SATURDAY'S SCORES
#2 Eastern Illinois 34, @#21 Tennessee State 16
Eastern Kentucky 31, @Southeast Missouri 7
Jacksonville State 34, @Tennessee Tech 14
UT Martin 38, @Austin Peay 14
#2 EASTERN ILLINOIS 34, #21 TENNESSEE STATE 16
NASHVILLE - Eastern Illinois defense outplayed Tennessee State’s offense as the No. 2 ranked Panthers picked up a 34-16 victory over the No. 21 ranked Tigers at LP Field on Saturday.
EIU improved to 7-1 overall, 4-0 in the OVC and remains the last unbeaten team in the conference championship race. TSU fell to 7-2 overall, 4-1 in the OVC.
EIU scored on three plays on its first drive as Jimmy Garoppolo hit Keiondre Gober for a 61-yard score, Garoppolo’s sixth 60-yard touchdown pass this season. Garoppolo would add a 34-yard touchdown pass to Jeff LePak in the second quarter to extend EIU’s lead to 21-3 at the half. Garoppolo hit LePak on a hail mary as time expired in the first half and the 6’6” junior receiver was stopped at the 1-yard line.
TSU scored with 8:09 to go in the first quarter on a 43-yard Jamin Godfrey field goal. Godfrey missed a second quarter field goal.
Shepard Little rushed for 138 yards on the day with 72 yards in the first quarter. Little scored the Panthers second touchdown of the day at 11:08 of the second quarter on a 21-yard scamper. On that score Cameron Berra converted the extra point to become the Panthers career leader in point after attempts passing Chad Larner.
Garoppolo finished the day with 410 yards passing. He had 272 yards in the first half, the eighth straight game this year he has passed for 200 or more yards in the first half this season. After hitting Gober and LePak in the first half for touchdowns, Garoppolo connected with both again in the second half as he now has 100 career touchdown passes. Gober caught a 29-yard touchdown in the third quarter. LePak caught a 25-yard touchdown pass in the fourth.
The Panthers defense was solid in the opening half allowing 164 yards and three points. Pete Houlihan had six first half tackles. The senior led the team with eight tackles. EIU broke up 10 passes with Nick Beard credited with four pass break-ups.
TSU scored with 12:04 to go in the game as Wesley Garlington caught an 11-yard pass from Ronald Butler to cut EIU’s lead to 28-10. Butler hit Dantwan O’Neal for a 17-yard pass with 5:18 left.
Gober caught six passes for 128 yards. LePak had four catches for 112 yards. Erik Lora had ten catches for 105 yards as he moved into the FCS career top ten for pass receptions with 284. This was the second time in school history three EIU receivers finished with 100 or more yards.
Nick Thrasher led TSU’s defense with ten tackles. The 34 points were the highest allowed by TSU this season as the Tigers ranked second in the nation in total defense and scoring defense entering the game. EIU finished with 567 yards of total offense.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 31, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Four different players scored touchdowns as the Eastern Kentucky University football team cruised to a 31-7 victory over host Southeast Missouri Saturday afternoon at Houck Stadium.
The Colonels (5-3, 3-1 OVC) scored the first 24 points of the game and never looked back on the way to their third straight victory. SEMO (1-7, 1-4) managed just seven points after scoring at least 33 points in each of its previous two games.
Redshirt freshman running back JJ Jude highlighted the offensive effort by reaching the 100-yard plateau for the second time this season. Jude finished with 114 yards on the ground and scored the game’s first touchdown, a 28-yard burst up the middle, barely three minutes after kick-off.
The Redhawks had a chance to tie the game late in the first quarter, but junior defensive back Brandon Stanley recovered a fumble at the EKU two-yard line.
Eastern Kentucky then scored on its next three possessions to take control of the game. Junior kicker Andrew Lloyd made the score 10-0 with a 44-yard field goal. Following a quick three-and-out by Southeast Missouri, the Colonels struck again three minutes later when junior quarterback Jared McClain found senior tight end Ike Ariguzo behind the defense for a 45-yard touchdown strike.
Southeast Missouri’s second fumble led to more EKU points. The Colonels lined up for a 42-yard field goal attempt with 3:27 remaining before halftime only to see holder Jordan Berry take the snap and race untouched to the end zone. That play made the score 24-0 at intermission.
The Redhawks finally scored late in the third quarter only to see Eastern respond with its final scoring drive. EKU ran the ball seven times out of eight plays on that drive until McClain scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.
Junior safety Chris Owens posted a team-high eight stops as Eastern Kentucky held its third straight opponent to 10 points or less. The Colonels tallied 10 tackles for loss including two each from senior linebacker Ichiro Vance and redshirt freshman defensive back Kiante Northington.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 34, TENNESSEE TECH 14
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Something about facing Tennessee Tech brings out the best in Jacksonville State's defense.
Backup quarterback Kyle West threw for two touchdowns and DaMarcus James ran 126 yards and a score as the Gamecocks pounded Tennessee Tech 34-14 Saturday afternoon at Tucker Stadium.
Jacksonville State's defense limited the Golden Eagles to only 280 yards of total offense, marking the third straight game in the series they have been held to less than 300 yards.
West, a redshirt sophomore, entered the game in the second quarter after an injury to starter Eli Jenkins and was 11-of-17 for 138 yards without an interception. He tossed a 35-yard TD pass to Earl Calloway in the second quarter – the first of his JSU career – and added a 26-yarder to Anthony Johnson in the fourth.
Griffin Thomas contributed two field goals and now has 18 in 2013, tying him for second-most in school history in a season. Thomas extended his streak of games with at least two field goals to seven.
Punter Hamish MacInnes also etched his name in the Jacksonville State record book with a wind-aided 86-yard punt during the third quarter. MacInnes' kick broke a Zach Walden's 2006 school record of 81 yards and is the longest among Football Championship Subdivision punters this season.
Jacksonville State improved to 6-2 and 2-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee Tech fell to 3-6 and 0-5.
The Gamecocks' efficient passing attack helped them establish a 24-7 lead at halftime.
Jenkins and West were a combined 12-of-16 for 182 yards and one touchdown. West, who entered the game after Jenkins was shaken up in the second quarter, completed all four of his first-half passes for 69 yards, including his first career touchdown, a 35-yarder to freshman Earl Calloway.
Jacksonville State pierced together a methodical 15-play, 80-yard scoring drive on its second possession of the game.
Jenkins completed five passes for 47 yards on the drive as JSU marched from its 20 to Tennessee Tech's 16. He then scrambled for 10 yards to the 6 and ran into the end zone on the next play with 4:10 left in the first quarter.
Thomas' 44-yard field goal and the West-to-Calloway touchdown pass staked the Gamecocks to 17-0.
James finished off a six-play, 58-yard scoring drive that consumed only one minute with a 6-yard run. Thomas' PAT made it 24-7 with 59 seconds left in the half.
UT MARTIN 38, AUSTIN PEAY 14
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin football team wasted little time making their presence known on both sides of the ball as the Skyhawks knocked off Ohio Valley Conference rival Austin Peay 38-14 at Governors Stadium.
The Skyhawks (5-3, 3-2 OVC) piled up 482 yards tonight while several players climbed UT Martin all-time scoring lists. Senior running back DJ McNeil gained 114 rushing yards on 17 carries to go along with a touchdown – the 18th rushing score of his career. Abou Toure also added a touchdown on the ground with 64 rushing yards on four carries. Trent Garland also tallied a redzone touchdown to go along with 28 yards on the ground.
Redshirt sophomore Jarod Neal completed 21-of-33 passes for a career-high 293 yards and two touchdowns. Classmate Tyler Rice also saw action in the closing minutes of action.
Jeremy Butler one again led the UT Martin receivers with 11 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns – the 16th and 17th receiving scores of his career. Chris Thompson added four catches for 72 yards for the Skyhawks.
Defensively, UT Martin held the Governors to 332 yards of total offense. Camaren Harris led the Skyhawks with nine tackles. Seniors J’Vontez Blackmon and Bobby Ellis each tallied eight tackles on the night, including 2.5 tackles for loss by Ellis.
Placekicker Jackson Redditt was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra point tries. Redditt converted on his long field goal attempt, nailing the 38-yard attempt.
Austin Peay was led by redshirt freshman Timar Mitchell who made his first career start for the Governors. Mitchell completed 12-of-26 passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Omar Williams led the Govs with 122 rushing yards. Jamaar Embry tallied 46 yards on six receptions while Darryl Clack caught two passes for 11 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin Peay came out on their first possession with a quick attack, picking up two long runs for first downs to open their initial drive. The Skyhawks would quickly regain their composure when the Governors reached midfield, forcing Austin Peay to punt. Butler dropped back for the return, returning the punt 28-yard to the UTM 42.
The Skyhawks would look to waste little time on their opening drive, showing a frequently used hurry-up offense. The possession began with three rushes by McNeil, gaining 27 yards. Giving McNeil a breather, the Skyhawks called Toure’s number, as the junior broke four tackles on the way to a 31-yard trip to the endzone. The score was the junior’s second of the season, giving the Skyhawks the quick 7-0 lead after Redditt’s extra point at the 11:09 mark.
After forcing Austin Peay to punt on their ensuing drive, the Skyhawks took over possession on their own 22 yard line before marching down the field for a meticulous 14-play, 78 yard scoring drive. McNeil continued his torrid beginning, picking up another 11-yard gain, followed by an 18-yard reception from Neal to Matt Stewart. Neal moved the Skyhawks down the field, completing six passes for 67 yards on the drive.
McNeil flirted with his first touchdown of the game, rushing across the left side for the would-be score before the play was called back for a holding penalty. The senior running back would not be stopped however, scampering into the right corner of the endzone just two plays later for a nine-yard score. The score was McNeil’s fourth of the season, moving the running back into a three-way tie for fourth place on the all-time career rushing touchdowns list.
Despite being forced to punt for the third time in the first quarter, the Austin Peay defense came up with the game’s first turnover as John Shuler intercepted Neal’s opening pass. After the 14-yard return, the Govs would begin their drive on the Skyhawk 34. Mitchell connected with Javier Booker for a 26-yard reception to close out the first quarter. Following a pair of unsuccessful rushing attempts, the Govs looked to the air again as Mitchell connected with Clack for the five-yard touchdown reception at the 14:13 mark. Mitchell’s touchdown ranked as the first passing touchdown for Austin Peay on the year and third overall.
Following the Austin Peay score, the Skyhawks looked to the air again but found similar results as Neal’s pass was intercepted by brother of Skyhawk Leon Carlton, Austin Peay’s Montez Carlton. Results for the the Govs were not quite as favorable as the previous possession as the Skyhawk defense held tight, forcing the offense’s fourth punt of the evening.
Coming off yet another defensive stand, the offense looked to McNeil again, picking up the 13-yard carry to move the Skyhawks into opponent territory. Following McNeil’s second rush of the drive, Neal looked to raid the air by hitting Butler and Chris Thompson for consecutive first downs good for 10 and 18 yards, respectively. Neal capped off the drive with a 21-yard completion to Butler, resulting in a touchdown with 8:42 to play in the second quarter.
UT Martin took a 21-7 advantage into the halftime break in addition to nearly doubling Austin Peay in total offense (263 to 146).
The Skyhawks came out firing in the second half, scoring touchdowns on the team’s first two possessions of the half. UT Martin’s first possession began on their own 22 before the Skyhawks put together an eight play, 78-yard scoring drive. McNeil used a 30-yard rush across the right side to surpass the 100-yard mark. Neal quickly converted on four passes, hitting Butler for three. The night’s common story of Neal and Butler’s chemistry continued as the pair tallied their second touchdown of the evening on a six-yard completion. Butler’s leaping grab moved the explosive senior up the all-time career touchdown receptions list with his 17th score of his two-year Skyhawk career.
After yet another defensive stop for the Skyhawks, Neal continued his air raid with three consecutive completions. Neal hit Butler for 21-yards before connecting with Thompson for a pair of completions good for 18 and 26 yards, respectively. With the Skyhawks on the APSU four, Garland got his first touch of the day, plunging in for a four-yard touchdown up the middle. Following Redditt’s fifth extra-point of the night, the Skyhawks held a 35-7 advantage with 8:34 to play in the third.
Austin Peay would respond on their ensuing possession, putting together a nine-play, 85 yard scoring drive. Mitchell, drove the Govs down the field after connecting with Embry for a 24-yard reception. Mitchell and the Govs continued marching down the field before capping off the drive with a six-yard pass to Clack for the duo’s second touchdown connection of the day. With the touchdown the Govs set a new season-high in points to go along with the team’s first two passing touchdowns of the season, bringing the score to 35-14 at the end of the third.
The Governors followed the scoring drive with a key special teams play, recovering the ensuing kickoff’s fumble as Steven Rich recovered the miscue. With the defense facing tough field position as the Govs took over on the Skyhawks’ own 17, UT Martin forced a decisive turnover on downs.
UT Martin would put its stamp on the final scoring drive of the night at the 6:11 mark of the fourth. Neal converted with Butler for the final time, good for 26-yards, setting a season high for Butler with 171 yards. As the time dwindle, the Skyhawks called upon Redditt for the team’s first field goal try of the evening. Redditt would nail the 38-yard try to give the Skyhawks the final score of 38-14.