• ESPN3 Information and FAQ | Direct Link to Tennessee State/Eastern Kentucky Stream
This week the OVC Football "Game of the Week" series on ESPN3 features No. 23 Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky. The game is slated to kick-off at 1:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. CT on Saturday.
This contest is the seventh of an exclusive nine-game package that will air on ESPN3 this season.
The games will be produced by WebStream Sports, an Indianapolis-based company which is a proven leader in video production, streaming video and content creation. The company, founded in 2006, produces more than 1,000 events annually and has also served as a web streaming consultant for the OVC for the past year. The OVC and WebStream have agreed to a three-year production agreement that will feature at least eight football games over each of the next three years.
Kevin Ingram, host of "The Wake Up Zone" on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, will handle play-by-play duties while Bob Belvin, Sports Director for 100.7 FM/AM 540 (ESPN Clarksville), will provide analysis. The duo worked together last year in the league's TV package.
ESPN3 is ESPN's live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smart phones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV. It is currently available in more than 85 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.
GAME PREVIEW
#23 Tennessee State Tigers (7-2, 4-1 OVC)
at Eastern Kentucky Colonels (5-3, 3-1 OVC)
Saturday, Nov. 2 • 12:00 p.m. CT
Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) • Richmond, Ky.
TV:...................................................................... ESPN3
Live Stats:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/eku/football/index.htm
Series Record:...................... Eastern Kentucky leads 20-5
Last Meeting:............ Tennessee State won 23-20 (10/5/12)
Rod Reed at Tennessee State:...................... 23-19 (4 yrs.)
Rod Reed Overall:................................................... same
Dean Hood at Eastern Kentucky:.................. 39-26 (6 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall:................................................. same
Tennessee State Last Week: L, 34-16 vs. #2 Eastern Illinois
Eastern Kentucky Last Week: W, 31-7 at Southeast Missouri
GAME NOTES: The top two rushing defenses in the OVC will meet in Richmond on Saturday. It figures to be a key game in the OVC race, as both Tennessee State and Eastern Kentucky enter the game just one loss behind undefeated Eastern Illinois in the Conference standings. Eastern Kentucky has dominated the all-time series, leading 20-5; however, it is Tennessee State who has come out on top more recently. The Tigers have won three of the last four in the series. Last year EKU entered the contest at Hale Stadium in Nashville ranked 16th nationally with a 4-1 overall record. But it was the undefeated Tigers who came out on top and vaulted into the Top 25 the following week. The Colonels led 20-10 early in the fourth quarter before a Trabis Ward touchdown cut the margin to four points halfway through the quarter. After getting the ball back the Tigers used a 13-play drive capped off by a Michael German one-yard quarterback sneak with eight seconds left to win the game. German finished the day with 227 passing yards and a touchdown and 19 rushing yards and the game-winning score. Ward added 113 yards on the ground. T.J. Pryor threw for 230 yards for the Colonels, while Matt Denham had 114 rushing yards.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE STATE: Tennessee State suffered its first OVC loss of the season and saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end as it fell to the No. 2 ranked team in the country in Eastern Illinois. The Tigers had entered the game with the No. 2 defense in the country but allowed a season-high 567 yards and 34 points to the high-octane EIU offense. The Tigers have now slipped to the No. 6 total defense (297.7) and No. 4 scoring defense (15.8) in the FCS. TSU fell behind 21-3 at halftime but was able to score two fourth quarter touchdowns to pull within the final 34-16 margin. Playing without quarterback Michael German for the second-straight game, Ronald Butler completed 24-of-45 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Lavatiae Kelly who caught seven passes for 69 yards. Running back Tim Broughton, who ranks second in the OVC in rushing yards/game (102.0) carried the ball 16 times for 93 yards (5.8 ypc). Defensively Nick Thrasher had 10 tackles and a forced fumble. With the loss TSU slipped to No. 23 in the Sports Network and No. 24 in the FCS Coaches polls.
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY: Eastern Kentucky won its third-straight game on Saturday, winning 31-7 at Southeast Missouri. Over the three-game winning streak EKU has outscored its opponents 93-20. The EKU rushing attack (which ranks first in the OVC) recorded 213 yards on the ground as redshirt freshman JJ Jude finished the game with 114 yards on 20 carries (including no negative carries). He had a 28-yard rushing touchdown less than four minutes into the contest. It marked the second 100-plus yard game of his season for Jude. Quarterback Jared McClain rushed for 38 yards and a touchdown and also passed for 120 yards and another score; on the season he has nine passing and six rushing touchdowns. Kicker Andrew Lloyd later added a 44-yard field goal, his longest make of the season. The EKU defense recovered two fumbles in the game as redshirt freshman Kiante Northington recorded six tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a pass break-up. Punter Jordan Berry averaged 59.3 yards/punt on three attempts, including a 76-yarder in the first quarter, which was just two yards shy of the EKU single-game record. Berry also went untouched on a 25-yard run off a fake field goal attempt in the second quarter, marking his first collegiate touchdown.