SATURDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee State 21, @Bethune-Cookman 14
@#21 Eastern Kentucky 51, #24 Jacksonville State 21
UT Martin 31, @Austin Peay 6
@Southeast Missouri 41, Tennessee Tech 38 (2OT)
@Eastern Illinois 50, Murray State 49 (OT)
TENNESSEE STATE 21, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 14
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Tennessee State went on the road and took down the #1 ranked HBCU in the country as they defeated Bethune-Cookman, 21-14, Saturday afternoon.
The TSU (4-0, 1-0) offense has gotten off to slow starts this season, but that wasn't this case this week as Michael German connected with tight end A.C. Leonard for an 80-yard completion on the second play of the game. Trabis Ward would score from four yards out on the next play to put the Tigers up 7-0 only one minute, 15 seconds into the game.
German finished the game completing nine of 17 passes for 157 yards and an interception.
TSU would force a B-CU third-and-out on their first possession, but couldn't capitalize as German fumbled and the Wildcats recovered.
B-CU would get great field possession at the TSU 33, but Sven Hurd missed a 32-yard field goal wide left.
On TSU's first full drive of the 2nd quarter, Ward would find the end zone again, this time from six yards out to give the Tigers a two touchdown edge. The Tigers converted a 4th and 4 on the B-CU 33-yard line to extend the drive when German completed a 24 yard catch-and-run to Travis James.
Ward had 27 rushes, one away from tying his career-high set in the season opener, for 154 yards and two scores. He now has seven touchdowns on the season and has scored at least once in every game this season.
A wild finish to the first half started when Antonio Harper blocked a 33-yard field goal attempt by B-CU. Daniel Fitzpatrick scooped and scored on the block, which pushed the TSU lead to 21-0 with 2:15 left in the half.
The Wildcats answered back with their best offensive drive of the first half as Preston Cleckley made a one-handed highlight catch to put B-CU on the board.
After a pair of Ward rushes, German threw a pass to Leonard behind the line of scrimmage. Leonard dropped the pass and it was returned for a B-CU touchdown by LeBrandon Richardson to cut the Tigers lead to 21-14 heading into the half.
All five touchdowns that were scored came in the first half. Neither team put together a second half drive that lasted more than seven plays or longer than 32 yards.
The closest that B-CU came to tying the game came midway through the third quarter when they failed to convert a fourth-and-three from the TSU 14 yard line instead of attempting a 32-yard field goal.
The last gasp for B-CU came in the final two minutes of the game as they fell short again on fourth down, this time with 18 yards to go on their own 33 yard line.
TSU sealed the deal with a 18 yard pass to Leonard on a third-and-nine to assure that the Wildcats wouldn't get the ball back with a change to tie in the final minute.
Leonard had three catches for a season high 101 yards.
Defensively, the Tigers were led by linebacker Nick Thrasher who tallied a career best 13 tackles. Defensive back Andrew Taylor recorded seven tackles, three-and-a-half tackles for loss and a sack, all coming in the first half. TSU also had four sacks and nine tackles for loss.
#21 EASTERN KENTUCKY 51, #24 JACKSONVILLE STATE 21
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University’s 21st ranked football team jumped out to a 34-8 halftime lead on its way to a 51-21 win over No. 24 Jacksonville State University on Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium. The game featured a match-up of the top two teams in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll.
Eastern (3-1, 1-0 OVC) rolled up 380 yards of offense in the first half and scored on five of its seven possessions. Colonel senior quarterback T.J. Pryor had four first half touchdown passes while JSU quarterbacks combined for three completions.
Pryor got EKU on the board by capping the team’s first possession with a 28-yard touchdown toss to senior running back Matt Denham.
With Eastern Kentucky in front 14-0 early in the second quarter, the Gamecocks cut the deficit to six with an eight-play, 74-yard scoring drive. Coty Blanchard completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Cheeks and Jerry Slota ran in for the two-point conversion.
The Colonels scored on their next possession, starting a streak of 20 unanswered points. Senior wide out Tyrone Goard hauled in a 38-yard touchdown pass from Pryor to get it started. Pryor also completed scoring strikes of 18 and three yards to finish off the second quarter.
Pryor finished the first half 12-for-17 for 218 yards to go along with his four touchdown passes.
After Jacksonville State (1-2, 0-1 OVC) put seven on the board with 4:23 left in the third quarter, Denham answered with a career-long 73-yard touchdown run to push the lead back to 29 points.
Any hope of a fourth quarter Gamecock comeback faded when senior defensive back Cejay Ceniza intercepted his second pass of the game at the EKU 16 and returned it 84 yards down the visitors sideline for a touchdown. The extra-point made it 51-15 with 14:45 left in the game.
Eastern finished with 558 yards of offense. Pryor completed 13 of 20 pass attempts for 231 yards and did not throw an interception. The Colonels combined for 327 yards on the ground. Denham carried 24 times for 218 yards, two touchdowns on the ground and one through the air. Junior running back Deshaun Sands had 46 yards on 14 carries. Goard caught five passes for 91 yards and a score.
JSU’s Marques Ivory went 14-for-26 for 181 yards. He tossed one touchdown pass and two interceptions. DaMarcus James ran for 65 yards and a touchdown.
UT MARTIN 31, AUSTIN PEAY 6
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin football team forced four turnovers and rolled up 384 yards of total offense in a 31-6 victory in its Ohio Valley Conference opener over Austin Peay tonight at Governors Stadium. The Skyhawks are now 3-1 on the season.
With the six points allowed by the UT Martin defense tonight, it marks the first time in six years that the Skyhawks have conceded single-digit points in back-to-back game. UT Martin – who allowed only six points to Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 13 – allowed six points at Samford on Oct. 21, 2006 and nine points to Eastern Illinois on Oct. 28, 2006.
Ben Johnson led the Skyhawk defense with 11 tackles (five solo). Fred Flenorl made seven stops and also tallied an interception and fumble recovery for a touchdown. Aaron Simms and Julius McNair also came away with interceptions to lead UT Martin.
Derek Carr went 21-for-33 for 266 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Skyhawks tonight. Jeremy Butler (game-high 90 yards receiving) and Quentin Sims (86 yards on seven catches) hauled in touchdown passes, while Tevin Barksdale gained 59 yards on 10 carries to lead UT Martin offensively.
For Austin Peay (0-4, 0-2 OVC), Wesley Kitts had 118 yards rushing on 23 carries. Jake Ryan (9-for-23 passing, 99 yards) and Devin Stark (five receptions, 64 yards) also picked up team-highs for the Governors tonight.
After the Skyhawks were forced to punt on their opening possession, Austin Peay drove 56 yards in its opening drive before Stephen Stansell missed a 30-yard field goal to keep the game scoreless.
UT Martin capitalized on its opportunity, driving 10 plays for 80 yards in 3:37. On 3rd-and-10, Carr hit Butler up the middle for a 21-yard touchdown pass to make the score 7-0 at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter. Three plays went for double-figures on the drive, including a pair of 21-yard passes from Carr to Butler.
The Skyhawk defense held Austin Peay on its ensuing possession, forcing another punt. Carr was successful on four straight passes, driving into Governor territory before a tipped pass was intercepted by Austin Peay with 36 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. However, UT Martin’s defense held once again and forced the Governors to punt.
Both squads traded punts to begin the second quarter before the Skyhawks used some more third down magic to go ahead by two scores. UT Martin converted on all three third-down plays on the drive – including a 24-yard strike from Carr to Sims in the left corner of the end zone. Sims’ 13th career touchdown reception capped off a 10-play, 65-yard drive that lasted 3:31.
UT Martin’s defense stuffed the Governors for four yards in four plays on their next drive, setting up the Skyhawks’ next score. Receiving the ball at the Austin Peay 44-yard line, Carr fired a 44-yard play-action pass to a streaking Kevin Barfield on the left side of the field. Two plays later, DJ McNeil barreled in the end zone from one yard out to give UT Martin a 21-0 advantage after a Cody Sandlin PAT split the uprights.
Austin Peay got on the scoreboard just before the half, as Stansell booted a 35-yard field goal with just nine seconds remaining in the second quarter to make the score 21-3.
The Governors had to settle for a field goal in their first possession of the second half after the Skyhawk defense held on 3rd-and-2. Stansell’s attempt from 35 yards out was true to make the score 21-6 a little over six minutes into the third quarter.
After the Skyhawks received an 18-yard run by Barksdale and a 33-yard pass from Carr to Butler, UT Martin was just outside the red zone at the Austin Peay 23 on its opening possession. However, the Governors came away with an interception at the 2-yard line and took over possession at their own 25.
Just as they had done all game, the Skyhawk defense made a big play to create more points. UT Martin forced Austin Peay into a 3rd-and-25 situation and on the next play, redshirt freshman Aaron Simms came up with the first pick of his young career.
A little over 90 seconds after the interception, Sandlin converted a 32-yard field goal to extend the Skyhawk lead to 24-6 with 2:19 to go in the third quarter.
UT Martin’s defense posted a three-and-out and as a result, the Skyhawks threatened once again. However, the Governors recorded an interception on 4th-and-4 from their own 21.
The Skyhawk defense returned the favor just two plays later, as Flenorl picked off Jake Ryan to start UT Martin’s drive at the Austin Peay 22-yard line. The Skyhawks had the chance to pad their lead but a Sandlin field goal attempt from 25 yards out missed wide right.
Three minutes after his interception, Flenorl once again came up huge for the Skyhawks. On the second play of Austin Peay’s possession, freshman Deantae Glover had a strip sack for a 12-yard loss, leading to Flenorl scooping up the loose ball and taking the ball in untouched for an 11-yard touchdown fumble recovery. Jackson Redditt added the PAT to make the score 31-6 in UT Martin’s favor.
Julius McNair put the icing on the cake for the Skyhawk defense – making a diving interception to his left at the UT Martin 5-yard line with 2:21 remaining in the game. The Skyhawks – behind Trent Garland’s 45 yards on four carries – ran out the clock to seal their first OVC victory of the season.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 41, TENNESSEE TECH 38 (2OT)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Drew Geldbach kicked a 34-yard field goal to lift Southeast Missouri (2-2, 1-0) to a dramatic 41-38 double overtime victory over Tennessee Tech (2-2, 0-1) Saturday night in front of a Family Weekend crowd of 8,327 at Missouri National Guard Field/Houck Stadium.
Geldbach's game-winning field goal came during the second overtime possession after a wide open D.J. Foster hauled in a 25-yard Scott Lathrop pass to tie the game at 38-38. Foster bobbled the ball, but secured it in just enough time to stay in-bounds in the back of the end zone.
After Geldbach's kick split the uprights, TTU took over on downs at Southeast's 25-yardline. The Golden Eagles faced a 3rd-and-1 when Southeast's defense made a huge stop. Alonzo Nevarez and Daniel Siehndel dropped Stephen Bush for a loss of one yard. On the next play, Zach Sharp attempted a 34-yard field goal, but his low kick sailed wide left, ending the game.
These teams continue to go down to the wire year-in and year-out. In fact, nine of the last 10 meetings between the Redhawks and Golden Eagles have been decided by seven points or less.
Southeast and TTU showcased big play capability early in the first quarter. The Redhawks, after forcing the Golden Eagles to punt on their opening possession, used a 48-yard run by Levi Terrell to set up a 29-yard touchdown pass from Scott Lathrop to D.J. Foster. Foster's TD capped a short 3-play, 87-yard drive, giving Southeast a 7-0 lead with 12:54 remaining.
TTU responded to the Redhawks first opening drive touchdown of the season in less than three minutes. The Golden Eagles covered 78 yards in eight plays to quickly tied the game. Tre Lamb hooked up with Da'Rick Rogers on a 38-yard strike to bring the contest to a 7-7 deadlock with 9:56 left.
After Sharp's 22-yard field goal, Southeast ran into a bit of misfortune. The Redhawks were knocking on the door when they faced a 2nd-and-7 at the TTU 10-yardline, but Lathrop was intercepted by Austin Tallant. The interception marked the first of Lathrop's career. Eight plays later Steve Wilson came up with a Lamb pass which deflected off the hands of intended receiver Ryan Tilghman on a 3rd-and-13. Wilson dashed to the end zone on the wild play which went for 38 yards, pushing the Golden Eagles lead to 17-7 with 4:13 left to play in the second quarter.
Southeast then scored two defensive touchdowns to build a four-point cushion. Darrick Borum returned an interception for a touchdown for the first time in his career when he picked off Lamb and ran 41 yards down the far sideline. TTU threatened on its next possession and managed to get the ball all the way to Southeast's 3-yardline when Branden Spann intercepted Lamb and sprinted the length of the field for a touchdown.
Spann became only the second Redhawk in school history to return an interception 100 yards for a touchdown, as Southeast took a 21-17 advantage with 2:42 remaining in the second quarter.
Rogers made an unbelievable one-handed catch when he wrestled the ball away from a Redhawk defender down the near sideline to keep TTU's ensuing drive alive. That play went for 48 yards and Rogers later grabbed an 11-yard touchdown reception to regain a 24-21 lead for the Golden Eagles at halftime.
Both teams combined for five punts, two turnovers and a missed field goal in a scoreless third quarter. A see-saw fourth quarter set the stage for the dramatic ending.
Lathrop's 1-yard run finished off an 11-play, 76-yard drive to grab Southeast a 28-24 advantage with 11:55 on the clock. TTU pieced together a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive the next time it had the ball. Lamb's 21-yard completion to Krys Cates set up a 9-yard touchdown by Bush, giving the Golden Eagles a slight 31-28 edge with just under nine minutes to play. Geldbach's other field goal, this time from 39 yards out, tied things up at 31-31 before the game headed to overtime.
Levi Terrell rushed for a career-high 171 yards on 25 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per run for a Southeast offense which outgained TTU, 256-79, on the ground. Terrell also had a career-long 48-yard rush in the first quarter. His top two single-game rushing totals have come against the Golden Eagles.
Foster tied a career-high seven catches and amassed 101 receiving yards. He added two touchdown receptions, as well. It marked the second time Foster had 100 receiving yards in a game. Lathrop completed 7-of-10 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Redhawks forced three more turnovers, all of which were interceptions. Southeast scored a pair of defensive touchdowns in a game for the first time since Sept. 16, 2000 (vs. Illinois State). Blake Peiffer paved the way with 15 tackles, his 13th career game with 10 or more. Nevarez chipped in a career-high six tackles and 1.5 sacks. Southeast finished with three sacks for a loss of 22 yards on the night after going its previous three games without a sack. Southeast now has 16 takeaways this season and has forced multiple turnovers in six-straight games dating back to 2011.
Rogers, an All-SEC receiver at Tennessee prior to transferring to TTU, had a game-high 18 catches for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Lamb completed 38-of-57 passes for 481 yards and three TDs. The Golden Eagles finished with 560 yards of total offense.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 50, MURRAY STATE 49 (OT)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - On a record setting receiving night junior Erik Lora converted a 2-point conversion pass to Von Wise in overtime as Eastern Illinois won 50-49 over Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both schools.
Lora caught a school and OVC record 21 passes for a school record 269 yards with three touchdowns as the Panthers improved to 2-2 on the season. Murray State dropped to 1-3.
Lora’s 2-point play was set up by a Jimmy Garoppolo to Chavar Watkins 9-yard pass during EIU’s overtime possession. It was the only pass of the overtime session for the Panthers as they moved the ball on runs by Garoppolo and Jake Walker in the overtime period.
Murray State scored on its overtime possession on a 1-yard run by Jaamal Berry. MSU had tied the game at 49-49 with 5:11 left in regulation as Jordan Benton knocked home a 21-yard field goal, his fifth made field goal of the game. Benton also was good from 39, 30, 35 and 36 yards.
In the game the Racers broke EIU’s OVC record for plays in a game by running 110. EIU had set the OVC record at 106 plays last week in their double overtime loss at Illinois State. The Panthers did join the Racers for breaking the FCS record for plays in a game as the two teams combined to run 210 plays, the previous FCS record was 196.
EIU opened the game with Lora catching 13 passes for 172 yards and all three of his touchdowns. He hauled in two touchdown passes of 10 and 23 yards from Garoppolo and a 37-yard TD pass from Chris Wright. Lora moved into eighth on the Panthers career receiving charts. EIU led 20-13 at the end of the first quarter.
Garoppolo was 20-of-24 in the first quarter for 191 yards. He finished the game with a career high 393 yards passing with five touchdowns as he was 39-of-60.
Casey Brockman was equal to the task at quarterback for MSU finishing the night 43-of-64 for 423 yards and two touchdowns. Brockman added a short rushing touchdown. Brockman’s favorite target on the night was Walter Powell with 13 catches for 142 yards.
MSU outscored the Panthers 20-0 in the second quarter taking a 33-20 lead into the locker room as Benton connected on his 30-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the half. Berry had a 2-yard touchdown run as he finished with 40 yards on the ground.
The Racers extended that lead to 36-20 with a Benton field goal on the opening drive of the second half before Garoppolo led the Panthers back on touchdown passes to Wise and Watkins in the third quarter. The EIU defense helped shut down the Racers limiting them to only three second half field goals.
EIU took a 42-39 lead with 14:33 to play in regulation on a Walker 3-yard run and Garoppolo to Wright 2-point conversion. Walker finished with 102 yards rushing as he became the 25th back in EIU history to go over the 1,000 yard mark for his career.
The Panther defense was led by LeQuince McCall with 12 tackles, ten solo and a 1.5 tackles for loss. Jourdan Wickliffe and Robert Haynes each added ten tackles. Greg Mahan had a pair of sacks. MSU’s defense was led by Blake Salter with ten tackles.