder Hooks, Buzz Flabiano, and Cortez Stone. Chattanooga’s key performers included Myles Mays, Kevin Lalin, Journey Wyche, Ashton Schumann, Landon Strickland, TJ Briggs, Zion Rutledge, Jaden Nelson, Keyshawn Jackson, Kristian Ozane, LaRawn Robinson, Nick Coates, Martez Cooksey Jr., Orlando Daniels, Landon Feggins, Ky Tayo, Montrell Henderson, and Jestin Gilmore.

The Colonels’ home victory gave them momentum before a stretch of games at Roy Kidd Stadium and on the road. Chattanooga will look to correct mistakes before returning home against Wofford. The Mocs’ running game showed life in the second half, while the Colonels’ special teams contributed key points. Eastern Kentucky’s ability to answer after losing the lead proved important. The win was the first of the season for the Colonels and gave both teams matching 1-2 records.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Eastern Kentucky 34, Chattanooga 31. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Eastern Kentucky with a 68.9 percent probability to win.