SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Austin Peay 38, Tennessee Tech 31
@#7 Florida 23,
Jacksonville State 0
@Murray State 42, Southeast Missouri 35
@UT Martin 35, #23 Tennessee State 26
@#10 Central Arkansas 48,
#24 Eastern Illinois 30
AUSTIN PEAY 38, TENNESSEE TECH 31
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - After racing out to an early 31-0 lead, Austin Peay's football team survived a furious Tennessee Tech comeback to hang on for a 38-31 Ohio Valley Conference victory on Senior Day.
The victory gives Austin Peay (2-9, 1-7 OVC) its first Ohio Valley Conference win in 2012, as well as a victory in Sgt. York Trophy contests every season since the award's inception in 2007. Tennessee Tech falls to 3-8 (1-7 OVC). Austin Peay's 38-point outburst is the Govs largest scoring output in 46 meetings with the Golden Eagles.
Austin Peay used some trickery to get on the board first. Terrence Oliver took a hand-off from Jake Ryan, who lateralled back to Ryan, who fired downfield to Jamaar Embry for a 38-yard score. It's the second time this season Ryan and Embry have hooked up on a deep touchdown on a trick play; the duo scored on a double lateral pass against Southeast Missouri, Oct. 27.
After a missed field goal attempt negated a long Tennessee Tech drive, Ryan led the Govs on a 14-play, 80-yard drive that ate up more than six minutes of clock and culminated with a 16-yard touchdown run by sophomore Ean Pemberton.
Following a Tennessee Tech three-and-out, Ryan marched the Govs down the field again. An eight-play, 78-yard drive ended with a two-yard toss from Ryan to senior Devin Stark. The score was Stark's seventh in 2012 and his 17th career touchdown.
A Stephen Stansell field goal and a second touchdown pass to Stark, this one from 14 yards out, gave the Govs a 31-0 halftime lead. It was the first time Austin Peay has scored 30 points in a half against an OVC opponent since Nov. 21, 2009 against UT Martin.
Austin Peay's defense limited the Tennessee Tech attack in the first half. The Govs forced five three-and-outs in the first half, in addition to recovering a fumble on the opening kick-off. The Govs defense also forced five fumbles on the day, its most since Oct. 7, 2000 when five fumbles were forced against Dayton.
The Golden Eagles got on the board on the second half's opening drive with an 11-play, 71-yard drive that was punctuated by a one-yard plunge by Doug Page.
Stark hauled in his third touchdown catch of the day - and the ultimate game-winning score - in the third quarter. Following Adam Noble's second forced fumble of the day, Austin Peay took over on the Tennessee Tech 22-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Ryan dropped back and found Stark in the end zone for the third time; in addition to it being Stark's second career three-score game, it marked Ryan's first four-touchdown performance in his Austin Peay career.
Tennessee Tech would resume its comeback attempt following the Govs score. Da'Rick Rogers caught a six-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, the first receiving touchdown given up by the Govs since Oct. 13 at Eastern Kentucky.
Following Page's second one-yard touchdown run and a Govs three-and-out, Tennessee Tech brought cut the deficit to 10 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Darian Stone to Neil Gannaway.
After a 26-yard field goal by Zach Sharp made the score 38-31, Tennessee Tech would attempt an onside kick. The high bounce hit off Daryl Clack's hands and was recovered by Jamel Cook, giving the Golden Eagles a chance to drive for the game-tying touchdown. But two Golden Eagle penalties and a huge sack by Ernest Smith, his season's fourth, forced Tennessee Tech into fourth-and-32, and Stone's pass to a double-covered Rogers fell incomplete and the Govs survived for their second victory this season.
#7 FLORIDA 23, JACKSONVILLE STATE 0
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - A season that began with a loss against a Southeastern Conference opponent ended with the same result for Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon.
Florida's Caleb Sturgis kicked three field goals and its stout defense limited the Gamecocks to 38 total yards after halftime as the No. 7 Gators prevailed 23-0 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in the first meeting between the schools.
Jacksonville State concluded the season with a 6-5 record, its fewest victories since 2007. Among the Gamecocks' five losses was a 49-24 defeat at Arkansas in the season opener.
Florida improved to 10-1 heading into a Top 10 showdown against rival Florida State next Saturday.
The Gamecocks came away without points on their only two drives deep into Florida territory, failing to convert field goals of 25 and 36 yards. It marked the first time Jacksonville State has been shutout in 133 games, a streak dating back to a 28-0 loss to Troy in 2000.
Jacksonville State shocked the Gators and the 82,691 gathered in “The Swamp” on its first offensive play.
Marques Ivory completed a short pass to Kevyn Cooper, who was tackled by two Florida defenders. Cooper fell on top of one of the Gators but never touched the turf, springing to his feet and sprinting down the sideline in front of Florida's players and coaches for a 76-yard gain to the UF 7.
The pass play was Jacksonville State's longest non-scoring play from scrimmage since moving up to Division I.
The opening drive stalled, however, and the Gamecocks came away empty-handed when Griffin Thomas' 25-yard field goal attempt sailed left with 12:53 remaining in first quarter.
The Gators' offense responded with a methodical 80-yard march after the missed JSU field goal try.
Gillislee, who entered the game as the Southeastern Conference's fourth-leading rusher with 842 yards, was the workhorse with eight carries on the 12-play march. He completed the drive with a seven-yard run up the middle at 6:02 mark in the first quarter.
Gillislee finished with 122 yards on 20 carries.
Florida moved 61 yards in six plays to increase its lead to 10-0 on the next drive. Gillislee's 46-yard run got the Gators deep into Gamecocks' territory, but the drive stalled at the JSU 4 and Sturgis came in to kick a 21-yard field goal with 2:22 left in the first.
Ivory connected on four consecutive passes during a second-quarter drive as Jacksonville marched from its 10 to Florida's 19. But Griffin missed a 36-yard attempt, this time wide to the right, with just under six minutes left before halftime.
Florida moved 70 yards on 11 plays on the ensuing possession but came away without points when Jacksonville State senior Brooks Robinson broke through to block Sturgis' 27-yard field goal attempt with 1:23 left in second quarter.
An ill-advised decision by Alan Bonner to call a fair catch on a Gators punt, coupled with a holding penalty, pinned the Gamecocks at the 2 early in the third quarter.
After failing to gain any yardage with two runs, Ivory attempted to pass from the end zone on third down. Florida linebacker Jonathan Bostic stepped in front of Ivory's pass and returned it seven yards for a touchdown with 10:38 left in the third quarter.
Sturgis added field goals of 44 and 47 yards in the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring.
Ivory, in his final game with the Gamecocks, completed 14-of-25 passes for 169 yards and moved past Ryan Perrilloux into fifth place on the school's all-time passing list. Ivory passed for 2,086 yards as a senior, the eighth time 2,000-yard passing season in JSU history.
MURRAY STATE 42, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 35
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The 2012 Murray State football season came to a special end on Saturday afternoon as Duane Brady’s 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown proved to be the difference as the Racers defeated Southeast Missouri, 42-35. The return touchdown was the second of the game for the Racers.
The Redhawks (3-8, 2-6 OVC) tied the game with 3:07 remaining as Ron Coleman capped an 88-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run.
But, the game did not stay tied for very long as Brady took the short, high kick, saw a seam up the middle and burst down the field for his second career kickoff return for a touchdown. The return was the only one for Brady this season.
The Redhawks got on the board first as they drove the ball down the field and got a 36-yard field goal off the foot of Drew Geldbach.
The Racers (5-6, 4-4 OVC) responded as Walter Powell returned the kickoff 83 yards to the SEMO 15-yard line. Brady started the drive with a three-yard run before Casey Brockman hit Ja-Vonta Trotter for five yards. Facing a third down, Brockman found Trotter again for the seven-yard touchdown.
The Racer defense stopped the Redhawks on their first possession of the second quarter as Brandon Wicks and Chris Staten combined for a sack. Joe Vucic let go of a 53 yard punt that carried into the endzone. Instead of the letting go, Powell decided to field the punt and broke up the middle for the 100-yard touchdown. He became the second Racer to return a punt 100-yards for a touchdown, joining Phil Foster against Morehead State in 1950.
SEMO added their second field goal of the half as Geldbach connected from 46 yards with just over five minutes left in the half.
MSU had another quick answer as Jaamal Berry ripped off a 26-yard run, and Brockman found Powell for 12 yards and a first down. Two plays later, Brockman called his own number and went 13 yards for a touchdown on a quarterback draw.
The scoring picked up in the second half as the Redhawks pinned the Racers at their own one-yard line and Darrick Borum sacked Brockman in the endzone for the safety.
SEMO continued to get back in the game as they took the free kick and used the legs of Levi Terrell to get them down to the Racer three-yard line. On the next play, Scott Lathrop hit D.J. Foster for a three-yard touchdown. Adrian Dinkins blocked the extra point to keep the advantage at 21-14.
Brockman engineered another scoring drive on the next possession as he rushed for 16 yards on the first play, and Berry followed it up with a 12-yard run. Brockman then hit Berry on a screen pass for 37 yards before connecting with Trotter for their second touchdown of the game, this time from nine yards out.
The Redhawks answered back with another eight-play drive as Lathrop rushed for 22 yards on three carries, and Terrell picked up 27 yards on two carries, including the two-yard touchdown run.
The fourth quarter started with the Racers starting a drive at their own 30-yard line. MSU moved into SEMO territory with a 17-yard Brockman to Powell connection. Brady caught a 17-yard pass, before following it up with a 13-yard run. Two plays later, Brockman scrambled and found an open Powell in the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown.
Very little time ran off the clock before as Terrell and Lathrop combined to cover the 71 yards on ground, with Terrell going the final 12 yards for the score.
The Racer offense stalled near midfield on its next drive, allowing the Redhawks to drive down the field for the tieing touchdown.
MSU ran a season-low 55 plays, and had 370 yards of offense. They held the ball for only 18:00, but had 336 yards in returns.
Powell led the Racers with 117 yards on two punt returns, 134 yards on three kickoff returns and four catches for 51 yards.
Brandon Wicks led the defense with 16 tackles, including 12 solo stops.
UT MARTIN 35, #23 TENNESSEE STATE 26
MARTIN, Tenn. (AP) - Derek Carr threw for three touchdowns and Tennessee-Martin overcame a late rally attempt by Tennessee State in a 35-26 win on Saturday.
Tennessee-Martin (8-3, 6-2 Ohio Valley Conference) had a 28-6 lead with 2:47 left in the third quarter, but the Tigers had a scoring surge in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns.
Tennessee State cut the lead to 28-26 after Michael German connected with A.C. Leonard on an 18-yard touchdown, threw a 4-yard passing score to Joe Bowens and another 18-yard score to Leonard.
Bowens' last touchdown pass to Leonard occurred with 1:55 left in game. But Tennessee-Martin put the game away, answering with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Carr to Quentin Sims.
Carr went 21-of-40 passing for 276 yards and threw one interception.
German threw for 355 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions for the Tigers (8-3, 4-3). Trabis Ward finished with 106 yards rushing.
#10 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 48, #24 EASTERN ILLINOIS 30
CONWAY, Ark. - In a precursor to the FCS playoffs which begin next weekend, No. 24 Eastern Illinois visited No. 10 Central Arkansas in a battle of conference champions. UCA won 48-30 as they improved to 9-2. EIU is 7-4 with the Panthers four game win streak coming to an end.
The FCS selection show takes place on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU. EIU will hold a selection show viewing at the EIU campus recreation center. The public is welcome with doors opening at Noon.
Eastern Illinois took advantage of three Central Arkansas fumbles in the first half. LeQuince McCall, Roosevelt Holliday and Artavious Dowdell forced all three turnovers in Bears territory.
EIU took advantage of all three turnovers with touchdowns. Jimmy Garoppolo connected with Chris Wright twice and Erik Lora once for the three Panthers first half touchdowns. Cameron Berra tacked on a 23-yard field goal as EIU trailed 24-23 at the half as UCA blocked an extra point.
UCA scored in the first half on a pair of Wynrick Smothers touchdown passes to Jackie Hinton and Dezmin Lewis. Terrence Bobo had a 1-yard run and Eddie Camara knocked home a 48-yard field goal.
The game featured three Walter Payton Award candidates with EIU's Jimmy Garoppolo and Erik Lora and UCA's Wynrick Smothers. All three made a late case for the FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award. Garoppolo was 19-of-33 for 228 yards and four touchdown passes. Lora had 9 catches for 52 yards as he now has 124 receptions on the year setting the FCS single season record for receptions. Smothers was 35-of-49 for 335 yards with four touchdowns.
In the second half UCA scored ten points in the third quarter with Hinton scoring on a short run and Camara adding his second field goal of the day from 25 yards. The Bears added another touchdown to open the fourth quarter as Jesse Grandy caught a screen pass, breaking a tackle to race 37 yards for the score.
EIU responded with Wright's third touchdown grab of the day covering 74 yards as Wright set the OVC record for career touchdown receptions with his 32nd of his career. Wright finished with 3 receptions for 128 yards.
Alex Helms made a tackle on fourth and one at the goal line only to have the play not count on an off sides call against UCA's offense. The Bears would score on a pass to Chase Dixon to go up 48-30 with 5:20 left to play.
Jake Walker had 66 yards on the ground to go over 1,000 yards for the season for the Panthers.
Helms making the start for injured linebacker Robert Haynes led the Panthers defense with 16 tackles. Holliday had nine stops including four tackles for loss. Seth Allison and Justin Heard led UCA with 11 tackles each.