Ohio Valley Conference

EKU's C.J. Hudson

OVC FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK • WEEK 9

Eastern Kentucky Colonels (3-5) at Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks (2-7)
Saturday, November 6 • 12:00 p.m. CT • Hardy Graham Stadium (7,500)

THE MATCHUP: Eastern Kentucky (3-5, 3-2) and Tennessee-Martin (2-7, 1-5) square off for 16th time in a series dominated by the Colonels, who have won all 15 of the previous meetings...Last year’s 41-32 contest in Richmond featured the most points ever scored by UT Martin against the Colonels, as well as the closest decision since a 16-14 contest in the series opener in 1973...EKU is seeking an end to a two-game slide that includes last week’s 19-16 overtime loss to Murray State, while the Skyhawks look to regroup following a 35-7 setback at Southeast Missouri.

EKU OFFENSE: Senior QB Matt Guice, hampered by a shoulder injury suffered in the Colonels’ season-opener, has sat out the last two games and is listed as questionable for Saturday...Freshman QB Josh Greco continues to fill in for Guice, averaging 142.0 passing yards this season while completing 69-of-130 attempts...Another banged-up Colonel, senior WR Andre Ralston, missed the MSU contest, but should be ready to go come Saturday. Ralston is the team’s leading receiver, ranking fourth in the OVC (62.1 ypg)...Senior RB C.J. Hudson, fourth on the league’s rushing chart (105.5 ypg), is on pace to record his third 1,000-yard season...The Colonels have lost their last two outings despite putting up more offensive yards than their opponents both times.

EKU DEFENSE: Opponents have converted only five of 20 fourth-down attempts versus the Colonels’ defensive unit...Junior LB Jerome Jones registered one sack and 4.0 tackles for loss among a career-high 16 stops last week. He has 86 total tackles this season and leads the OVC with 10.8 stops per game and 11.5 tackles for loss...Junior defensive backs James Gaines (1.79 pg) and Tremayne Perkins (1.38 pg) rank third and fourth, respectively, in the OVC in passes defended... Sophomore LB Marcus Mayes returned to action last week after missing two games due to injury. ...The Colonels sport the league’s second-best ‘red-zone’ defense as opponents are converting only 25-of-37 scoring opportunities inside EKU’s 20.

UTM OFFENSE: Freshman RB Donald Chapman had a career outing last week, running for a touchdown and school-records of 272 yards on 41 carries. He ranks second in the OVC in rushing (113.1 ypg) and fourth in all-purpose (122.0 ypg) yardage...Junior QB Brady Wahlberg (147-267-15, 1,536 yds.) is out for the remainder of the season with a broken collarbone. Taking his place is true freshman Drew Jackson, who completed 9-of-26 passes for 106 yards with two interceptions last week in his first start...Sophomore WR Taurean Stephens ranks second in the OVC in receptions (6.44 rpg) and third in receiving yardage (71.0 ypg)...The Skyhawks outgained the Indians offensively but committed five turnovers in the contest, two of which led to Southeast TDs.

UTM DEFENSE: Skyhawk defenders limited the league’s second-ranked passing offense to 148 yards last week, while holding the Indians to just 296 yards overall...UT Martin boasts three of the OVC’s top five tacklers, including sophomore LB Markeseo Jackson, who has recorded a Conference-high 93 total stops this fall. He has 2.5 sacks and ranks second in the league in tackle average (10.3 tpg), followed by senior LB John Castillo (10.2 tpg) in third and senior FS Russell Gambrell (9.3 tpg) in fifth...Sophomore CB Jack Greenwood recorded his second interception of the season with a pick last week...Junior CB Jason Coleman has a team-high four interceptions this fall...Junior DE Andre Plummer has registered two sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss among 36 total stops.


Eastern Illinois Panthers (4-4) at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (5-3)
Saturday, November 6 • 2:00 p.m. CT • Tucker Stadium (16,500)

THE MATCHUP: Eastern Illinois (4-4, 3-2) and Tennessee Tech (5-3, 2-2) square off for the 11th time in a matchup that features the league’s No. 1 (TTU) and No. 2 (EIU) defenses as well as the No. 3 (TTU) and No. 4 (EIU) offenses...The Panthers have won seven of the last eight meetings, including four straight, and lead the series, 7-3...EIU skipper Bob Spoo and Tech mentor Mike Hennigan boast the league’s longest active coaching rivalry, having met eight times previously...The Golden Eagles are looking for better ball control this time around after giving up 24 points off eight turnovers in last year’s 37-10 loss to the Panthers...EIU is coming off last week’s 34-24 win over Tennessee State, while Tech hopes to rebound from a tough 20-17 loss at Samford.

EIU OFFENSE: The Panthers have a double threat at the tailback position in sophomores Vincent Webb and Ademola Adeniji. Webb has run for 100+ yards on three occasions this season, ranking third in the OVC and 16th nationally in rushing (111.7 ypg), while Adeniji has topped the 80-yard mark the last two games and is averaging 53.1 yards per game...Webb has rushed for at least one TD in each of his last three games and ranks third in the league in scoring by touchdown (8.2 ppg)...Senior QB Matt Schabert ranks fourth in the league in passing yardage (195.1 ypg) and total offense (210.3 ypg)...Sophomore WR Ryan Voss ranks second in the Conference in receiving yardage (78.5 ypg) and fourth in receptions (4.38 rpg).

EIU DEFENSE: Sophomore CB Ben Brown has knocked down 15 passes and intercepted five more this season to lead the OVC and rank third nationally in passes defended (2.5 pg)...The Panthers recorded five sacks and 14 tackles for loss against TSU last week...Senior DT Marcus Lorick registered 4.0 TFL among a career-high 14 stops in the contest...Junior DE Kory Lothe has recorded four sacks, second-best in the OVC...Senior LB Jamarr Day has 75 total tackles and ranks fourth in the league with 9.4 stops per game...EIU is giving up just 322.4 yards of offense while ranking second in the OVC and 12th nationally in stopping the run (103.0 ypg)...Junior FS Chad Cleveland collected nine solo tackles among 14 stops a week ago.

TTU OFFENSE: Senior QB Robert Craft guides a Tech offense that ranks third in the league in passing (232.1 ypg) and total (386.8 ypg) offense, while racking up 154.6 yards on the ground (4th in the OVC). Craft boasts the OVC’s third-best effort in both passing yardage (220.9 ypg) and total offense (212.9 ypg)...Two of Craft’s favorite targest are sophomore Brent McNeal and true freshman Larry Shipp. McNeal has caught a touchdown pass in four of the last five contests, and ranks ninth in the OVC in receiving yardage (48.9 ypg), while Shipp is tied for fifth in the Conference in receptions (4.0 rpg)...Junior tailbacks Trey Bonner (76.1 ypg), and sophomore Derek White (65.9 ypg) are listed at eighth and ninth, respectively, among the league’s rushing leaders.

TTU DEFENSE: Tech boasts the league’s top-ranked defense at 306.5 yards per game, yielding just 115.1 yards on the ground (3rd in the OVC) and 191.4 through the air (2nd in the OVC) while giving up 22.2 points per game (2nd in the OVC)...The Golden Eagles held Samford to 38 rushing yards last week, a season-low for Tech opponents...Senior LB Tommy Harrison has 159 career tackles, including a team-high 72 stops this season (9.0 tpg)...Senior DE Maurice Harris is the active team leader in both career sacks (15) and tackles for loss (29)...Senior DE Yusuf Sharif tops the squad with 7.0 tackles for loss among 40 stops this season...Tech defenders have intercepted 10 passes this fall. Senior R Brandon Shelby has four of those picks, giving him 10 for his career.


Samford Bulldogs (4-5) at Jacksonville State Gamecocks (6-1)
Saturday, November 6 • 4:00 p.m. CT • Paul Snow Stadium (15,000)

THE MATCHUP: Samford (4-5, 3-3) and Jacksonville State (6-1, 4-1) add another chapter to their long and storied history as the in-state rivals duke it out for the 42nd time...Saturday’s contest has the potential to be a high-scoring affair as the league’s top two offenses are averaging 400+ yards apiece while also boasting the OVC’s highest point production...The Bulldogs won 14 of the first 15 clashes with the Gamecocks and hold a 21-18-2 edge in the series, which dates back to 1905, but Jax State has 11 of the last 14 meetings, including four straight... Samford enters the contest on a three-game win streak after last Saturday’s 20-17 victory over Tennessee Tech, while league-leading JSU is coming off a bye week.

SAM OFFENSE: The Bulldog offense, ranked second in the OVC in total yardage (413.0 ypg), continues to roll under the senior tandem of quarterback Ray Nelson and Payton Award candidate Efrem Hill. Nelson is the league’s top-ranked passer (271.9 ypg) and seventh-leading rusher (78.6 ypg), ranking second nationally with a Conference-high 350.4 yards of total offense. Hill leads the OVC in both receptions (7.1 rpg) and receiving yardage (103.1 ypg), ranking sixth and seventh in the nation, respectively, in those categories...Junior WR Ossie Buchannon is also one of Nelson’s top targets, ranking 10th in the OVC in receptions (8.5 rpg)...The Bulldogs lead the Conference in passing offense (274.2 ypg) while collecting 138.8 yards on the ground.

SAM DEFENSE: Samford ranks third in the league at defending the pass (196.1 ypg), but is eighth in rushing defense (223.2 ypg). Overall, Bulldog defenders are getting tagged for 419.3 yards each time out...Sophomore LB Steve Tennin registered a career-high 16 tackles last week and ranks second on the team with 58 total stops. Tennin has recovered a trio of fumbles this season, while junior FS Brad Booth has forced three...Sophomore CB Justin Ray has 49 stops, including a team-high 8.0 tackles for loss...Sophomore LB Calvin Hodge leads the team with 61 tackles...Junior FS and lead tackler Cortland Finnegan (65 tackles) returned to action last week after being sidelined three games with an arm injury.

JSU OFFENSE: Senior TB Oscar Bonds has recorded three 100-yard rushing efforts this season and ranks fifth in the league (103.1 ypg). He has tallied 13 touchdowns and ranks third nationally in scoring with a league-high 11.1 points per game...Junior QB Maurice Mullins (170.7 ypg) has completed 59-of-93 passes (63.4%) with just one interception this fall to boast the Conference’s top efficiency rating at 160.2. He has thrown for 899 yards and five touchdowns...The Gamecocks are racking up a league-high 39.4 points and 430.4 yards per game, ranking fourth and eighth, respectively, among national I-AA leaders...Jax State’s OVC-best 246.9 yards of rushing offense is also eighth nationally.

JSU DEFENSE: Senior DB Russell Green has recorded four of his eight career interceptions this season, ranking among league and national leaders...Gamecock defenders have recorded a league-high 20 sacks for 137 yards this fall, led by junior LB LaMarcus Rowell’s Conference-best 5.0 sacks. Rowell also ranks third in the OVC with 8.5 tackles for loss...Senior LB Jonathan Crutcher and junior LB Leroy Clark lead the team with 41 and 35 stops, respectively...The Gamecocks lead the league and rank 10th nationally in rushing defense (98.1 ypg) while holding opponents to a league-low 19.8 points a game...Overall, JSU is giving up 337.9 yards (4th in the OVC).


Southeast Missouri Indians (2-6) at Tennessee State Tigers (3-5)
Saturday, November 6 • 7:00 p.m. CT • The Coliseum (67,500)

THE MATCHUP: Southeast Missouri (2-6, 2-3) and Tennessee State (3-5, 1-3) meet up in Nashville for a Homecoming contest at The Coliseum...The Indians have won the last two meetings and hold a 7-6 edge in the series...TSU is hopeful an eight-year streak of Homecoming victories will bode well for the Tigers, who have dropped their last five outings, including a 34-24 decision at Eastern Illinois last week...Southeast seeks back-to-back wins for the first time this season following a 35-7 triumph over Tennessee-Martin last Saturday.

SEMO OFFENSE: The Indians’ passing game ranks second in the OVC and 11th nationally (269.9 ypg) on the arm of starting QB Andrew Goodenough. The senior signal-caller sports the league’s second-best passing yardage (269.2 ypg) and total offense (261.1 ypg) while completing 62.5 percent of his passes and ranking third nationally in completions (25.3 cpg)...Senior TE Ray Goodson and junior WR T.J. Milcic rank among the league’s top receivers. Goodson is averaging 60.1 yards and 5.75 receptions per game while Milcic is collecting 57.1 yards and 4.0 catches each time out...The Indians’ offensive line will be without senior starter Caleb Daniel, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a neck injury.

SEMO DEFENSE: Forty-five of senior LB O.J. Turner’s 69 tackles this season have been solo stops. He has 274 career tackles...Junior DT Brandon Bohnert boasts 4.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss among 24 total stops, ranking among OVC leaders in both categories...Junior DB Kellin White earned National Defensive Player of the Week honors after returning two intercepted UT Martin passes for touchdowns last Saturday. He has four picks for 191 yards this fall and eight for his career...An injury-riddled Indian defensive unit is yielding 36.4 points and 500.6 yards per game, including 253.9 yards on the ground and 246.8 through the air, all league-highs...Sophomore S Anthony Lumpkin will miss the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

TSU OFFENSE: Payton Award candidate Charles Anthony was held to under 100 yards for just the second time this season in last week’s meeting with EIU, but the senior RB continues to lead the league and rank third nationally with 153.6 yards per game. He also tops the Conference in all-purpose yardage (184.9 ypg) and is second in scoring (9.8 ppg)...Junior WR Fred Burnette is ranked sixth in the league in receiving yardage (59.6 ypg)...The Tigers’ offensive attack suffered a blow as senior QB Riley Walker injured his knee and ankle in the contest and is listed as doubtful for this week. Junior and former starting QB Brandon Rosser will most likely get the nod after playing backup to Walker the last three outings...Also hurt is senior punter/kicker Joey Hudak (back).

TSU DEFENSE: The Tigers’ defensive unit could also have a new look on Saturday as a number of starters are nursing injuries following last week’s contest. Most notable is senior LB and second-leading tackler James Dumervil (51 tackles), who may be out for the season with a torn meniscus. Also hurt are junior DB and top tackler Jamar Landrom (53 tackles), junior DB Justin Williams (5 INTs) and sophomore DB Carlos Jones (39 tackles, 2.0 sacks), who are all hampered by knee injuries...Senior DE Paul Thomas counts 10.0 tackles for loss (2nd in the OVC) and 2.5 sacks among 35 stops this season...Junior DL Jonathon Edwards has 7.5 tackles for loss...TSU’s ‘red-zone’ defense continues to lead the league as opponents are just 22-of-33 in scoring opportunities inside the Tigers’ 20.