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OVC Football Report – September 4 (PDF)
This Week’s Schedule
Saturday, September 9
Eastern Kentucky at Kentucky, 11:00 a.m. (SEC Network)
UT Martin at Ole Miss, 11:00 a.m. (SEC Network Alternate)
#5
Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech, 11:30 a.m. (ACC Network Extra)
Southeast Missouri at Dayton, 12:00 p.m. (YouTube)
Austin Peay at Miami (Ohio), 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Eastern Illinois at Northern Illinois, 2:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
#15 Central Arkansas
at Murray State, 6:00 p.m. (OVC Digital Network)
Tennessee Tech at Kennesaw State, 6:00 p.m.
#23 Tennessee State vs. Jackson State, 6:00 p.m. (Memphis, Tenn.) (Delayed on FOX Sports Southeast)
This Week’s OVC Highlights/Storylines
Tennessee State started the season with a 17-10 victory at Georgia State, marking its first victory over a FBS opponent as a member of the OVC (and first FBS win overall dating back to 1984)...It marked the fifth time in the last six years and sixth time in the last eight years that the OVC has at least one victory over a FBS opponent during the season...TSU’s win was one of four by FCS teams over FBS foes during the first week of the season...Tennessee State senior linebacker Chris Collins was named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS after netting 12 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, a sack and forcing a fumble in the victory...The win propelled Tennessee State into both Top 25 polls, coming in at No. 23 in the STATS polls and No. 24 in the FCS Coaches Poll; it marks the second-straight season the Tigers have been ranked...The only other OVC team ranked this week is Jacksonville State who is No. 5 in both polls after a victory over No. 12 ranked Chattanooga during Week Zero...Eastern Illinois drove 69 yards on the final possession of the game to score a touchdown with three seconds remaining to top Indiana State on the road...Combined with Jacksonville State’s neutral site victory during Week Zero, OVC teams have three victories away from home to start the season...This week’s schedule features all nine teams in action, with eight of those matchups coming away from home...Five of the games are against FBS opponents...Murray State is the lone OVC team to play at home this week when they host nationally-ranked Central Arkansas.
adidas® OVC Players of the Week
OFFENSIVE
Roc Thomas, RB • 5-11, 193, Sr. • Oxford, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Thomas accounted for 190 all-purpose yards as No. 5 ranked Jacksonville State began the season with a 27-13 victory over No. 12 Chattanooga in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff Classic in Montgomery, Alabama during Week Zero. Thomas carried the ball 19 times for 122 yards (6.4 ypc) including a 76-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Thomas also caught three passes for 68 yards with a long reception of 48 yards.
Others Nominated: Mitch Kimble, Eastern Illinois; Tim Boyle, Eastern Kentucky; Jordon Gandy, Murray State; Treon Harris, Tennessee State; Andre Sale, Tennessee Tech; Ladarius Galloway, UT Martin.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Jonathan Hagler, LB • 6-0, 210, Sr. • Leeds, Ala. • Jacksonville State
In his first collegiate start, Hagler picked off a pass and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown as No. 5 Jacksonville State opened a 20-6 lead on its way to a 27-13 victory over No. 12 Chattanooga in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff during Week Zero. Hagler also had four tackles and a pass breakup during the victory.
CO-DEFENSIVE
Chris Collins, LB • 5-11, 230, Sr. • Fairburn, Ga. • Tennessee State
Collins recorded 12 tackles (9 solo), had three tackles-for-loss, a sack and forced a fumble as Tennessee State scored a victory over Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Georgia State (17-10). With GSU driving on the opening series of the game, Collins knocked the ball loose two yards behind the scrimmage, allowing TSU to recover the ball on its own 25-yard line. In the third quarter the senior stopped a Georgia State runner at the four-yard line on fourth and goal to give TSU possession of the ball. Overall the Tennessee State defense allowed the FBS opponent just 273 yards of total offense for the game.
Others Nominated: Malik Boynton, Austin Peay; Tray Mitchell, Eastern Illinois; Luder Jean Louis, Eastern Kentucky; Kenney Wooten, Murray State; Mike Ford, Southeast Missouri; Elliott Normand, Tennessee Tech; Kevin Prather, Jr., UT Martin.
CO-SPECIALIST
Keith Wrzuszczak, P • 5-11, 212, Sr. • Geelong, Victoria, Australia • Eastern Kentucky
Wrzuszczak was able to keep a potent Western Kentucky punt return unit in check on Saturday in Bowling Green. The senior punted four times for a 40.5 yards/punt average, but only one punt was returnable for the WKU unit that ranked No. 2 nationally in punt returns a year ago (17.93 yards/return). Wrzuszczak had a long punt of 46 yards and placed one inside the Hilltoppers 20-yard line.
CO-SPECIALIST
Gabriel Vicente, K • 6-4, 200, Jr. • Miami, Fla. • Murray State
In his first-ever football game at any level (he had previously played soccer), Vicente was a perfect 7-of-7 on extra point attempts and connected from 30 yards on his lone field goal attempt in Murray State’s 67-7 win over Kentucky Wesleyan. Vicente also kicked off four times for a 44.0 average.
Others Nominated: Devin Stuart, Austin Peay; Cade Stinnett, Jacksonville State; Shabari Davis, Southeast Missouri; Nick Madonia, Tennessee Tech.
NEWCOMER
Vincent Sellers, S • 6-1, 180, Fr. • Sarasota, Fla. • Tennessee State
Sellers recorded 10 tackles, including a tackle-for-loss, as Tennessee State opened the season with a 17-10 victory at Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe Georgia State. His biggest stop of the night came in the second quarter, as he made a tackle at the two-yard line and followed that with his tackle-for-loss which forced the Panthers to settle for a field goal. In the third quarter the freshman tracked down a GSU receiver on a 59-yard pass play, preventing a score, as Tennessee State’s defense held Georgia State scoreless on that drive.
Others Nominated: Mark Williams, Eastern Illinois; Tim Boyle, Eastern Kentucky; Connor Christian, Jacksonville State; Kenney Wooten, Murray State; Ladarius Galloway, UT Martin.
Notes From Around the Gridiron
Tennessee State Tops FBS Georgia State In Week 1: For the fifth time in the past six years and sixth time in the past eight seasons, an OVC beat has beaten a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as Tennessee State topped Georgia State 17-10 on Aug. 31. It marked the first win for the Tigers over a FBS team since 1984 (prior to joining the OVC). OVC teams are now 35-217-1 all-time against FBS opponents. The recent success is impressive considering OVC teams went from 2004 to 2010 without a win over a FBS team (a 50-game losing streak). Here is a list of OVC wins over FBS teams over the past eight years:
Jacksonville State 49, Ole Miss 48 (2OT) (2010)
UT Martin 20, Memphis 17 (2012)
Eastern Illinois 40, San Diego State 19 (2013)
Jacksonville State 32, Georgia State 26 (OT) (2013)
Eastern Kentucky 17, Miami (Ohio) 10 (2014)
Eastern Illinois 21, Miami (Ohio) 17 (2016)
Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10 (2017)
#FearTheFCS: So far in 2017 four Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams have topped opponents from the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Tennessee State 17, Georgia State 10 (Aug. 31)
James Madison 34, East Carolina 14 (Sept. 2)
Liberty 48, Baylor 45 (Sept. 2)
Howard 43, UNLV 40 (Sept. 2)
Collins Named National Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 4): Tennessee State senior linebacker
Chris Collins was named National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS on September 4 after his play in the Tigers win over FBS Georgia State. Collins recorded 12 tackles (9 solo), had three tackles-for-loss, a sack and forced a fumble in the win. With GSU driving on the opening series of the game, Collins knocked the ball loose two yards behind the scrimmage, allowing TSU to recover the ball on its own 25-yard line. In the third quarter the senior stopped a Georgia State runner at the four-yard line on fourth and goal to give TSU possession of the ball.
Week Zero Games: Jacksonville State became the first OVC team to compete in “Week Zero” this season when they opened the season with a 27-13 win over No. 12 ranked Chattanooga on Aug. 26 at the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The FCS Kickoff began in 2014 and allows teams to play a game a week ahead of the start of the season if the game is broadcast on national television. It was one of three FCS games (and five FBS games) to be played in Week Zero. JSU will also play in the second annual Guardian Kickoff Classic on Aug. 25, 2018, against an opponent yet to be announced.
Jacksonville State, Tennessee State Ranked in National FCS Polls: Jacksonville State enters this week ranked No. 5 in both the STATS and FCS Coaches Top 25 polls. After receiving votes in the preseason, Tennessee State jumped to No. 23 in the STATS and No. 24 in the FCS Coaches poll following its 17-10 victory over FBS foe Georgia State. Several other OVC teams were among others receiving votes including UT Martin, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky.
Conference Winning Streaks: Jacksonville State has won 24 consecutive Conference games (dating back to the end of the 2013 season) which is the longest active streak nationally. Below is a list of active Conference winning streaks in the FCS. The all-time OVC record for consecutive Conference wins is 26 by Eastern Kentucky from 1992-95.
24 - Jacksonville State
15 - North Carolina Central
13 - San Diego
12 - Sam Houston State
11 - North Dakota
10 - James Madison
OVC Game of the Week on ESPN3: For the fifth-straight year the OVC is producing a “Game of the Week” package that will air on ESPN3 this fall. The eight-game schedule is once again in conjunction with Tupelo Raycom (formerly WebStream Sports), an Indianapolis-based company which is a proven leader in video production, streaming video and content creation Kevin Ingram, host of “The Wake Up Zone” on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, will handle play-by-play duties while Bob Belvin, on-air talent and contributor at 104.1 FM/AM 540 (ESPN Clarksville), will provide analysis. The duo has worked together each of the past five years in the league’s TV package. Four of the eight contests are “Wildcard Selections” which will be announced 12 days before the game, guaranteeing the top matchups will be broadcast.
Sept. 23 - Tennessee State at UT Martin, 4 p.m.
Sept. 30 - Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State, 6 p.m.
Oct. 14 - Eastern Kentucky at Jacksonville State, 3 p.m.
Oct. 21 - Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois, 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 - Wildcard Selection
Nov. 4 - Wildcard Selection
Nov. 11 - Wildcard Selection
Nov. 18 - Wildcard Selection
Three OVC Players on Buck Buchanan Award Watch List: Three OVC players begin the 2017 season on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. The award, sponsored by STATS, is given to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year. A national panel of over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will vote on the winner following the regular season. The three OVC players are Jacksonville State senior defensive lineman
Darius Jackson (who finished fourth in balloting last year, tying the highest-ever finish by an OVC player) and sophomore defensive back
Marlon Bridges as well as Tennessee State senior defensive lineman
Ebenezer Ogundeko. The three selections were the second-most of any FCS conference.
UTM’s Cook Named to CFPA Performer of the Year Watch List: UT Martin senior quarterback
Troy Cook was the lone OVC player (and one of 42 nationally) on the preseason FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA). The goal of the CFPA is to provide the most scientifically rigorous conferments in college football. Recipients are selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. The 2017 FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy is a 22-inch K-9 optic crystal trophy with 8-inch crystal football on top. All FCS players are eligible for the award. The award winner will be announced January 10, 2018.
Two OVC Kickers Named to Fred Mitchell Award Watch List: Tennessee State senior
Lane Clark and Tennessee Tech junior
Nick Madonia have been named to the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List. The Fred Mitchell Award is given to the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker and takes into consideration excellence on the field and in the community. Overall 35 kickers were named to the initial watch list, including just six from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The winner will be announced in December.
Five OVC Players Named to Reece’s Senior Bowl Watch List: Five OVC football student-athletes have been named to the 2017-18 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List. The selections included Jacksonville State running back
Roc Thomas, defensive end
Darius Jackson and defensive back
Reggie Hall and Tennessee State wide receiver
Patrick Smith and defensive end
Ebenezer Ogundeko. The five are among 31 FCS players on the watch list which includes over 400 total players form nearly every level of college football. These players are looking to fill the 110 roster spots that form the North and South squads for the nation’s premier all-star game. The game will be played on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, inside Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. and will be televised on the NFL Network.
Sgt. York Trophy Presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee Enters 11th Season: This year marks the 11th of the Sgt. York Trophy presented by Delta Dental of Tennessee. The trophy (founded in 2007 by the Nashville Sports Council and OVC) goes to the winner of the quadrangular season football series between the four OVC football-playing schools located in the state of Tennessee (Austin Peay, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and UT Martin). The award is only the second traveling trophy that involves more than two teams in college sports; the other is the Commander in Chief’s Trophy which has been contested between Air Force, Army and Navy annually since 1972. The award is named in honor of Alvin C. York, the most noted Soldier of World War I. As a corporal in the 2nd battalion, 328th Infantry, in the Battle of the Meuse River-Argonne (Oct. 8, 1918), York and seven other soldiers captured 132 prisoners, was promoted to sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor, the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the War Medal of Montenegro. Upon his return to the United States in 1919, he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of Honor. The trophy goes to the team with the best record against the other schools (in case of a tie there will be co-champions and the actual trophy will be retained by the defending champion if they are involved in the tie or if the defending champion is not involved in the tie it will go to the institution that has gone the most seasons without winning the trophy).
NCAA Division I Playoff Information: This season marks the fifth of an expanded 24-team field for the NCAA Division I Football Championship; in 2010 the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff field expanded to 20 teams, up from 16 previously, and in 2013 the field increased to 24 for the first time. The expansion in 2010 to 20 teams was the first since the field grew from 12 to 16 teams in 1997. The 24-team field is comprised of 10 automatic bids and 14 at-large berths. There are eight first round matchups (16 total teams), while eight (8) teams receive a bye into the second round. For the eighth time in 2017, the championship game will be played in Frisco, Texas at Toyota Stadium, a 20,500-seat multi-purpose stadium. The Southland Conference will serve as the host of the championship, which will be held on Saturday, January 6.
Academic Success: During the past academic year (2016-17) there were 114 OVC football student-athletes who were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for having a 3.25 grade point average or higher. In addition, 10 student-athletes were awarded the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs. The OVC also awards a Team Academic Award for the football program with the highest percentage of players with a 3.25 grade point average or higher; that award went to Eastern Illinois for 2016-17.
A Look at the Coaches: For the first time since 2011, all nine OVC head football coaches returned this season. Two OVC coaches, Jacksonville State’s
John Grass and Tennessee State’s
Rod Reed, are currently coaching at their alma mater. The longest tenured coach in the league is UT Martin’s
Jason Simpson who enters his 12th season with the Skyhawks in 2017. Simpson now has 72 overall victories in his career, eighth-most in OVC history (one out of seventh place).
Preseason Forecasts: For the fourth-straight year and sixth time in the past eight years, Jacksonville State has been picked the preseason football favorite in the OVC in a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors. The Gamecocks, who have won three-straight OVC Championships and 24-straight Conference games, received 16 of a possible 18 first-place votes in a poll of league head coaches and sports information directors. The Gamecocks totaled 128 total points to out-distance UT Martin, who picked up the other two first-place votes and was tabbed second (107 points). Tennessee State was picked third (96) and followed by Eastern Illinois (81), who was the last league team to beat Jacksonville State (at the end of the 2013 season). Eastern Kentucky was picked fifth (68) and followed by Tennessee Tech (64), Southeast Missouri (42), Murray State (41) and Austin Peay (21).
TSU’s Smith and JSU’s Jackson Headline Preseason All-OVC Team: Tennessee State senior wide receiver
Patrick Smith and Jacksonville State senior defensive lineman
Darius Jackson were named the 2017 OVC Preseason Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in a vote of by the league’s head football coaches and sports information directors. Jacksonville State led the way with nine total preseason selections. UT Martin had six picks, followed by five picks from Tennessee State, two picks apiece from Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and Southeast Missouri and one apiece from Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech. Returning players who were first-team All-OVC selections last year (17 in total) were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included five players who were second-team picks in 2016. Of the 28 total selections, 19 were seniors, six were juniors and three were sophomores.
Instant Replay: Beginning this season the OVC will have instant replay for all non-conference and conference home football contests. The league has partnered with DVSport to implement replay which is defined by Rule 12 of the NCAA Football Rule Book.
Let’s Get It Started: The 70th season of Ohio Valley Conference football got underway earlier than usual this season as Jacksonville State played in the Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff in Week Zero on Saturday, August 26. Six other OVC teams will play on Thursday, August 31 while the final two teams will play on Saturday, September 2. The OVC is made up of nine football-playing schools in 2016. Since its beginning, 15 of the 18 total schools that have played football in the league have claimed at least one championship.
I-AA No More: Although some people may still refer to it as I-AA football, the term that represents the level of Division I football in which the Ohio Valley Conference competes has been long retired. Beginning with the 2006 National Championship game, the term Football Championship Subdivision (or FCS) is to be used. Teams who play at the FCS level can offer a maximum of 63 scholarships (Football Bowl Subdivision teams can offer 85) and compete in a 24-team playoff at the end of the season to determine the national champion.
OVC Digital Network: The OVC launched the OVC Digital Network (OVCDN) in August 2012. The OVCDN is the exclusive home for live web streamed athletic contests involving OVC schools. Overall 2017-18 marks the 12th year the OVC has streamed live events. Starting with the re-branding of the streaming in 2012-13, events were offered free of charge and in an HD format and featured improved quality thanks to an investment in new equipment conference-wide. Fans also find it easier to log onto OVCDigitalNetwork.com and access the streams and can do so without any registration. The events are available on any computer, tablet or smart phone without needing any special downloads or apps; the league has also launched a Roku channel so fans can watch even more easily on their televisions. The games are also available on-demand immediately following the end of the contest. Approximately 36 OVC football games will be available on the OVCDN this season.