• OVC Football Players of the Week & Updated Stats - October 21 (PDF)
OFFENSIVE
T.J. Pryor, QB • Sr., 6-1, 192 • Louisville, Ky. • Eastern Kentucky
Pryor was nearly perfect in the fourth quarter in helping Eastern Kentucky overcome an eight-point deficit to win 42-28 at Tennessee Tech. Trailing 28-20 with 14:49 to play, Pryor completed 7-of-7 passes for 112 yard and two touchdowns in the final frame in leading his team to 22 unanswered points in improving to 6-2 on the season. Pryor led the team on a 14-play, 77-yard drive and two-point conversion to tie the game at 28, then threw touchdown passes of 28 yards to Ike Ariguzo and 38 yards to Cameron Bailey in a 1:39 span to push his team to the win. Pryor finished the game 23-of-31 for 296 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Pryor, who has 14 passing touchdowns against only two interceptions on the season, ranks third nationally in passing efficiency (174.38). During the game Pryor moved into fifth place on the OVC all-time total offense list (7,806), ninth place on the career touchdown passes list (50) and 10th place on the career passing list (6,843).
Others Nominated: Washaun Ealey, Jacksonville State; Trabis Ward, Tennessee State; Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech; Derek Carr, UT Martin.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Jermaine Hough, DB • Fr., 5-9, 163 • Lovejoy, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Hough had two interceptions as Jacksonville State handed No. 17 Tennessee State its first loss of the season on Saturday by winning 31-28 in overtime. The true freshman also added three tackles as JSU improved to 3-2 in OVC games this season. Hough intercepted TSU’s Michael German on the third play of the game which led to a Gamecocks touchdown nine plays later as the team took an early 7-0 lead. In the fourth quarter, one play after JSU had fumbled at its own 40-yard line, Hough intercepted his second pass of the day, returning it 14 yards.
CO-DEFENSIVE
DJ Roberts, DL • Jr., 6-2, 245 • Knoxville, Tenn. • UT Martin
Roberts had eight tackles (5 solo), 2.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks and recovered a fumble as UT Martin won 27-17 at Southeast Missouri in improving to 6-2 on the season. With UTM leading by 10 entering the fourth quarter, Roberts recovered a fumble at his team’s own 16-yard line that ended a Redhawks drive that had gone 14 plays and had started at the Southeast Missouri 18-yard line. Collectively the Skyhawks defense had 7.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks on the afternoon. Roberts ranks 10th nationally in tackles-for-loss (1.50/game).
Others Nominated: Ichiro Vance, Eastern Kentucky; Nick Thrasher, Tennessee State; Austin Tallant, Tennessee Tech.
SPECIALIST
Griffin Thomas, K • Jr., 5-11, 170 • Snellville, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Thomas connected on a 44-yard field goal in overtime to lift Jacksonville State to a 31-28 victory over No. 17 Tennessee State on Saturday. It marked the second game-winning kick of the season for Thomas, who also won the game for JSU against Chattanooga and earned Specialist of the Week honors on Sept. 9. The field goal was made more difficult by the fact the Gamecocks lost nine yards on a sack on third down prior to the game-winning kick. With the victory Jacksonville State handed TSU its first defeat of the season. Thomas also added four extra point attempts and averaged 60.4 yards on five kickoffs.
Others Nominated: Spencer Davis, Southeast Missouri; Chad Zinchini, Tennessee Tech; James Satterfield, UT Martin.
NEWCOMER
Jermaine Hough, DB • Fr., 5-9, 163 • Lovejoy, Ga. • Jacksonville State
Hough had two interceptions as Jacksonville State handed No. 17 Tennessee State its first loss of the season on Saturday by winning 31-28 in overtime. The true freshman also added three tackles as JSU improved to 3-2 in OVC games this season. Hough intercepted TSU’s Michael German on the third play of the game which led to a Gamecocks touchdown nine plays later as the team took an early 7-0 lead. In the fourth quarter, one play after JSU had fumbled at its own 40-yard line, Hough intercepted his second pass of the day, returning it 14 yards.
Others Nominated: Deshaun Sands, Eastern Kentucky; Scott Lathrop, Southeast Missouri; A.C. Leonard, Tennessee State; William Dillard, Tennessee Tech; Jvontez Blackmon, UT Martin.