GREENWOOD, S.C – The Erskine College football team (3-8) was defeated Kentucky State University (8-4) by a score of 41-17 in their fall 2021 regular season finale at J.W. Babb Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Erskine wide receiver Senika McKie had a career-high 19 receptions for 225 yards in the game.
 
THE BASICS
Final | Kentucky 41, Erskine 17
Records | Erskine 3-8, Newberry 8-4
Location | Greenwood, S.C. (J.W. Babb Stadium)
 
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• Senika McKie eclipsed 1000 receiving yards for the season with a third-quarter catch in a game where he had a career-high 18 receptions and a game-high 225 yards in the loss.
• Kentucky State RB Brett Sylve led the attack with a game-high 102 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns as the Thorobreds ran for 364 yards in the game.
• Lance Brownlee was 28-for-43 for 242 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns.
• The Fleet defense was led by ten tackles apiece from Jamal Barron and Brandon Lane. Wilbur Ramos added seven tackles, including three for loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter:
Kentucky State took the opening kickoff almost to midfield and it took the Thorobreds just six rushing plays to find the endzone with a short field as they took an early 7-0 lead. The Erskine offense went three-and-out on its first drive, and Kentucky State scored a 42-yard touchdown to make it a 14-0 game about halfway through the opening quarter. After a shaky start, though, the Fleet regrouped and Senika McKie tallied six catches for 50 yards on the Fleet's final drive of the quarter alone, before Brownlee found Dylan Shiflett for a four-yard touchdown get Erskine on the board, 14-7.

Second Quarter:
Both teams' defenses took over in the second quarter and were able to get stops along with the help of vital penalties on both sides. Following a brief Erskine drive, Kentucky State took back over with just over four minutes remaining in the half, still clinging to a 14-7 lead. The Thorobreds went on an 11-play drive, but the Fleet defense stood tall on the goal line to keep the visitors to a field goal, making it a 17-7 Kentucky State lead heading into the halftime break.
 
Third Quarter:
Kentucky State added another field goal on their second drive of the second half to extend their lead to 20-7. Brownlee was intercepted on the third play of Erskine's ensuing drive and KSU capitalized, finding the endzone on its first play following the turnover as the Fleet deficit increased to 27-7. But, Brownlee connected with McKie for 38 yards to get the Fleet offense going on its next drive, and Erskine got a field goal to cut the Kentucky State lead to 27-10 after three quarters. 
 
Fourth Quarter:
A roughing the punter penalty on what was 4th and 29 for the Thorobreds proved costly as Kentucky State turned the second life into points on a 10-yard rushing touchdown to open the final quarter, putting KSU ahead 34-10. Again, the Fleet answered right back, though. Erskine dialed up a trick play to open the drive with Bryce Jeffcoat finding McKie for a 46-yard catch, before a more conventional 18-yard catch and score from McKie trimmed the deficit to 34-17. Kentucky State found the endzone on its next drive to put the finishing touches on a 41-17 victory over the Fleet.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine concluded its fall 2021 season on Saturday, and following a stretch of 17 games played over the last eight and a half months, the Fleet will enter into a traditional offseason and begin preparations for the 2022 campaign.
 
Follow the Flying Fleet all season long to get schedule updates, scores, highlights, photo galleries, game notes and more at www.erskinesports.com.
 
MORE ABOUT THE ERSKINE COLLEGE FLYING FLEET

    Visit the Official Home of Erskine Athletics at www.erskinesports.com
  
    Follow us on Social Media – Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Photos