OVC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSIVE
VINCENT WEBB ? TB, SR., 5-11, 206 ? ST. LOUIS, MO ? EASTERN ILLINOIS
Webb rushed for a career-high 208 yards and a touchdown in Eastern Illinois’ 24-13 win over Samford. The senior tailback moved into fifth place (3,386 yards) all-time at EIU while registering his 16th 100-yard rushing effort and passing the 200-yard mark for the second time in his career. A native of St. Louis, Mo., Webb also caught three passes for five yards to finish with 213 total yards in the contest.
DEFENSIVE
AARON WILLIAMS ? LB, FR., 5-11, 220 ? SANFORD, FL ? TENNESSEE TECH
Williams spearheaded a Tennessee Tech defensive effort that held Eastern Kentucky to just 94 yards in the second half on the way to a 27-14 Golden Eagle victory over the preseason league favorite. The redshirt freshman from Sanford, Fla., had a game-high 11 total tackles, including one tackle-for-loss, and also recovered a fumble.
SPECIALIST
JON MAHAN ? P, SR., 6-0, 201 ? SMITHVILLE, TN ? TENNESSEE TECH
Mahan averaged 50.0 yards in four punts as Tennessee Tech knocked off preseason favorite Eastern Kentucky, 27-14. The senior punter from Smithville, Tenn., placed two of his efforts down inside the EKU 20-yard line, including an 84-yard boot that went from the TTU 8 to the EKU 8, and was later featured as the No. 4 pick on ESPN SportsCenter’s ?Top Plays of the Day’.
NEWCOMER
E.J. DANIEL ? WR, JR., 5-2, 191 ? BRUNDIGE, AL ? UT MARTIN
Daniel scored two touchdowns in UT Martin's 24-14 win over No. 25 Jacksonville State. The junior wide receiver had a 52-yard punt return for a TD in the first quarter, then hauled in a 42-yard TD pass in the third quarter. A native of Brundige, Ala., Daniel had three catches for 63 yards to finish the game with 115 all-purpose yards.
OVC NOTES FROM THE GRIDIRON
EASTERN ILLINOIS (2-2, 1-0 OVC)
Eastern Illinois opened defense of its 2005 OVC crown with a 24-13 win over Samford last week, stretching to 10 the Panthers’ string of consecutive victories against league opponents. Senior TB Vincent Webb rushed for a career-high 208 yards and a touchdown against the Bulldogs to move into fifth place on the school’s all-time rushing list (3,386 yards). He leads the league in both rushing (139.5 ypg) and all-purpose (147.0 ypg) yardage, ranking third and 16th in the nation, respectively. Sophomore Zach Yates booted a career-long 47-yard field goal at Samford, pushing his streak of consecutive games with at least one field goal to nine. Junior Micah Rucker has caught at least one TD pass in each of EIU’s four games this season to lead the league in TD receptions (6) and receiving yards (395 yards). Junior QB Mike Donato leads the OVC and ranks 17th nationally with a 148.18 efficiency rating while guiding a Panther offense that ranks 10th in I-AA football (402.0 ypg). Sophomore DL Pierre Walters has a team-best 4.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. No. 20 EIU steps out of OVC action for a trip across the pond, visiting Hawai’i on Saturday.
EASTERN KENTUCKY (1-3, 0-1 OVC)
Eastern Kentucky, the OVC preseason favorite, finds itself at 0-1 in league play after dropping its Conference opener to Tennessee Tech, 27-14. Turnovers continue to plague the Colonels, who have a league-worst minus-6 ranking after committing four miscues against the Golden Eagles. The second half is proving to be a critical time for the EKU offense, which has been outscored 65-16 over the final two quarters of each game this season, including 33-0 in the last two contests. Junior CB Derrick Huff recorded EKU’s first interception of the season at Tech and now leads the OVC with nine passes defended. Senior LB Brandon Rosser has been the Colonels’ top tackler in each game this season, ranking among league leaders (9.0 pg). Junior RB Mark Dunn recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing effort (104 yds.) at Tech, despite touching the ball only four times for 27 yards in the second half. EKU will be looking to avoid its first 0-2 OVC start since 1960 when the Colonels play host to Jacksonville State on Saturday.
JACKSONVILLE STATE (1-2, 1-1 OVC)
Jacksonville State lost its OVC opener for the fist time since joining the league in 2003, falling to UT Martin, 24-14. The Gamecocks were limited to 91 rushing yards in the loss, their lowest output since gaining just 73 against Kansas in 2003. Senior TB Clay Green was held to 78 rushing yards last week, ending his streak of 100-yard rushing contests at nine games. He has topped the century mark in nine of his last 11 outings and is currently fourth in the league with a 92.7 average. Green also ranks second in the OVC and 21st nationally in all-purpose yardage (140.3 ypg). JSU’s pass defense (98.0 ypg) remains tops in the OVC, ranking fifth nationally, while its rush defense is third in the league (148.7 ypg). Jax State has not allowed a rush play longer than 20 yards in 2006. Gamecock defenders still have not surrendered an offensive touchdown in the first two quarters, as UT Martin’s 10 first-half points were gained by a punt return and a field goal. Jax State’s offense, meanwhile, has not been shut out since a 28-0 loss to Troy in 2000, a streak of 69 games. JSU visits Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.
MURRAY STATE (1-3, 0-1 OVC)
Murray State held a 14-14 tie with No. 6 Illinois State at halftime, but the visiting Redbirds reeled off 21 unanswered points to claim the 35-14 victory last week. Redshirt freshman QB Zach Barnard registered his first 200-yard passing game last week, completing 17-of-28 passes for 223 yards. Sophomore WR Rod Harper has caught a league-high 25 passes for 282 yards and four touchdowns this season, including at least one TD reception in the last three games. Senior RB Chad Cook ranks second in the OVC and 24th nationally in rushing average (100.2 ypg). He is also fifth in the league in all-purpose yardage (113.5 ypg). Senior Gary Crass has converted 12 consecutive point-after attempts this season. In 2005, Crass missed his only PAT in the Racers’ season opener, then hit 23 straight before missing his last try in the season finale. Senior DB J.R. Webber leads the nation with 35 solo tackles, averaging 8.75 per game. MSU resumes OVC play this week at home against Tennessee Tech.
SAMFORD (2-2, 0-1 OVC)
Samford got a season-high 212 passing yards from sophomore QB Jefferson Adcock, but it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs fell to Eastern Illinois, 24-13, in their OVC opener. Adcock, coming off the bench for the first time in 15 games, completed 24-of-30 passes with two touchdown strikes, and also led the team with 39 rushing yards on 11 carries. The Bulldogs lead the league in pass offense (200.0 ypg), with junior WR Jeff Moore and senior WR Freddy Young as the primary targets. Moore, who matched a career-high with 105 yards on 10 receptions against EIU, is second in the league in both average (77.8 ypg) and total (311 yards) receiving yardage as well as catches (23). Young is third in the league receptions (22) and sixth in receiving yardage (212 yds./53.0 ypg). Senior LB Calvin Hodge broke loose with a season-high 11 tackles last week, including 10 solo stops. After back-to-back home outings ,the Bulldogs take to the road this week with an OVC visit to Southeast Missouri.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (2-1, 0-1 OVC)
Southeast Missouri is coming off a bye week, ready to resume OVC action by entertaining Samford on Saturday. Head coach Tony Samuel used the down time to tinker with his lineup, transferring defensive linemen Nick Ferguson and Jaunell Pugh to the offensive line, and shifting fullback Corey Andrade to the defensive line. Junior LB Adam Casper is the team’s leading tackler with 25 stops through three games. Senior DE Edgar Jones tops the league in sacks (6.0) and is tied for the OVC lead in tackles for loss (7.5), ranking second in the nation in both categories. The Redhawks are first in all of I-AA football in net punting (41.65), thanks in part to the efforts of senior David Simonhoff, who remains atop the national punting leaderboard with a 48.29 average. Southeast also boasts the top turnover margin in I-AA football at plus-3. Sophomore RB Tim Holloman is fifth in the league in rushing (87.7 ypg). Senior QB Kevin Ballatore is the only starting signal-caller in the league without an interception thus far in 2006.
TENNESSEE STATE (2-2, 1-0 OVC)
Tennessee State came out on the short end of a 38-9 score in last week’s meeting with I-A Vanderbilt. The Tigers trailed by just a touchdown (10-3) late into the third quarter, but a series of offensive lapses over a two-minute span translated into 21 quick points for the Commodores, who picked up the win in the first-ever gridiron meeting between the two Nashville-based universities. TSU did receive some potentially good news last week regarding injured junior WR Mike Mason. Initial reports indicated that the North Carolina transfer had suffered a season-ending PCL tear in his knee, but additional testing indicated only a sprain. Mason is expected to be out 4-5 weeks. Junior DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has made a league-high four picks, tying him for second in the OVC in passes defended (6). Sophomore RB Javarris Williams was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time in 2006, dropping his season average to 95.8. TSU wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule on Saturday, squaring off against Florida A&M at the Atlanta Football Classic.
TENNESSEE TECH (1-3, 1-0 OVC)
Tennessee Tech reeled off 20 unanswered points to upset preseason OVC favorite Eastern Kentucky, 27-14, last week. The Golden Eagles rushed for a season-high 187 yards, 110 of which came from senior TB Anthony Ash, who averaged 6.9 yards on 16 carries. Freshman QB Lee Sweeney completed 10-of-15 passes for 119 yards and two TD strikes in leading the offense. Redshirt freshman LB Aaron Williams continues to play well in place of injured starter Adam November, leading the team in tackles in three of four games this season, including a career-best 11 stops last week. Senior Jon Mahan ranks fourth nationally in individual punting (42.7 ypp), putting Tech seventh in I-AA football in net punting (39.59) as a team. Junior WR Larry Shipp extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 25, while WR Brent McNeal saw his run of consecutive outings with a reception end at 25. The Golden Eagles will be looking to snap an 11-game OVC road losing streak when they visit Murray State on Saturday.
UT MARTIN (3-1, 1-0 OVC)
UT Martin picked up its first win over a ranked opponent since 1993 with a 24-14 win over No. 25 Jacksonville State. The victory earned the Skyhawks their first national ranking at the Division I level as Don Hansen’s National Weekly Football Gazette had UT Martin listed at No. 18 in its Sept. 24 poll. The program’s last national ranking was in 1989, when the Skyhawks were listed No. 18 in the NCAA Division II preseason poll. Junior TB Marcus Dawson turned in his second straight 100-yard rushing effort, carrying the ball a season-high 30 times for 144 yards against the Gamecocks. Sophomore WR E.J. Daniel’s 52-yard punt return for a touchdown was the program’s first since 1997. Daniel has caught 14 passes for 210 yards and five TDs this season to lead the team with 30 points. The Skyhawks step out of Conference play for a trip to Austin Peay on Saturday.
THIS WEEK ON OVCSPORTS.TV
The Ohio Valley Conference is excited to offer live and on-demand streaming video/audio straight to your computer during the 2006 season. This is a brand-new feature on the league's Official Web Site, ovcsports.com, and can be accessed through the OVC site or directly through OVCSports.TV. Games featured on OVCSports.TV this week are:
Sept. 30 ? Jacksonville State at Eastern Kentucky* - 2:00 p.m.
Sept. 30 ? Tennessee Tech at Murray State* - 6:00 p.m.
Sept. 30 ? Samford at Southeast Missouri* ? 6:00 p.m.
Sept. 30 ? UT Martin at Austin Peay ? 6:00 p.m.
GAMES ON THE TUBE
Tennesseee State’s Sept. 30 matchup with Florida A&M in the Atlanta Classic will be be televised regionally on FSN South at 2:00 p.m. Central. In addition to the FSN South broadcast, two other Sept. 30 games involving OVC squads will be aired at the local level. Tennessee Tech and Murray State’s Conference matchup will be broadcast on a tape-delayed basis later that evening at 10:00 p.m. Central on MSU-TV, while Eastern Illinois’ non-conference meeting with Hawai’i will be televised live at 11:00 p.m. Central on K5 Honolulu.
MAHAN PUNT FEATURED ON ESPN
Tennessee Tech senior Jon Mahan’s 84-yard punt against Eastern Kentucky last week was picked up by ESPN’s Sports Center Top Plays as the No. 4 play of the day. Mahan’s boot, which went from the Tech 8 to the EKU 8, was the third-longest in school history and fell just six yards shy of the OVC record of 90 yards, set by Murray State’s Brian Bivens in 2002.
PERFECT PAT
Four weeks into the season, a quartet of OVC kickers have maintained perfect marks in point-after attempts. Murray State senior Gary Crass leads the pack with a 12-of-12 effort, followed by UT Martin senior Taylor Brown (10-of-10), Jacksonville State sophomore Gavin Hallford (8-of-8) and Eastern Kentucky sophomore Taylor Long (6-of-6).
OVC PREVIEW CAPSULES - SEPT. 30
Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-2, 1-0 OVC) at Hawai’i Warriors (1-2, 0-1 WAC)
Saturday, September 23 ? 11:00 p.m. CT ? Aloha Stadium (50,000) ? Honolulu, Hawai’i
TV: K-5 in Honolulu, HI
Series Record: Hawai’i leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Hawai’i 61, Eastern Illinois 36 (2002)
Bob Spoo Overall (Years): 121-100-1 (20)
Bob Spoo at Eastern Illinois (Years): 121-100-1 (20)
June Jones Overall (Years): 54-39 (8)
June Jones at Hawai’i (Years): 54-49 (8)
Eastern Illinois Last Week: Defeated Samford, 24-13
Hawai’i Last Week: Lost to Boise State, 41-34
Jacksonville State Gamecocks (1-2, 1-1 OVC) at Eastern Kentucky Colonels (1-3, 0-1 OVC)
Saturday, September 23 ? 2:00 p.m. CT ? Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) ? Richmond, Kentucky
TV: None
Series Record: Jacksonville State leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: Eastern Kentucky 31, Jacksonville State 14 (2005)
Jack Crowe Overall (Years): 52-61 (12)
Jack Crowe at Jacksonville State (Years): 38-31 (7)
Danny Hope Overall (Years): 21-17 (4)
Danny Hope at Eastern Kentucky (Years): 21-17 (4)
Jacksonville State Last Week: Lost to UT Martin, 24-14
Eastern Kentucky Last Week: Lost to Tennessee Tech, 27-14
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (1-3, 1-0 OVC) at Murray State Racers (1-3, 0-1 OVC)
Saturday, September 23 ? 6:00 p.m. CT ? Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800) ? Murray, Kentucky
TV: MSU-TV 11 (tape-delayed)
Series Record: Tennessee Tech leads, 38-32-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee Tech 42, Murray State 21 (2005)
Doug Malone Overall (Years): 22-16 (4)
Doug Malone at Tennessee Tech (Years): 1-3 (1)
Matt Griffin Overall (Years): 11-27 (4)
Matt Griffin at Murray State (Years): 1-1 (1)
Tennessee Tech Last Week: Defeated Eastern Kentucky, 27-14
Murray State Last Week: Lost to Illinois State, 35-14
Samford Bulldogs (2-2, 0-1 OVC) at Southeast Missouri Redhawks (2-1, 0-1 OVC)
Saturday, September 23 ? 6:00 p.m. CT ? Houck Stadium (10,000) ? Cape Girardeau, Missouri
TV: None
Series Record: Samford leads, 4-2
Last Meeting: Samford 33, Southeast Missouri 17 (2005)
Bill Gray Overall (Years): 27-27 (5)
Bill Gray at Samford (Years): 27-27 (5)
Tony Samuel Overall (Years): 36-58 (9)
Tony Samuel at Southeast Missouri (Years): 2-1 (1)
Samford Last Week: Lost to Eastern Illinois, 24-13
Southeast Missouri Last Week: Did not play
Tennessee State Tigers (2-2, 1-0 OVC) at Florida A&M Rattlers (2-2, 1-1 MEAC)
Saturday, September 23 ? 2:00 p.m. CT ? Georgia Dome (72,000) ? Atlanta, Georgia
TV: FSN South
Series Record: Tennessee State leads, 24-21
Last Meeting: Florida A&M 12, Tennessee State 7 (2005)
James Webster Overall (Years): 4-11 (2)
James Webster at Tennessee State (Years): 4-11 (2)
Rubin Carter Overall (Years): 8-7 (2)
Rubin Carter at Florida A&M (Years): 8-7 (2)
Tennessee State Last Week: Lost to Vanderbilt, 38-9
Florida A&M Last Week: Defeated Winston-Salem State, 25-21
UT Martin Skyhawks (3-1, 1-0 OVC) at Austin Peay Governors (1-3, Independent)
Saturday, September 23 ? 6:00 p.m. CT ? Governors Stadium (10,000) ? Clarksville, Tennessee
TV: None
Series Record: UT Martin leads, 28-24-2
Last Meeting: UT Martin 31, Austin Peay 14 (2004)
Jason Simpson Overall (Years): 3-1 (1)
Jason Simpson at UT Martin (Years): 3-1 (1)
Carroll McCray Overall (Years): 9-28 (4)
Carroll McCray at Austin Peay (Years): 9-28 (4)
UT Martin Last Week: Defeated UT Martin, 24-14
Austin Peay Last Week: Lost to Dayton, 28-23