SATURDAY'S SCORES
#8 Jacksonville State 27, @#25 Tennessee State 20
@Murray State 44, #23 Southeast Missouri 41 (2OT)
@#16 Eastern Kentucky 36, Eastern Illinois 33 (OT)
@Mercer 49,
Austin Peay 21
#8 JACKSONVILLE STATE 27, #25 TENNESSEE STATE 20
NASHVILLE - Something about lining up across from Tennessee State brings out the best in Jacksonville State's Jermaine Hough.
The junior cornerback had two interceptions as the eighth-ranked Gamecocks forced six turnovers to claim a 27-20 Ohio Valley Conference win over the No. 25 Tigers at rain-soaked Hale Stadium. It marked the second two-interception game of Hough's career, the other coming in 2012 against Tennessee State in Jacksonville.
DaMarcus James returned from injury and ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns as Jacksonville State improved to 5-1 overall, 3-0 in OVC play.
The Gamecocks led 27-6 with 3:32 left in the third quarter after Troymaine Pope's 19-yard touchdown run.
But the Tigers (4-3, 1-2) scored two touchdowns in the last 2:28 of the third to pull to within a touchdown entering the final quarter.
Tennessee State had one last chance after driving inside the JSU 30 with under a minute on the clock.
On third-and-14 with 15 seconds left, Tennessee State quarterback Michael German heaved a pass deep into the end zone that Hough snared to preserve the victory.
Hough also picked off German twice two years ago at Burgess-Snow Field.
The loss was Tennessee State's first at Hale Stadium since 1997.
Jacksonville State's opportunistic defense forced four first-half turnovers en route to a 13-3 lead. Hough and Debarrius Miller intercepted German while Folo Johnson and Terrence Pendleton recovered fumbles.
The Tigers received the opening kickoff and moved from their 22 to JSU's 30 before settling for Lane Clark's 46-yard field goal with 10:14 remaining in the first quarter.
Starting at TSU's 48 following Pendleton's interception, the Gamecocks needed just two plays to get into the end zone. A pass interference penalty against the Tigers got Jacksonville State to the 16 and Eli Jenkins connected with Bo Brummel on a 16-yard TD pass on the next play.
Connor Rouleau's extra point try was blocked, leaving the Gamecocks ahead 6-3 at the 5:10 mark in the first.
Jacksonville State missed a chance to pad its lead on the next possession. Jenkins connected with Josh Barge for 48 yards to the TSU 18, then James carried eight yards to the 5. But two running plays netted one yard and James was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the 4.
The Gamecocks covered 61 yards in three plays to extend their lead to 13-3 with 9:08 to go in the second quarter.
Backup quarterback Max Shortell completed a 23-yard pass to J.D. Williams into TSU territory and a 14-yard James run sandwiched between two pass interference penalties against the Tigers moved the ball to the 2.
James finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, his 41stin a Gamecock uniform. James moved into second place on JSU's all-time career rushing touchdown list behind David Gulledge (48).
The 61-yard, three-play scoring was Jacksonville State's seventh of the season of less than one minute.
Ben Endress led the Gamecocks with 12 tackles, including five solos. Devaunte Sigler also intercepted a German pass.
MURRAY STATE 49, #23 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 41 (2OT)
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State football team pulled off a double-overtime upset of 23rd-ranked Southeast Missouri, 44-41, on Saturday evening at Stewart Stadium in Murray,
After holding Southeast Missouri to minus-four yards in four plays on the opening drive of the game, the Racers wasted little time scoring in the ball game. KD Humphries took MSU 39 yards down the field and capped the drive with a 21 yard pass to Nevar Griffin, making it 7-0 early in in the contest.
The Redawks would then retake the lead with a field goal late in the first quarter and a touchdown early in the second. The 21 yard field goal by Ryan Crum came after Eriq Moore intercepted Humphries at the MSU 44. In the team’s very next drive, Kyle Snyder put the Redhawks on top, 10-7, with a five yard pass to Adrian Davis.
However, the lead did not last long as Humphries tossed a 75-yard pass to Janawaski Davis on just the third play following the Southeast touchdown. The subsequent extra point gave MSU a 14-10 lead on a drive that lasted just 50 seconds and went 75 yards in only three plays.
Late in the second half, the Redhawks drove down the field and looked as if they would retake the lead with a touchdown. However, once Southeast got the ball to the Murray State seven, the Racer defense stepped up and did not allow them to advance any further. The Redhawks ended up settling for another field goal by Crum, giving MSU a slim 14-13 lead at the break.
In the second half, Murray State made Southeast pay for an illegal procedure on the kick-off and used the short field to score just 55 seconds into the half. Humphries connected with Griffin for the duo’s second touchdown of the day, a 55 yard pass that extended Murray State’s lead to 21-13.
Southeast would answer later in the quarter with an 11-yard quarterback rush by Snyder. The Redhawks then tied the game at 21 on a two-point conversion rush from DeMichael Jackson.
Murray State’s quick offense once again went to work on the next drive and marched 75 yards down the field in just 1:39 to score and retake the lead, 28-21. Humphries capped the drive with a five yard pass to DeQavius Walker, for his first reception and score of the year.
However, Southeast would not go away and answered with a scoring drive of its own to begin the fourth quarter. The Redhawks scored on a nine-yard pass from Snyder to Peter Lloyd to tie the game at 28.
Later in the quarter, Southeast took advantage of a Murray State fumble and proceeded to advance the ball down the field. The Racer looked like they had the Redhawks stopped on the 11 yard line, but the visitors were able to convert a four and inches to continue the drive. Just two plays later, Snyder found Adrian Davis in the corner of the end zone to give Southeast its first lead of the game at 35-28 with just 3:09 to play.
However just when it looked like it was over, Murray State put together another drive that went 80 yards down the field in just 2:23. Humphries ended the drive in spectacular fashion with a 23 yard touchdown pass to Griffin, his third of the day to the receiver, to tie the game at 35 with just 46 seconds to play.
In overtime, Humphries found Griffin again for a 22 yard pass that got Murray State to the 1-yard line. Despite the big play, the Southeast defense held the Racers to a field goal, leaving the door open for a Redhawk win.
During the ensuing Southeast possession, St. Pierre Anilus came up with a 13-yard sack, forcing the Redhawks to take a 52-yard field goal attempt. Crum, however, was up the challenge and buried the kick to send the game to a second overtime.
Southeast was up first in the second overtime and was once again held to field goal that Crum made to give his team a 41-38 lead. In MSU’s possession, Pokey Harris ran three times for 11 yards, before Humphries found Janawski Davis from seven yards out for the game winning touchdown.
Humphries finished the game with 21 completions on 36 attempts with one interception for 297 yards. The six touchdowns ties a school record for score in a game, a record set by Derrick Cullors in 1995 against Morehead State.
Griffin ended the game with a career-high three touchdowns on nine catches for 141 yards. Davis had six catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while Jesse Blackburn had three receptions and 44 yards. The rushing attack was led by Marcus Holliday who had 82 yards on 11 carries. He was followed by Harris who had 18 carrier and 77 yards.
Defensively, Anilus led MSU with 18 tackles in his first career start including a sack and two tackles-for-loss totaling 16 yards. Anthony Hayes followed with 15 tackles, while Travis Taylor and DeQuinten Spraggins had 11 and 10, respectively.
#16 EASTERN KENTUCKY 36, EASTERN ILLINOIS 33 (OT)
RICHMOND, Ky. - Senior kicker Andrew Lloyd’s 29-yard field goal in overtime completed Eastern Kentucky University’s furious comeback to beat Eastern Illinois, 36-33, Saturday night at Roy Kidd Stadium.
Down 21 points midway through the third quarter, 16th-ranked EKU (6-0, 3-0 OVC) outscored Eastern Illinois (1-5, 1-1 OVC), 31-7 the rest of the way, snapping the Panthers’ 13-game Ohio Valley Conference winning streak.
EKU took its first lead of the game with 4:46 remaining when junior running back Dy’Shawn Mobley barreled in from two yards out to make the score, 33-26.
However, the visiting Panthers fought back and tied the game at 33 with a minute left, converting on a 4th-and-2 from the two-yard line to force overtime. EIU quarterback Jalen Whitlow connected with Adam Drake to tie the game.
The Eastern Kentucky defense and special teams were strong in the second half comeback, giving the Colonel offense plenty of opportunities to score. The most important one came in overtime.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Kiante Northington recovered an Eastern Illinois fumble on its second play of overtime, setting up two Mobley runs and Lloyd’s game-winner.
A touchdown run by senior quarterback Jared McClain with seven minutes to go in the third quarter started the comeback bid. The short drive lasted six plays and totaled 78 yards, but was completed in only 90 seconds. That drive cut the Panther lead to 26-12.
The Colonel defense forced and recovered a Whitlow fumble at the end of the third quarter sparking a 12-play, 72 yard drive that ended with a Devin Borders touchdown catch on the right side of the end zone that cut the deficit to seven, 26-19.
EKU took advantage of another break in the fourth quarter. Following a quick three-and-out by the Colonels, Eastern Illinois muffed the ensuing punt giving EKU the ball deep in Eastern Illinois territory. The Colonels scored three plays later on Mobley’s first score to even the score at 26-26.
Eastern Illinois converted just 1-of-8 third down attempts in the second half. The Panthers reached the red zone eight times, but only scored three touchdowns and four field goals on those drives.
Mobley led the EKU offense with 118 yards rushing on 30 carries. The junior scored twice on the ground and also caught five passes for 63 yards. McClain played the majority of the game at quarterback, completing 17-of-29 passes for 198 yards and a score.
For EIU, Whitlow threw for 247 yards on 26-of-40 attempts, including two touchdown passes. Whitlow also ran the ball 14 times for 88 yards. Running back Shepard Little added 19 carries for 122 yards while wide receiver Adam Drake notched 13 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
MERCER 49, AUSTIN PEAY 21
MACON, Ga. - Austin Peay State University's football team could not overcome a 28-0 first-quarter deficit and fell to Mercer, 49-21, Saturday, in a non-conference football game played at Mercer University Stadium.
The loss dropped APSU to 0-6 on the season while Mercer improved to 5-2. The Governors losing streak now stands at 18 games.
Mercer scored the first four times it touched the football, including a 61-yard punt return by Chandler Curtis and n 80-yard John Russ to Tee Mitchell toss, and the shell-shocked Governors could not respond. APSU finally scored with 9:25 left in the second quarter on a Mickey Macius seven-yard TD pass to Malik Boynton. But any momentum was short-lived when quarterback Russ, who completed 10-of-13 passes for 179 yards, threw a TD strike to JT Palmer.
The freshman Macius, who came off the bench for an injured Darrien Boone in the second quarter, threw his second TD pass with a little help from the defense. Macius' pass was a little short but it was tipped to Jared Beard, who caught his first career TD pass, this one from 32 yards out to open the second half and cut the deficit to 35-13.
But the Govs could not maintain that momentum. APSU other score came late when freshman Otis Gerron, maintaining his balance after seemingly being stopped at the line, broke free for an 89-yard run with 4:16 left. It was the APSU's longest TD runs since Jay Bailey scampered 99 yards against Valparaiso, Sept. 23, 2000.
Gerron finished the night with 196 yards rushing on 15 carries--it was the most rushing yards by a Gov since Ryan White had 228 against Southeast Missouri, Oct. 10, 2009.
APSU finished the night with a season-high 362 yareds total, including 245 on the ground—thanks to Gerron.
Macius ended 6-of-11 for 86 yards, with Rashaan Coleman leading the way with three catches for 40 yards.
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Antonio Turner led the way with eight tackles, including 1.r5 for loss. Freshman defensive end Tyler Schneider had the Govs only sack and finished with 1.5 tackles for loss.
Lakes finished with 99 yards rushing for Mercer.
The Governors were hampered by penalties much of the night, especially in the first half. The Governors were charged with 13 penalties, nine in the first half, for 116 yards. Mercer was charged with just three penalties the entire game by the Southern Conference officiating crew.