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
Thursday, October 9
*Tennessee Tech at UT Martin, 6:30 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Saturday, October 11
*#8 Jacksonville State at #25 Tennessee State, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
*#23 Southeast Missouri at Murray State, 3:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Austin Peay at Mercer, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN3)
*Eastern Illinois at #16 Eastern Kentucky, 5:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (2-3, 1-1 OVC)
at UT Martin Skyhawks (1-5, 0-3 OVC)
Thursday, Oct. 9 • 6:30 p.m. CT
Hardy M. Graham Stadium (7,500) • Martin, Tenn.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statmonitr/?id=58478
Series Record:.................... Tennessee Tech leads 22-11-2
Last Meeting:...................... UT Martin won 28-7 (10/10/13)
Watson Brown at Tennessee Tech:................ 35-49 (8 yrs.)
Watson Brown Overall:......................... 129-200-1 (30 yrs.)
Jason Simpson at UT Martin:........................ 53-44 (9 yrs.)
Jason Simpson Overall:........................................... same
Tennessee Tech Last Week: W, 30-27 vs. Murray State (OT)
UT Martin Last Week:....... L, 38-14 at #8 Jacksonville State
GAME NOTES: Tennessee Tech will travel to UT Martin for the final Thursday night game on the OVC schedule this season. The game is part of the Sgt. York Trophy series which is contested between the four OVC football-playing schools from that state of Tennessee. The teams have played competitive games over the last five years with the average margin of victory being just five points. Last year’s 11-point UTM victory was the largest by either team since 2008; in that contest the Skyhawks scored 21 points in the second quarter to grab a 28-3 halftime advantage and not look back. DJ McNeil rushed for 168 yard and a touchdown while Jarod Neal completed 21-of-29 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown. Jared Davis tossed two touchdowns for the Golden Eagles while Cody Matthews finished the game with seven catches for 130 yards and a score.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech evened its OVC record at 1-1 on the season with a come-from-behind 30-27 victory over Murray State in overtime. The game was back-and-forth the entire way with the two teams tied at 3, 10, 17, 24 and 27. MSU pulled ahead 27-24 with 1:29 to play in the fourth quarter before Tech engineered an 8-play, 38-yard drive that was capped by a 41-yard field goal from redshirt freshman John Arnold to force overtime. That final drive of regulation included a 17-yard completion on 4th-and-8 and a fumble recovery after quarterback Jared Davis fumbled. After Murray State failed on its field goal attempt to start overtime, Tech drove to the Racer three-yard line before Arnold capped the game with a 20-yard field goal to earn OVC Specialist of the Week honors. Arnold connected on three total field goals in the game and is 4-of-5 in field goals and 11-of-11 in extra point attempts this season. Redshirt freshman linebacker Trey Thompson earned OVC Newcomer of the Week honors after registering 15 total tackles in the win. Ladarius Vanlier returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, his second career kickoff return for a score; Vanlier currently ranks sixth nationally in kickoff returns (31.6 yards/return) and seventh in punt returns (14.5 yards/return). Vanlier finished the game with 185 all-purpose yards and is now 10th in TTU history with 2,901 career all-purpose yards. As a team Tech ranks ninth nationally in fewest penalties/game (4.6) and 16th in tackles-for-loss (8.7/game).
SCOUTING UT MARTIN: UT Martin lost its third-straight game on Saturday, falling at No. 8 Jacksonville State by a 38-14 margin. The Skyhawks have now played two nationally-ranked FCS teams, a FCS squad that is now ranked and a FBS opponent so far this season. The team fell behind 21-0 to Jax State and could never get an offensive attack going, registering only 216 yards of total offense for the day (its lowest out in 51 games dating back to the 2010 season). Trent Garland scored the team’s only offensive touchdown of the day, scoring from two yards out in the fourth quarter; he had a team-high 39 rushing yards for the game. Dylan Favre got his first start of the season at quarterback and completed 6-of-20 passes for 25 yards; Jarod Neal entered the game later and completed 6-of-13 passes for 63 yards. All-American linebacker Tony Bell (who is 1 of 2 OVC players on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List) scooped up a fumble at the JSU and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter; he finished the game with seven tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry. Bell currently ranks fourth nationally in fumbles recovered (2) and 27th in tackles-for-loss/game (1.6). Punter James Satterfield punted 11 times for a UTM single-game record 487 yards (44.3 yards/punt) with a long of 56 yards.
#8 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (4-1, 2-0 OVC)
at #25 Tennessee State Tigers (4-2, 1-1 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 11 • 2:00 p.m. CT
Hale Stadium (15,000) • Nashville, Tenn.
TV:...................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats:.......................................
http://bit.ly/1ww9gxN
Series Record:....................... Jacksonville State leads 7-2
Last Meeting:.......... Tennessee State won 31-15 (10/12/13)
John Grass at Jacksonville State:...................... 4-1 (1 yr.)
John Grass Overall:................................................. same
Rod Reed at Tennessee State:...................... 30-23 (5 yrs.)
Rod Reed Overall:................................................... same
Jacksonville State Last Week:........ W, 38-14 vs. UT Martin
Tennessee State Last Week: L, 28-21 at Southeast Missouri
GAME NOTES: A pivotal game in the OVC race will take place on Saturday on the campus of Tennessee State where the nationally-ranked Tigers will host nationally-ranked Jacksonville State (the second-straight year both teams are ranked when they meet). It marks the first two times the teams have played at Hale Stadium; the three previous meetings in Nashville have all been played at LP Field (and won by Jax State). In four of the last five (and six of the last eight) meetings between the teams at least one of the squads was nationally ranked; a season ago both teams were in the Top 25 as No. 23 TSU won 31-15 at No. 24 Jacksonville State. In that game TSU overcame an injury to starting quarterback Michael German by scoring the final 10 points of the game and pull off the win and run its winning streak to six games. Tim Broughton rushed for 190 yards for TSU while the Tigers defense held the Gamecocks to just 21 net yards on the ground. When the teams played in 2012, it was a Griffin Thomas field goal in overtime that proved to be the game-winner. The game features two head coaches who are coaching at their alma maters.
SCOUTING JACKSONVILLE STATE: Jacksonville State won its fourth-straight game on Saturday, topping UT Martin 38-14. The team’s offense put up 497 yards of offense and has been on a roll since a tough outing against FBS power Michigan State (who ranks 11th in the FBS in total defense) to start the season. Taking out that loss JSU is averaging 540.8 yards of total offense/game (would be third nationally), 322.0 rushing yard/game (would also rank third) and 40.2 points/game (which would rank 11th nationally). The team has also been scoring quickly, netting 13 scoring drives of less than two minutes so far this season. Playing in place of All-American running back DaMarcus James, Miles Jones stepped into the lineup and earned OVC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors after running for 150 yards and a touchdown. Overall the Gamecocks have had four different players rush for 100 or more yards in a game this season. Quarterback Eli Jenkins was efficient again, passing for 114 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 17 yards. Overall nine different players have scored a touchdown this season. The team has also stepped up its play on third down and now ranks second nationally in third down conversion defense (22.4%). The team has allowed only two rushes of 20 yards or longer this season (in 177 total attempts).
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE: Despite the return of quarterback Michael German to the lineup, Tennessee State was unable to win at Southeast Missouri on Saturday, falling 28-21. The TSU offense had struggled in recent weeks but exploded for 505 yards of total offense (its second-highest output of the season) against the Redhawks. The team, however, missed three field goals (the first time that had happened in a game since 2008) and saw the game end when German was picked off at the SEMO 11-yard line with 46 seconds to play. TSU kickers are now just 4-of-12 on field goal attempts this season. German finished the game 34-of-59 for 362 yards and two touchdowns; his touchdown to Chris Sanders-McCollum in the third quarter snapped a streak of 12 quarters without a touchdown pass for the Tigers. Sanders-McCollum established new career-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (104). The TSU defense did not force a turnover in the game, snapping a streak of nine-straight games with at least one turnover dating back to last season. Nick Thrasher did have 16 tackles to lead the Tiger attack. Despite the rough outing TSU remains ranked first nationally in passing defense (130.2 yards/game), pass efficiency defense (73.88), sacks (4.17/game) and fourth down conversion defense (0.0%), is second in total defense (232.8 yards/game) and fourth in turnovers gained (15). Despite its loss, Tennessee State is still ranked 25th in both major FCS polls; the team has been ranked for 10-straight weeks dating back to last season.
#23 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (4-2, 2-0 OVC)
at Murray State Racers (1-4, 0-2 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 11 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800) • Murray, Ky.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:
http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=55004
Series Record:.......................... Murray State leads 38-9-1
Last Meeting: Southeast Missouri won 37-34 in 3OT (10/12/13)
Tom Matukewicz at Southeast Missouri:............. 4-2 (1 yr.)
Tom Matukewicz Overall:......................................... same
Chris Hatcher at Murray State:....................... 25-25 (5 yrs.)
Chris Hatcher Overall:.............................. 119-452 (15 yrs.)
Southeast Missouri Last Week: W, 28-21 vs. #20 Tennessee State
Murray State Last Week:.. L, 30-27 at Tennessee Tech (OT)
GAME NOTES: Saturday will mark the 49th all-time meeting between rivals Southeast Missouri and Murray State. The Racers hold a large 38-9-1 all-time advantage in the series, including winning 12 in a row from 1993-2004. But five of Southeast’s nine victories in the series have come in the last nine seasons including a thrilling 37-34 triple overtime game in Cape Girardeau a season ago. The Redhawks jumped out to a 20-6 lead in the game only to see Murray State score 21 unanswered points and lead midway through the fourth quarter. But on its final possession Southeast drove 82 yards in eight plays as Scott Lathrop connected with Paul McRoberts with the game tying touchdown with only 55 seconds to play. Both teams scored a touchdown in the first overtime, before Southeast Missouri threw an interception and Murray State fumbled in the second overtime. MSU missed a 42-yard field goal to start the final overtime, which led to Alex Knight nailing a 30-yard field goal to win the game. Lathrop threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 94 yards and another score on his way to OVC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Paul McRoberts and D.J. Foster each had two receiving touchdowns for Southeast. Maikhail Miller passed for 292 yards and three scores and rushed for 63 yards and another score for the Racers. This Saturday will be Homecoming for Murray State.
SCOUTING SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: After topping No. 20 Tennessee State on Saturday, its second win over a nationally-ranked opponent in three weeks, Southeast Missouri jumped to No. 23 in the Sports Network Top 25 poll, its first national ranking since ending the 2010 season ranked 13th in both major polls. It marked the first time in program history that Southeast has defeated two ranked opponents in the same season. Southeast has now eclipsed its win total in each of the last three years (the team won 3 games in each 2011, 2012 and 2013). The Redhawks are also now 2-0 in OVC play for the first time since winning the OVC title in 2010. Southeast did not allow a sack against TSU, who had entered the game ranked first nationally in sacks/game; overall the Redhawks rank first in the OVC and 12th nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.83/game). That offensive line allowed Kyle Snyder to pass for 134 yards and rush for 67 yards and a score; Snyder ranks 15th nationally in passing touchdowns (15), 16th in points responsible for (15.3/game) and 30th in total offense (251.3 yards/game). Southeast, who is third in the OVC in rushing offense (192.7 yards/game), had 226 rushing yards against the Tigers (who ranked in the Top 10 nationally in rushing defense and who had allowed just 105 total rushing yards over its previous three games), with Lennies McFerren’s 115 yards leading the way. Tim Hamm-Bey was named National Defensive Player of the Week after registering six tackles, five pass breakups and blocking a kick in the victory.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: Murray State lost its fourth-straight game in falling in overtime to Tennessee Tech on Saturday. The Racers appeared to have the game won when Carson Greifenkamp connected on a 38-yard field goal with 1:29 to play, but the team saw Tech go down the field in eight plays and connect on a game-tying 41-yarder with just nine seconds to play. The Racers would then miss on a 35-yard field goal in overtime while Tech hit a 20-yarder to secure the victory. Sophomore quarterback KD Humphries was named OVC Co-Offensive Player of the Week after setting the OVC single-game completions record (48) during the game. Humphries was 48-of-62 for 404 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for two touchdowns in the game. Humphries currently ranks eighth nationally in completion percentage (67.5%), 16th in completions/game (21.6) and 46th in total offense (228.4 yards/game). Sophomore Jeremy Harness set a new MSU single-game receptions record by hauling in 19 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown; the 19 receptions are the most by a FCS player this season (and tied for the most in Division I with an FBS player). Jonathan Jackson had 12 tackles in the loss and is now seventh nationally in tackles/game (11.6).
Austin Peay State Governors (0-5 0-2 OVC)
at Mercer Bears (4-2, 1-2 Southern)
Saturday, Oct. 11 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Mercer University Stadium (10,000) • Macon, Ga.
TV:.......................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats:........................................
http://bit.ly/1xTquWh
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Kirby Cannon at Austin Peay:......................... 0-17 (2 yrs.)
Kirby Cannon Overall:............................... 35-103 (13 yrs.)
Bobby Lamb at Mercer:.................................. 14-4 (2 yrs.)
Bobby Lamb Overall:.................................. 81-44 (12 yrs.)
Austin Peay Last Week:.. L, 31-0 vs. #18 Eastern Kentucky
Mercer Last Week:............................. L, 21-18 at Samford
GAME NOTES: Saturday marks the first matchup between Austin Peay and Mercer. Mercer is in just its second year of restarting football after not fielding a team since the 1941 season.
SCOUTING AUSTIN PEAY: Austin Peay fell to 0-5 on the season with a 31-0 home loss to Eastern Kentucky last week, its second shutout loss of the season. It marked the 17th-straight loss for the Governors dating back to last season. The team has also lost 11-straight OVC games and 27-straight road games dating back to the 2010 season. APSU has struggled offensively this season and rank last in the FCS in points/game (3.8) and total offense (182.8 yards/game). Freshman quarterback Mickey Macius completed 11-of-22 passes for 53 yards while fellow freshman Darrien Boone finished 3-of-4 for 32 yards. The duo completed passes to six different receivers while Javier Booker pulling in five catches; Booker leads the team with 13 catches and the team’s lone receiving touchdown on the season. The Govs defense was solid in the first half, forcing EKU to punt five times, the most punts by an opponent this season. But the team gave up a Hail Mary touchdown as the half ended and EKU went on to score 14 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter to run away with the game. Damien Whitfield and Antonio Turner each had 10 tackles to lead the Govs defense; Whitfield added two pass breakups while Turner had 2.0 tackles-for-loss. Ben Campbell punted 11 times for Austin Peay, marking a new career-high; he has now punted 50 times in five games this season (the second-highest total nationally) and is 43 punts away from tying the OVC single-season record (set by Morehead State’s John Christopher in 1982).
SCOUTING MERCER: Mercer had a football team from 1892 through the 1941 season before the program was dormant until the 2013 year. Football returned to campus and the Bears were 10-2 overall including 8-0 at home (where the team averaged 9,379 fans/game). This season the team is 2-1 at home (suffering a loss to Furman) and 4-2 overall. They are coming off a 21-18 road loss to Samford a week ago but begin a two-game home stand this week. Mercer is coached by Bobby Lamb who was the head coach at Furman for nine years (2002-10) and made four FCS Playoff appearances, including going to the semifinals in 2005. This season the team is averaging 33.5 points and 417.7 yards of total offense per game. Quarterback John Russ has passed for 1,085 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 194 yards and two more scores in six games. Freshman running back Alex Lakes is averaging 100 yards/game and has scored nine touchdowns. Defensive end Tunde Ayinla has 4.5 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles on the season.
Eastern Illinois Panthers (1-4, 1-0 OVC)
at #16 Eastern Kentucky Colonels (5-0, 2-0 OVC)
Saturday, Oct. 11 • 5:00 p.m. CT
Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) • Richmond, Ky.
TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats:........
http://www.sidearmstats.com/eku/football/
Series Record:...................... Eastern Kentucky leads 12-9
Last Meeting:................. Eastern Illinois won 42-7 (9/28/13)
Kim Dameron at Eastern Illinois:......................... 1-4 (1 yr.)
Kim Dameron Overall:.............................................. same
Dean Hood at Eastern Kentucky:.................. 45-29 (7 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall:................................................. same
Eastern Illinois Last Week:.......................................... Idle
Eastern Kentucky Last Week:......... W, 31-0 at Austin Peay
GAME NOTES: Eastern Illinois travels to Eastern Kentucky in a matchup of two teams who have combined for 28 OVC Championships. In seven of the last nine years the winner of this game has gone on to win the OVC Championship; the only exceptions were in 2010 and in 2009 (when EKU won the game, but EIU claimed the title). Eastern Illinois has won the last two in the series after Eastern Kentucky had won five-straight from 2007-11. Last season EIU entered the game ranked No. 8 nationally and scored 35 points before halftime to win the game 42-7. The Panthers had 519 yards of total offense as Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns and Keiondre Gober hauled in six passes for 115 yards and two scores. JJ Jude had 69 rushing yards to lead the Colonels.
SCOUTING EASTERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Illinois is coming off an open date after a loss at Ohio (its second FBS opponent of the season) on Sept. 27. Despite the loss to the Bobcats, EIU finished with more yards of total offense than its opponent for the fifth time this season; EIU had 432 yards of total offense compared to 387 yards for Ohio. The Panthers rank third in the OVC and 20th nationally in total offense (459.4 yards/game). Newcomer quarterback Jalen Whitlow has been a big part of the team’s offensive attack this season and is second in the OVC in total offense (237.6 yards/game) and third in rushing (79.0 yards/game). Eastern Illinois has scored in 131 consecutive games dating back to the 2003 season; the last team to shutout the Panthers was EKU. Defensively Robert Haynes leads the OVC and ranks 10th nationally in tackles-for-loss (2.0/game); through five games Haynes has 28 tackles, 10.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and a safety. Overall EIU has won 13-straight OVC games dating back to a loss to UT Martin on Oct. 6, 2012; that streak currently ranks second nationally (North Dakota State has won 14-straight).
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY: Eastern Kentucky remained perfect on the season with a 31-0 road victory over Austin Peay on Saturday. The Colonels have now won four road contests this season, tied with Coastal Carolina for the most nationally. EKU is also one of just seven remaining undefeated teams in the FCS. Eastern is 5-0 for the first time since the 1990 and for the ninth time in program history. In the national rankings Eastern Kentucky is third nationally in scoring defense (11.4 points/game), fourth in turnovers gained (15), fifth in rushing defense (88.6 yards/game), sixth in passes intercepted (9), seventh in blocked kicks (3), ninth in turnover margin (+1.2/game) and blocked punts (1) and 10th in rushing offense (260.6 yards/game) and punt return yardage defense (2.71). Against APSU the Colonels scored 10 first quarter points and then used a Hail Mary pass from Bennie Coney to Jeff Glover as the second quarter ended; that momentum led to 14 points in the first five minutes of the third quarter. With a big lead the Colonels offense did not have an opportunity to post big numbers but the team did combine for 180 total rushing yards, with Dy’Shawn Mobley’s 55 yards on 10 carries leading the way; Mobley ranks third nationally in rushing yards/carry (8.15). Seven different players on the EKU roster have an interception this season, including Brandon Stanley and Blake Atzinger who had picks against APSU. EKU is now 16th in the FCS Coaches Top 25 and 17th in the Sports Network poll.