Teleconference Audio
Below is embedded audio from this week's OVC Football Coaches media teleconference. For a listing of this week's games and previews scroll down below the audio links.
This Week’s Schedule
Saturday, October 6
*#16 Eastern Kentucky at #24 Tennessee State, 1:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
*Eastern Illinois at UT Martin, 2:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
*Murray State at Austin Peay, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
*Jacksonville State at Tennessee Tech, 7:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
#16 Eastern Kentucky Colonels (4-1, 2-0 OVC)
at #24 Tennessee State Tigers (5-0, 1-0 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 6 • 1:00 p.m. CT
Hale Stadium (15,000) • Nashville, Tenn.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:.........................................
http://bit.ly/Sha0NG
Series Record:...................... Eastern Kentucky leads 20-4
Last Meeting:......... Eastern Kentucky won 33-22 (10/22/11)
Dean Hood at Eastern Kentucky:.................. 30-21 (5 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall:................................................. same
Rod Reed at Tennessee State:...................... 13-14 (3 yrs.)
Rod Reed Overall:................................................... same
Eastern Kentucky Last Week:........... W, 28-16 at UT Martin
Tennessee State Last Week: W, 40-13 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
GAME NOTES: This Saturday, for the second time this season, preseason OVC favorite Eastern Kentucky will play in a game of nationally-ranked opponents. Two weeks ago the Colonels topped then 24th-ranked Jacksonville State 51-21 and this week travel to newly-ranked Tennessee State. TSU is currently one of 11 FCS teams unbeaten on the season and one of just six who are currently 5-0, while EKU is 4-1 overall and 4-0 against FCS opponents on the year. Eastern holds a 20-4 advantage in the all-time series, but TSU has won two of the last three meetings, scoring a 34-20 win in 2008 in Nashville and a 20-17 victory in 2009 in Richmond (when EKU was ranked 16th nationally). The teams did not play in 2010 but a season ago EKU won 33-22 at home behind a 226-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance from Matt Denham while TSU was held to just 65 yards on the ground.
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY: EKU is now ranked 16th in the FCS Coaches poll and 17th in the Sports Network poll; it is the highest ranking for the team since they were 16th on Oct. 5, 2009 (right before losing to Tennessee State that week). Eastern Kentucky fell behind 16-7 to UT Martin late in the third quarter on Saturday, but rebounded with three touchdowns over the final 17:31 to win 28-16 and improve to 4-1 on the season and stay unbeaten (2-0) in the OVC. The team is off to its first 4-1 start since the 1999 season. The star of the game was senior wide receiver Tyrone Goard who caught seven passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns (including each of the three over the final 17:31 to win the game). The four touchdown catches tied the EKU single-game record and his 78-yard touchdown with 8:57 to play proved to be the game-winner. Senior T.J. Pryor threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns and moved into first place in EKU’s all-time career passing list (6,085 yards) and ninth on the OVC’s career total offense list (7,048 yards). On the season Pryor has nine touchdown passes and no interceptions and ranks second nationally in passing efficiency (171.38). Matt Denham added 94 yards on the ground and ranks ninth nationally in rushing (129.2 yards/game). The Colonel defense held the Skyhawks to a season-low 46 yards of rushing, including an impressive -2 yards in the second half.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE: After starting the season 5-0 for the first time since 2001, Tennessee State finally broke into the Top 25, coming in at No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll (the team is 26th in the Sports Network poll). It marks the first time the Tigers have been ranked since Nov. 17, 2008 when they were 25th in both major polls; TSU was ranked as high as 18th that season when the team started the year 8-2. This year the team has won with defense, as the Tigers rank 25th nationally in total defense (317.2 yards/game) and fourth nationally in scoring defense (13.4 points/game). After following behind 10-0 to Arkansas-Pine Bluff after the first quarter on Saturday, TSU turned up the defense and the offense came alive to score 40 points and win 40-13. Tennessee State shutdown the UAPB rushing attack, holding the team to 86 total yards and marking the seventh-straight game the team has not allowed a 100-yard rusher. Freshman Telvin Hooks led TSU with a season-best 108 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns while Trabis Ward added 87 yards and a score. Ward jumped two spots to sixth on the TSU career rushing list (1,688 yards). Sophomore quarterback Michael German threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns and moved into ninth place on the Tigers career passing list (3,036 yards) in just his second season with the program.
Eastern Illinois Panthers (3-2, 2-0 OVC)
at UT Martin Skyhawks (3-2, 1-1 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 6 • 2:00 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:.......................... Eastern Illinois leads 12-5
Last Meeting:..................... UT Martin won 24-23 (10/22/11)
Dino Babers at Eastern Illinois:.......................... 3-2 (1 yr.)
Dino Babers Overall:............................................... same
Jason Simpson at UT Martin:........................ 40-33 (7 yrs.)
Jason Simpson Overall:........................................... same
Eastern Illinois Last Week:.......... W, 65-15 vs. Austin Peay
UT Martin Last Week:.... L, 28-16 vs. #19 Eastern Kentucky
GAME NOTES: UT Martin will host Eastern Illinois in the 18th meeting all-time between the schools on Saturday afternoon. It marks the annual Homecoming game for the Skyhawks who are playing in front of their home crowd for the second-straight week. The matchup features an EIU team who ranks third nationally in scoring offense (47.2 points/game) against a UTM team who is 19th nationally in scoring defense (18.4 points/game). EIU holds a 12-5 advantage all-time in the series but UT Martin has won each of the last two years and three of the last four overall. Last season the Skyhawks pulled out a 24-23 win in Charleston behind 111 rushing yards from Jason McNair and a pair of touchdown passes from Derek Carr to Quentin Sims. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns in the loss for the Panthers.
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Illinois has already won more games this season (3) than in each of the past two years and with a win on Saturday would equal its combined win total over the past two years (4). First-year head coach Dino Babers has the Panthers offense ranked second nationally in passing offense (400.6 yards/game) and third in both total offense (522.8 yards/game) and scoring offense (47.2 points/game). The team racked up 65 points (the eighth time in school history the team had scored 60 or more in a game) and 671 yards of total offense in a win over Austin Peay on Saturday. It marked the third-straight game the team has scored 50 or more points. Junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo continues to impress, throwing for a career-high 453 yards and five touchdowns (all over 50 yards in length) and rushing for another score. He currently ranks second nationally in points responsible for (23.6/game), total offense (369.4 yards/game) and total passing yards (1,827), third in passing yards/game (365.4) and fifth in completions (28.2/game). Through just five games this season he has 18 touchdown passes, just 17 away from tying Tony Romo’s OVC record. Erik Lora had his fifth-straight 100-plus yard receiving game (139), while Chris Wright added 137 yards receiving and two scores and freshman Keiondre Gober had 132 yards and two touchdowns in his EIU debut.
SCOUTING UT MARTIN: UT Martin suffered its first loss of the season to a FCS opponent, losing 28-16 at home to No. 19 Eastern Kentucky. The Skyhawks led the Colonels 16-7 midway through the third quarter but saw EKU’s Tyrone Goard catch three touchdown passes over the final 17:31 to win the game. Senior quarterback Derek Carr passed for 223 yards in the game, becoming UTM’s all-time leading passer (6,300 yards); he is now just 93 yards out of 10th place in OVC history. Senior Quentin Sims pulled down seven catches for 64 yards in the game; he now leads the Skyhawks with 36 receptions for 444 yards on the season. Junior Jeremy Butler had a 62-yard reception during the game, the longest for the team this season; Barfield also had 109 yards in kickoff returns to account for 146 all-purpose yards on the day. Junior linebacker Ben Johnson took over the OVC lead in tackles/game, registering 12 tackles in the loss which was his fourth-straight game with double-digit tackles; Johnson now ranks ninth nationally in tackles/game (11.40).
Murray State Racers (2-3, 1-1 OVC)
at Austin Peay Governors (0-5, 0-3 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 6 • 6:00 p.m. CT
Governors Stadium (10,000) • Clarksville, Tenn.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:
http://www.apsugovernors.com/liveStats/liveStats.dbml
Series Record:........................... Murray State leads 32-13
Last Meeting:................ Murray State won 56-24 (11/12/11)
Chris Hatcher at Murray State:....................... 15-12 (3 yrs.)
Chris Hatcher Overall:............................... 109-39 (13 yrs.)
Rick Christophel at Austin Peay:................... 18-42 (6 yrs.)
Rick Chrisotphel Overall:.......................................... same
Murray State Last Week:....... W, 70-35 vs. Tennessee Tech
Austin Peay Last Week:............. L, 65-15 at Eastern Illinois
GAME NOTES: Murray State travels to Austin Peay for a Saturday night matchup between the two rivals. The teams have played 45 previous times with Murray State coming out on top 32 of those times. The Racers have controlled the series in recent years, winning each of the last four and 11 of the last 12 overall. The Governors lone win in that stretch was a 23-17 victory in 2007 when Terrence Holt returned an 85-yard kickoff for a touchdown with 1:52 to play to win the game. In the past two years MSU has outscored APSU by a 107-59 margin, including a 56-24 victory last year. In that game Mike Harris rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns and caught four passes for 59 yards and another score in earning OVC Player of the Week honors. Jake Ryan passed for two touchdowns in the loss for the Governors. Austin Peay is looking to break a nine-game losing streak in OVC play dating back to last season.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: Murray State had 63 points through three quarter and went ahead 70-28 early in the fourth quarter before pulling back and cruising to a 70-35 win over defending champion Tennessee Tech on Saturday. Junior Walter Powell scored on a 14-yard reception and a 70-yard punt return in the first quarter to spark the Racers; Powell finished with 279 all-purpose yards on the night, grabbing 10 passes for 162 yards, netting 83 in punt returns and 34 in kickoff returns. Powell ranks second nationally in receptions (10.2/game) and 10th in receiving yards/game (108.8). Senior Casey Brockman completed 32-of-38 passes for 381 yards and two scores and moved into third place in OVC history for total offense (8,373 yards); Brockman will most likely move into second place this week and is just 1,513 yards away from the all-time record. Brockman currently ranks fifth nationally in passing yards/game (335.8). Junior Jaamal Berry, the transfer from Ohio State, was named OVC Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season after carrying the ball 13 times for 142 yards (10.9 yards/carry) and a touchdown. Duane Brady added 72 yards and three touchdowns for the Racers. MSU currently ranks 20th nationally in scoring offense (34.0 points/game) and sixth in passing offense (342.8 yards/game). Jordan Benton set a new Murray State record by going 10-of-10 on extra point attempts.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY: Austin Peay suffered a 65-15 loss at Eastern Illinois on Saturday night. The 65 points were the most allowed by a Governors team in an OVC contest, surpassing the 61 allowed against UT Martin in 2010. Overall the Govs are allowing 44.2 points/game, which ranks 118th out of 121 teams at the FCS level in 2012. APSU got 79 rushing yards and a touchdown from Wesley Kitts, who was named to the Campbell Trophy (aka the “Academic Heisman”) semifinalist watch during the week. It marked just the second time this season Kitts failed to reach the 100-yard rushing output for the year. Quarterback Jake Ryan passed for 205 yards and a touchdown, including completing nine passes to Terrence Oliver. Oliver finished the game with 100 receiving yards, becoming the second Governors player to reach that mark this season (Devin Stark is the other). Sophomore punter Ben Campbell averaged a season-best 42.3 yards/punt during the game; he downed two punts inside EIU’s 10-yard line and had a long punt of 50 yards.
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Jacksonville State Gamecocks (2-2, 1-1 OVC)
at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2-3, 0-2 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 6 • 7:00 p.m. CT
Tucker Stadium (16,500) • Cookeville, Tenn.
TV:........................................ WCTE/OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:
http://livestats.prestosports.com/ttusports/fball
Series Record:....................... Jacksonville State leads 9-6
Last Meeting:........... Tennessee Tech won 21-14 (10/29/11)
Jack Crowe at Jacksonville State:.............. 83-54 (13 yrs.)
Jack Crowe Overall:.................................... 97-84 (18 yrs.)
Watson Brown at Tennessee Tech:................ 27-34 (6 yrs.)
Watson Brown Overall:......................... 121-185-1 (28 yrs.)
Jacksonville State Last Week: W, 31-16 vs. Southeast Missouri
Tennessee Tech Last Week:.......... L, 70-35 at Murray State
GAME NOTES: Two of the three teams who tied for the OVC Championship a season ago will meet in Cookeville on Saturday. Jacksonville State leads the all-time series 9-6 but Tennessee Tech has won each of the last two years, costing the Gamecocks a share of the OVC Championship in 2010 and an outright title in 2011. Last year TTU entered the contest ranked 19th nationally and topped the 13th ranked JSU team on its home field 21-14. Dontey Gay rushed for 95 yards and a score for Tech while Calvin Middleton (69 yards) and Washaun Ealey (68 yards) led the JSU rushing attack. Jax State was driving for a potential game-tying score, but a fumble at the TTU 28-yard line with 1:25 to play ended the game. Saturday’s contest is the first home game for TTU since Sept. 6 (the team has played its last three games on the road).
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE: Jacksonville State rebounded from its loss at Eastern Kentucky by topping Southeast Missouri 31-16 to improve to 1-1 in OVC play. It marked the first time this season JSU had scored 30 or more points in a game. The Gamecocks led just 17-16 early in the fourth quarter before scoring the final 14 points of the game, on a 20-yard touchdown catch by Alan Bonner and an 8-yard touchdown run by DaMarcus James in front of 16,842 fans. James finished the day with 149 yards on 21 carries (7.1 ypc) and two touchdowns; it marked his second 100-plus yard game of the season. Quarterback Marques Ivory was efficient, completing 14-of-18 passes for 161 yards and two scores. Ivory has thrown at least one touchdown pass in three of four games this season and ranks fifth on the JSU career passing touchdown list (30). Bonner finished the day with seven catches for 92 yards and the fourth quarter touchdown. Pierre Warren and Caleb Lawrence each had nine tackles to lead the Gamecock defense. That defense held the Redhawks to just 56 yards passing.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech fell behind 35-7 to a hot Murray State team on Saturday and ended up on the short end of a 70-35 decision on Saturday night in Murray. Freshman Ladarius Vanlier was named National Specialist of the Week by the Sports Network after registering 291 all-purpose yards (the fourth-most in TTU history and seventh-most in the FCS this year) and setting an OVC record with 11 kickoff returns. Vanlier returned those 11 kickoffs (which was just one off the NCAA record) for 237 yards (13 yards shy of the OVC record) including a 94-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The 94-yard touchdown was the sixth-longest in school history and ninth-longest in the FCS this year. Tre Lamb threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, moving him into third place in TTU history for career passing yards (4,847). Lamb currently ranks seventh nationally in passing efficiency (159.63) and eighth nationally in each passing yards/game (283.6) and points responsible for (16.8). Cody Matthews caught three passes for 119 yards and a touchdown; it marked his first career 100-yard receiving game.