Many key games dot today’s OVC football schedule

November 3, 2012 |

The OVC race continues to be tight at the top, as Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State both won and UT Martin having a bye week, giving the league three 4-1 teams.Preseason favorite Eastern Kentucky and Jacksonville State (who was picked second in the preseason) are a game back in the loss column at 4-2 with three weeks to go.

As a whole the OVC ranks first nationally in total offense (410.3 yards/game) and points (30.0/game).

This week’s games include Tennessee State at Murray State in the OVC TV Game of the Week (seen live on FOX College Sports and delayed on FOX Sports South), Jacksonville State at UT Martin, Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois at Tennessee Tech.

In non-conference action Austin Peay hosts Culver-Stockton.

This Week’s OVC Football Schedule

Saturday, November 3

*#18 Tennessee State at Murray State, 11:00 a.m. (FOX College Sports – live; FOX Sports South – delayed at 11 p.m. CT)

*Jacksonville State at UT Martin, 12:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

Culver-Stockton at Austin Peay, 1:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

*#23 Eastern Kentucky at Southeast Missouri, 1:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

*Eastern Illinois at Tennessee Tech, 1:30 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)

#18 Tennessee State Tigers (8-1, 4-1 OVC) at Murray State Racers (3-5, 2-3 OVC)

Saturday, Nov. 3 • 11:00 a.m. CT

Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800) • Murray, Ky.

TV: FOX College Sports (live); FOX Sports South (delayed, 11pm CT)
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=10076

Series Record:……………………… Murray State leads 12-11

Last Meeting:……………… Murray State won 58-27 (9/17/11)

Rod Reed at Tennessee State:…………………. 16-15 (3 yrs.)

Rod Reed Overall:…………………………………………… same

Chris Hatcher at Murray State:………………….. 16-14 (3 yrs.)

Chris Hatcher Overall:…………………………. 110-41 (13 yrs.)

Tennessee State Last Week:. W, 22-21 vs. Tennessee Tech

Murray State Last Week:…… L, 38-35 at Jacksonville State

GAME NOTES: Nationally-ranked Tennessee State will play at Murray State on Saturday as part of the OVC TV Game of the Week package. The game will air live on FOX College Sports and delayed at 11 p.m. CT on FOX Sports South. The matchup features a pair of coaches who are in the third season at their respective schools. TSU is coming off a win with no time on the clock to improve to 8-1 on the season and sit atop the OVC standings, while Murray State is coming off a three-point loss at Murray State. Because of a scheduling quirk this marks the third-straight year the game has been played at Murray State. Saturday marks the 24th all-time meeting between the teams and the series has been virtually even with MSU holding a 12-11 advantage.

The Racers have won the last four in the series including 58-27 a season ago.  A year ago Murray State racked up 707 yards of total offense as Casey Brockman passed for an OVC record 600 yards and seven touchdowns in the victory. Walter Powell caught nine of those passes for 147 yards and a score. Michael German passed for 121 yards and a score for the Tigers.

SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE: Tennessee State rebounded from its only loss of the season (a 3-point overtime defeat at Jacksonville State) to come-from-behind and beat Tennessee Tech 22-21 on Saturday. For the second-straight home game the contest game down to the final play of the game as Michael German completed a six-yard touchdown pass to A.C. Leonard with no time on the clock to tie the game and Jamin Godfrey nailed an extra point to lift his team to the victory. Godfrey was named National Special Teams Player of the Week after going 5-for-5 in field goals (connecting from 37, 32, 27, 41 and 22) and nailing the winning PAT. The five made field goals set a TSU single-game record and are tied for the most in the FCS this season. Leonard finished the game with eight catches for 102 yards and the winning score. Leonard currently ranks second among FCS tight ends in receiving yards (528) and third in receptions (37). German finished the day 24-of-40 for 294 yards and the game-winning score. Defensive back Steven Godbolt III picked off sixth pass of the season and now leads all FCS players nationally in interceptions/game (0.67). As a team the Tigers lead the OVC and rank 15th nationally in scoring defense (18.56 points/game) and 34th in total defense (338.67/game).

SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: Murray State suffered its second-straight OVC loss, losing 38-35 at Jacksonville State on Saturday. The Racers tied the game at 35 in the third quarter but was unable to score in the fourth quarter and JSU connected on a 38-yard field goal with 8:51 left to win the game. Following that game he team’s three losses to OVC foes this season have come by a combined 11 points. Senior quarterback Casey Brockman did become the OVC’s career passing leader, increasing his total to 9,187 yards and passing Morehead State’s Chris Swartz (1987-90). Brockman completed 19-of-36 passes for 255 yards while also rushing for two touchdowns. Brockman now needs just 231 yards to hold the OVC career record for total offense. Duane Brady added 71 rushing yards and two rushing scores. Walter Powell, who entered the game in the Top 10 nationally in receptions/game and receiving yards/game was held without a catch. Brandon Hathaway finished the game with five tackles, a tackle-for-loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery; he currently ranks third nationally in fumble recoveries/game (0.38). As a team MSU ranks fifth nationally in scoring offense (39.5 points/game) and total offense (491.0 yards/game).

Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5-3, 4-2 OVC) at UT Martin Skyhawks (6-2, 4-1 OVC)

Saturday, Nov. 3 • 12:00 p.m. CT

Hardy M. Graham Stadium (7,500) • Martin, Tenn.

TV:………………………………….. WLJT/OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://www.utmsports.com/livestats/football/xlive.htm

Series Record:………………… Jacksonville State leads 27-6

Last Meeting:……….. Jacksonville State won 24-23 (9/1/11)

Jack Crowe at Jacksonville State:………….. 86-55 (13 yrs.)

Jack Crowe Overall:……………………………. 100-85 (18 yrs.)

Jason Simpson at UT Martin:…………………… 43-33 (7 yrs.)

Jason Simpson Overall:……………………………………. same

Jacksonville State Last Week:… W, 38-35 vs. Murray State

UT Martin Last Week:…………………………………………. Idle

GAME NOTES: Jacksonville State will travel to UT Martin for a key game in the OVC race on Saturday. The Skyhawks are currently in a three-way tie for first place in the OVC (with Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State) while the Gamecocks are just one game back in the standings. Jacksonville State leads the all-time series with UT Martin 27-6 including a 24-23 victory a season ago. Overall JSU has won three in a row and 9 of 11 in the series.  That game a year ago came down to the final minute as Jax State went 50 yards in 3:49 as Calvin Middleton rushed for a 4-yard score with 38 seconds to go. The Skyhawks were able to march down to the JSU 15-yard line but time expired before they could get a field goal attempt off. Carr finished with 325 passing yards while Coty Blanchard had 133 passing yards and 32 rushing yards after Marques Ivory went down with an injury during the game.

SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE: Jacksonville State kept itself alive in the race for the OVC Championship with its second-straight three-point victory, this time by a 38-35 margin over Murray State. The Gamecocks are now 4-2 in OVC play, one game behind a trio of teams, including its opponent this week. The victory over MSU was the 100th in the coaching career of head coach Jack Crowe, who is in his 18th year overall as a collegiate head coach. After winning the game in overtime the previous week, junior kicker Thomas Griffin nailed the game-winner again this week, connecting from 38-yards out with 8:51 to play in the fourth quarter. Senior Washaun Ealey rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries (the second-most by a FCS running back this season). Ealey has now scored eight touchdowns over his last four games (JSU has gone 3-1 in that stretch). Freshman defensive back Jermaine Hough picked off his third pass in the past two weeks and finished the game with eight tackles. As a whole the JSU defensive unit held Murray State scoreless in the fourth quarter, snapping a streak of 23-straight quarters with points for MSU. The Gamecocks now ranks ninth nationally in time of possession (32:59) and sixth in third down conversion percentage (51.56%).

SCOUTING UT MARTIN: In a three-way tie for first place, UT Martin is coming off its bye week. The Skyhawks play two of its final three games at home (including a game with Tennessee State) and controls its own fate for the OVC Championship if they win out. The Skyhawks enter this week having won three in a row and five of its last six. After scoring a combined 117 points in  two games to begin the month of October, the Skyhawks needed only 27 points to beat Southeast Missouri two weeks ago. In a game that featured a lot of running, Tevin Barksdale rushed for 107 yards for the Skyhawks while Carr finished with 156 passing yards and a touchdown threw the air and also a touchdown on the ground. Junior DJ Roberts keyed a defensive attack as he recorded eight tackles, 0.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and recovered a fumble in being named OVC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Jason McNair returned a punt 56 yards in the game and now ranks fourth nationally in punt returns (15.25 yards/return). As a team UT Martin ranks seventh nationally in turnover margin (+1.13/game) and are ninth in fumbles recovered (11).

Culver-Stockton Wildcats (1-8, 0-8 HAAC) at Austin Peay Governors (0-8, 0-6 OVC)

Saturday, Nov. 3 • 1:00 p.m. CT

Governors Stadium (10,000) • Clarksville, Tenn.

TV:…………………………………………… OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://www.apsugovernors.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml

Series Record:……………………………………… First meeting

Last Meeting:…………………………………………………….. n/a

Jeff Duvendeck at Culver-Stockton:…………… 2-18 (2 yrs.)

Jeff Duvendeck Overall:…………………………………… same

Rick Christophel at Austin Peay:………………. 18-45 (6 yrs.)

Rick Christophel Overall:…………………………………… same

Culver-Stockton Last Week:…. L, 29-9 vs. Baker University

Austin Peay Last Week:…. L, 48-27 vs. Southeast Missouri

GAME NOTES: Austin Peay steps out of Conference action for the final time this season when they host Culver-Stockton on Saturday. It marks the second-straight home game for the Govs who are coming off a loss to Southeast Missouri. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

SCOUTING CULVER-STOCKTON: Culver-Stockton is located in Canton, Mo. and is a member of the NAIA Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC). The Wildcats started the season with seven-straight losses under second-year head coach Jeff Duvendeck but broke through with a victory over Lindenwood University-Belleville on Oct. 20. Last week the team had to battle the 14th-ranked team in the NAIA and loss 29-9 to Baker University. In last week’s game Curtis Widener completed 14-of-39 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown; he has 824 passing yards and five touchdowns this year. Desmond Phillips led the rushing attack with 47 yards; on the season he has 419 yards and two scores. Defensively Bobby Nelessen and Stepho Williams had 10 tackles apiece; Nelessen leads the team with 73 tackles in 2012. As a team Culver-Stockton is being outscored by an average of 41.4 to 15.2 in games.

SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY: Austin Peay is in search of its first victory of the season and will step out of OVC competition this week to host Culver-Stockton. It marks the third non-conference game of the season for the Governors, and first against a non-Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe. APSU fell behind 38-7 to Southeast Missouri last week but pulled to within 41-27 and had the ball deep in Redhawk territory before a fumble led to a long return and score. Quarterback Jake Ryan had one of his best games of the season, completing 23-of-38 passes for a season-high 304 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Included in that was a 49-yard touchdown from Ryan to Devin Stark that marked the longest scoring play of the season for the Govs. Ryan moved into second place on the team’s career passes attempted (848) list and second on the career touchdown passes list (29). Stark caught nine passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns on the day; it marked a career-high in receiving yards and also his second multi-touchdown game of the season. Freshman Rico Williams continued to impress on the ground, netting 133 yards on 22 carries (6.0 ypc) and a touchdown. It marked a career-high in rushing yards for Williams who also caught two passes for 45 yards. Sophomore Johnathan Shuler set a team-season high with 19 tackles, becoming the first APSU player with that many tackles since the 2007 season (Daniel Becker). The team ended the game with a season-high 27 points; that included 20 second-half points, after entering the game with only 26 total second half points through the first seven games of the season.

#23 Eastern Kentucky Colonels (6-3, 4-2 OVC) at Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (3-5, 2-3 OVC)

Saturday, Nov. 3 • 1:00 p.m. CT

Houck Stadium (10,000) • Cape Girardeau, Mo.

TV:…………………………………………… OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://www.redhawkstv.com/LiveStats/2013Live/Football/xlive.htm

Series Record:…………………. Eastern Kentucky leads 19-3

Last Meeting:……… Eastern Kentucky won 41-17 (10/15/11)

Dean Hood at Eastern Kentucky:…………….. 32-23 (5 yrs.)

Dean Hood Overall:…………………………………………. same

Tony Samuel at Southeast Missouri:…………. 28-48 (7 yrs.)

Tony Samuel Overall:………………………….. 62-105 (15 yrs.)

Eastern Kentucky Last Week:….. L, 24-7 vs. Eastern Illinois

Southeast Missouri Last Week:….. W, 48-27 at Austin Peay

GAME NOTES: Nationally-ranked Eastern Kentucky will travel to Southeast Missouri on Saturday. The game is the last regular season road game of the season for the Colonels and last home game of the season for the Redhawks. The two teams have played 22 times since 1990, with Eastern Kentucky coming out on top in 19 of those games. EKU has won seven of the last eight meetings including 41-17 a year ago in Richmond. In that game EKU outscored Southeast 21-7 in the second half to pull away for the victory. Matt Denham rushed for 142 yards and a pair of scores while T.J. Pryor ran for 72 yards and passed for 99 yards and a touchdown. Southeast Missouri was led by quarterback Matt Scheible who ran for 75 yards and a score and passed for 174 additional yards. This year’s matchup features two of the top three rushing teams in the OVC. A victory by EKU would give the team four road victories for the first time since the 2007 season.

SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY: Eastern Kentucky slipped to No. 23 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the Sports Network Poll after a home loss to Eastern Illinois on Saturday. The loss dropped the Colonels to 4-2 in OVC play, one game behind Eastern Illinois, Tennessee State and UT Martin in the loss column. In the loss to EIU, the Colonels forced four turnovers but were unable to score any points off those miscues. EKU currently ranks second nationally in turnover margin (+1.56/game) and have outscored OVC opponents 45-7 off turnovers this season. The team was limited to just 81 yards of net rushing offense as Matt Denham rushed for 95 yards and a score. T.J. Pryor did pass for 203 yards but was sacked five times by the EIU defense. EKU did control the ball for 34:11 of the game and now ranks fourth in the FCS in time of possession (34:04). Denham did reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive season, the first EKU running back to achieve that since 2002 (C.J. Hudson). Senior Brooklyn Fox recorded his fifth interception of the season and now ranks sixth nationally in that category (0.56/game).

SCOUTING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: Southeast Missouri snapped a 10-game road losing streak on Saturday with a convincing 48-27 victory at Austin Peay. The Redhawks produced season highs in both points (48) and rushing yards (399) in the win. That rushing attack included a pair of 100-yard performances as quarterback Scott Lathrop rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns (to go along with 36 passing yards) and senior Levi Terrell had 137 yards and two touchdowns. It marked the second time this season the Redhawks had two 100-yard rushers in the same game. The redshirt freshman Lathrop was named OVC Newcomer of the Week for his performance. Terrell is now just 19 yards away from reaching 1,000 for the season; he currently ranks ninth nationally in rushing (122.63). Senior linebacker Blake Peiffer is just 12 tackles short of the 100 tackle mark on the season; if he reaches that mark his back-to-back 100-tackle seasons will be the first for a Southeast Missouri player since 2007 (Adam Casper). Southeast Missouri currently ranks second nationally in fewest yards penalized/game (32.88) and fourth in fewest penalties/game (4.00).

Eastern Illinois Panthers (5-3, 4-1 OVC) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2-6, 0-5 OVC)

Saturday, Nov. 3 • 1:30 p.m. CT

Tucker Stadium (16,500) • Cookeville, Tenn.

TV:…………………………………. WCTE/OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/ttusports/fball

Series Record:…………………….. Eastern Illinois leads 12-6

Last Meeting:…………. Tennessee Tech won 31-20 (9/17/11)

Dino Babers at Eastern Illinois:…………………….. 5-3 (1 yr.)

Dino Babers Overall:……………………………………….. same

Watson Brown at Tennessee Tech:……………. 27-37 (6 yrs.)

Watson Brown Overall:……………………. 121-188-1 (28 yrs.)

Eastern Illinois Last Week: W, 24-7 at #18 Eastern Kentucky

Tennessee Tech Last Week: L, 22-21 at #21 Tennessee State

GAME NOTES: Fresh off its first road victory of the season Eastern Illinois will travel to defending OVC Champion Tennessee Tech for the Golden Eagles Homecoming on Saturday. Both teams are coming off matchups with nationally-ranked teams a week ago, as EIU won at No. 18 Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Tech lost on the last play of the game at No. 21 Tennessee State. Eastern Illinois leads the all-time series 12-6 although Tennessee Tech has won the last two meetings in the series (after EIU had previously won 9 of the previous 10). A season ago Tech pulled out to a 31-7 lead after three quarters and held on for a 31-20 victory. Jimmy Garoppolo completed 29-of-52 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions and was sacked four times. With the negative sack yardage EIU finished the game with -6 yards of rushing. Tre Lamb completed 22-of-27 passes for 240 yards and a score while Dontey Gay rushed for 96 yards and three scores for the Golden Eagles.

SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Illinois picked up its first victory over a nationally-ranked team since 2009 (a 28-20 win over No. 12 Jacksonville State) when the team went to No. 18 Eastern Kentucky and won 24-7. The win was also the first road victory of the season for the Panthers who are now 4-1 in the OVC this year, putting them in a three-way tie for first place with Tennessee State and UT Martin. Wide receiver Erik Lora caught 10 passes for 97 yards and a score and in the process began the OVC’s single-season receptions leader with 93 (breaking the old mark of 92 held by Samford’s Efrem Hill). The 93 catches now ranks 25th in NCAA FCS history and Lora is on pace to break the all-time record of 123 (finishing with 128 on the year). Lora continues to rank first nationally in every major receiving category and was added to the Walter Payton Watch List last week. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who has won throw a touchdown in 23-straight games, passed for 266 yards and a score in the game; he ranks fourth nationally in points responsible for (19.0/game) and fifth in total offense (344.88 yards/game). Jake Walker rushed for 119 yards and a score; it marked his third-straight 100-yard rushing game. The Panthers defense did not allow a 100-yard rusher for the sixth time this season as the defense racked up 12.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks in the game. Senior Artavious Dowdell was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week after registering seven tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry.

SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech squared off with its third nationally-ranked team of the season on Saturday, playing at No. 21 Tennessee State. The Golden Eagles pulled ahead 21-15 early in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Darian Stone (playing for the injured Tre Lamb) capped a 9-play, 61-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to Cody Matthews. But TTU would suffer a heartbreaking 22-21 defeat, as TSU scored its lone touchdown of the game on the final play of the contest. Stone finished with 77 passing yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 86 yards and a score. Newcomer Da’Rick Rogers, who entered the game ranked in the Top 10 nationally in receiving yards/game, was held without catch in the contest. Punter Chad Zinchini had another great game, punting five times for a 52.6 yard average, including a long of 60 yards and one punt downed inside the 20-yard line. Zinchini now ranks sixth nationally in punting (44.75 yards/punt).

Sections

Topics