RICHMOND — On paper, Jared McClain’s performance in the season opener against Kansas State doesn’t look all that impressive.

He completed just nine of 26 passes for 119 yards and was intercepted twice. McClain was also sacked four times and finished with a 57.68 pass efficiency rating during the Colonels’ 10-7 loss.

Those statistics, however, definitely don’t tell the entire story.

McClain, a true freshman, looked calm, composed and confident in front of an enthusiastic crowd of more than 50,000 Kansas State fans and was able to keep the Colonels in the game until the very end.

“I think he proved that we made the right decision,” EKU coach Dean Hood said of McClain. “It was a tough decision. I felt like he had a good game and the film backed that up, also.”

A series of injuries forced the EKU coaching staff to start the freshman in the season opener.

Returning starter T.J. Pryor broke a bone in his throwing hand several weeks ago and physical problems kept sophomores Brendon Gregory and Victor Perez from being available against Kansas State.

That left McClain and Travis Carlyle as the only healthy quarterbacks on the roster.

“It was a tough situation,” EKU senior safety Patrick McClellan said. “Jared came out and played well. A true freshman going into (his first game) and playing a Big 12 team, that’s hard.”

McClain had some memorable moments.

The freshman hit Tyrone Goard on a 43-yard reception in the second quarter and he gave EKU a 7-0 lead in the third quarter on a 1-yard touchdown run.

“We played well,” McClain said. “They played a little bit better than us. We did some good things and we did some bad things.”

 At this point, its unclear who will start Saturday in the home opener against Missouri State.

Pryor could be back, but if he’s not ready to go, McClain should be back under center.

“I think he is probable,” the EKU coach said of Pryor on Monday. “But, we will know a lot more as the week goes on. He threw a little bit last week and it was still sore.”

Caldwell takes on new role

Jeremy Caldwell has been a game-changing presence in the secondary and as a kick/punt returner during his career at EKU.

Now, the senior is getting a chance to showcase his talent on offense as well.

Caldwell caught three passes Saturday in the season-opening loss at Kansas State. He had receptions of nine and 16 yards and finished with 22 yards.

“That’s something we’ve done the past couple of weeks in practice,” Hood said of using Caldwell at receiver. “We did (put him out there) a little in the spring, but we’ve done it more recently. When you lose your No. 1 receiver and your No. 1 quarterback, you are just looking for some ways to find some juice over there on that end.”

Caldwell also had three tackles, including one for loss, and also had 20 yards on two kick returns.

“We will use him all year long on both sides of the ball and on special teams,” Hood said.

McClellan and Berry honored

Two Colonels were honored for their performance in the team’s near-upset of Kansas State.

McClellan was named the Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week, while punter Jordan Berry was named the OVC Specialist of the Week.

McClellan had two fumble recoveries, including one that set up EKU’s only touchdown of the game. In the third quarter, the senior safety picked up a loose ball on the K-State 19-yard line and returned it 18 yards.

Two plays later, EKU took a 7-0 lead.

McClellan also had seven tackles (six solo and 1.5 tackles for loss) as the Colonels held the Wildcats to their lowest point total in more than a year.

Berry was once again a difference maker on special teams. The sophomore averaged 41.8 yards on 10 punts and had two kicks of more than 60 yards, highlighted by a 67-yarder.

He pinned K-State inside the 20-yard line four times.

“There’s no doubt he’s a weapon,” Hood said of Berry. “He can flip the field for you and he can pin them down in their own territory. He can do it all.”

Colonels come close

Four OVC teams opened the season last week with showdowns against Football Bowl Subdivision Teams.

All four lost, but EKU came closest to pulling an upset.

Austin Peay suffered a 72-10 loss at Cincinnati, Iowa blasted Tennessee Tech, 34-7 and Murray State lost to Louisville, 21-9.