GRAYSON, Ky. – Two fourth quarter interceptions by the Faulkner secondary helped hold off Kentucky Christian for a 38-22 victory, the third straight for the Eagles this season.

With Faulkner up 24-22 on the first play of the fourth quarter, KCU's Jakwon Robert dropped and fired to his right in search of Brendan Ray. Neikel Robinson stepped in front of the pass at the Knight 25 for the interception. Two plays later, Kade Young found Jalen Browder in single coverage from 16 yards out, hooking up with the senior wideout on a touchdown for the fifth time in two games. The score put the Eagles up 31-22 with 14:11 to play.

As it had most of the afternoon, Kentucky Christian looked to answer back on the ensuing possession. The Knights started the drive at their own 30 and covered 48 yards in eight plays, driving to the Faulkner 22. On the ninth play of the drive, Malik Meadows showed off his rare combination of athleticism and ball skills when he snatched a Roberts throw to add to his interception total and halt the KCU threat.

The Knights failed to get beyond their own 27 yard line for the duration of the ball game. Faulkner, meanwhile, put together one more touchdown drive to seal the game. The Eagles milked more than four minutes off the clock on a march that covered 76 yards and ended with a 14-yard scoring run by wide receiver Cordara Laurant.

Faulkner wasted little time striking first Saturday afternoon as it took the opening kickoff and covered 63 yards with the help of two Kentucky Christian penalties and a 35-yard pass from Young to Laurant that got the Eagles down to the KCU 1. Hunter Gibson followed with the touchdown plunge and Faulkner grabbed the 7-0 lead.

The Knights answered back with a 12-play, 60-yard drive that culminated with a Roberts scoring run. The PAT failed, leaving Faulkner on top until the 1:40 mark of the first quarter when Paul Rodriguez proved true on a 34-yard field goal.

The 9-7 deficit lasted until 11:38 before half when Isaiah Scott hauled in a 14-yard pass from Young to cap a 57-yard drive that took five minutes and left the Eagles up 14-9. Alvin Renteria added a 36-yard field goal with 6:59 left before half to set the margin to 17-9.

KCU struck first in the third quarter as Roberts hit Ray for a 33-yard scoring strike to cut it to 17-15. The conversion try failed to tie it, leaving the Knights playing catch-up for the remainder of the day.

Young answered by engineering a 67-yard scoring drive that lasted eight plays and took 4:09 off the clock before the signal-caller hit Browder on a nine-yard touchdown pass. Kentucky Christian responded with a 65-yard kickoff return that featured a lateral from Dae'vontay Latimer to Tyquan Flemming to set the Knights up just 14 yards from paydirt. Jerald Daniels made good on the chunk play when he punched it in from three yards out to narrow it to a one possession game again by the end of the third quarter.

Faulkner compiled 402 yards of total offense in the game, averaging nearly 5.6 yards per play while possessing the ball for more than 32 minutes. The Eagles converted on 9 of 16 first downs and twice on fourth down in the effort, helping them to score in six out of seven red zone trips.

Young completed 20 of 32 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 12 times for 87 yards. Browder caught seven passes for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Deshuan Love topped the defense with 11 total tackles while Antonio Gurley had nine.

Faulkner (3-1, 2-0 Appalachian) takes its bye next week before welcoming Reinhardt to town Saturday, March 20 for a 2 p.m. kick.