SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Ohio 34,
Eastern Illinois 19
@#10 Northern Iowa 50,
Tennessee Tech 7
#8 Jacksonville State 52, @Murray State 28
@#20 Tennessee State 27, Florida A&M 7
Southeast Missouri 31, @UT Martin 27
@#22 Illinois State 55,
Austin Peay 6
OHIO 34, EASTERN ILLINOIS 19
ATHENS, Ohio - Eastern Illinois drove to the one yard on the opening drive of the game settling for a Nick Bruno field goal. Ohio would answer with 21 straight points as the Bobcats beat the Panthers, 34-19 on Saturday afternoon.
Ohio improved to 3-2. EIU dropped to 1-4.
Jalen Whitlow hit Adam Drake on a 29-yard pass up the seam to start the game. He added a 28-yard scramble which set the Panthers up inside the ten yard line. EIU would come away with just three points.
Ohio answered with a 10-play, 78-yard drive as A.J. Ouellette scored on a 1-yard run. Quarterback JD Sprague added a 6-yard run as the Bobcats led 14-3 after the first quarter.
The Panthers opened the second quarter going for it on a fourth and eight at the Ohio 35. The pass was incomplete as the ball was turned over on downs. Ouellette hit pay dirt on the next play going 65-yards to put Ohio up 21-3. Ouellette rushed for 87 yards as Ohio had 229 yards on the ground.
Whitlow cut the lead to 21-10 midway through the second half on a 1-yard run. The drive was set up by a Bradley Dewberry interception. Later EIU took over with just over four minutes left in the half and the Panthers were driving before a penalty halted the drive. Ohio blocked a punt attempt and tacked on a 20-yard Josiah Yazdani field goal with nine seconds to go in the half as Ohio led 24-10 at the half.
Yazdani had a 46-yard field goal in the third while Sprague added an 8-yard run to account for Ohio’s scoring. Sprague rushed for 69 yards while passing for 143.
Whiltow hit Anthony Taylor for a 6-yard pass in the fourth quarter while Bruno added a 24-yard field goal to wrap up EIU’s scoring. Whitlow rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight week carrying the ball 15 times for 112 yards. He passed for 289 yards going 30-of-46. The Panthers offensive line did not allow a sack or tackle for loss until the final drive of the fourth quarter.
Drake was Whitlow’s top target with six catches for 90 yards. Taylor had six catches for 43 yards.
On defense Adam Gristick led EIU with nine tackles including 1.5 for loss. Robert Haynes added six tackles with two for loss. Anthony Standifer had the other EIU interception as they forced two turnovers.
Blair Brown led Ohio with nine tackles.
EIU finished with more yards of total offense than its opponent for the fifth time this season. EIU had 432 yards of total offense compared to 387 yards for Ohio.
#10 NORTHERN IOWA 50, TENNESSEE TECH 7
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Maybe it was the lack of fresh air or sunshine. Playing indoors didn't seem to agree with Tennessee Tech Saturday evening.
Or, more likely, it was the quality of the opponent. Northern Iowa came into the game ranked 10th nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision, and the Panthers didn't do anything to hurt their chances of ascending higher in the polls as they topped the Golden Eagles, 50-7, in a non-conference game inside the UNI-Dome.
Tech (1-3) trailed 47-0 late in the third quarter when sophomore Radir Annoor broke through the middle, weaved to his right and outran everyone for an 84-yard touchdown to put a spark in the Golden Eagle side of the scoreboard. It was the seventh longest run from scrimmage in school history, and longest since an 87-yard TD by Derek White in 2003.
That play stood out as the only true highlight of the afternoon for Tech, however, which saw UNI (2-2) roll up 528 yards of offense on 76 plays and limit the visitors to 92 total yards on 42 plays.
Tech's defense looked ready to continue the impressive performance it showed last week in a 10-7 loss at No. 20 Tennessee State. Early in the game, the Golden Eagles slammed the door on UNI twice and forced the Panthers to settle for field goals after knocking on the end zone door.
Jimmy Laughlin's quarterback sack and Jay Rudwalls quarterback hurry, each coming on third down plays, were the keys to bringing placekicker Michael Schmadeker onto the field. He hit from 30 yards, then from 25 yards, for a 6-0 lead after the first period.
But the Panthers found other ways to attack, and were extremely effective. They had a 34-0 lead at halftime, with 329 yards of offense. Quarterback Sawyer Kollmorgen threw three TD strike sin the second quarter and took a seat at halftime after throwing for 200 yards on 14-for-21 accuracy. He tossed a 12-yard score to Braden Lehman, an 11-yard TD to Brett LeMaster, and a 25-yard toss into the corner of the end zone to Kevin Vereen.
Also in the second quarter, Deiondre Hall picked off a pass from Jared Davis -- a toss headed right for receiver Cody Matthews who slipped and fell – leaving Hall with an easy catch and run to paydirt.
Schmadeker kicked three more field goals in the second half from 38, 32 and 28 yards, finishing the day 5-for-5 with five PATs for 20 of UNI's 50 points.
All-America runningback David Johnson added 142 yards on 14 carries. Annoor was next in rushing yards with 98 yards on eight carries.
Golden Eagle punter Jonathan King was called on often, and tied a school record with 12 punts. His dozen kicks matched the mark set by Chad Zinchini against Oregon. King kicked for a school record 523 yards to average 43.6 per kick, a total that topped the previous mark of 492 by Zinchini in that game against Oregon.
Defensively, redshirt freshman end Joe Robertson was Tech's top tackler with a career-high nine stops along with one-half a tackle-for loss. Marty Jones made eight tackles while Kevin Robinson-White had 2.5 tackles-for-loss.
#8 JACKSONVILLE STATE 52, MURRAY STATE 28
MURRAY, Ky. - The Jacksonville State football team opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a statement on Saturday, when the eighth ranked Gamecocks rolled to a 52-28 win at Murray State.
Looking to avenge an overtime loss to the Racers (1-3, 0-1 OVC) a year ago in which the Gamecocks (3-1, 1-0 OVC) dominated in every phase of the game, JSU left no doubt in the 2014 meeting in the series. The Gamecocks racked up 628 yards of total offense, surpassing the 600-yard mark for just sixth time in the school's Division I history and the second in as many weeks.
Many bests were set in the game, but sophomore quarterback Eli Jenkins stole the show. The Birmingham product set career highs in rushing yards (149), pass completions (15-for-20) and passing yards (180), while running for three touchdowns to tie his career mark in that category. He tossed a touchdown pass, as well to lead a potent JSU offensive attack that seems to be getting better by the week.
Senior DaMarcus James ran 26 times for 148 yards and three scores in the win, moving his name up a few more lists in the school's record book. Already JSU's Division I record holder for career touchdowns, the Demopolis, Ala., native ran that total to 40 to tie Boyce Callahan for second on the school's all-time list. His 15th 100-yard rushing game breaks former great Clay Green's Division I record for career games running past the century mark.
Seven Gamecocks caught at least one pass, a corps led by sophomore Josh Barge's 92 yards on six catches.
On a night that seemed early like it would be an offensive slugfest, the Gamecock defense may have made the biggest adjustment of the game at the half. After allowing 289 yards to the Racers in the first half, the defense found its way into the backfield and held the potent MSU attack to just 14 yards in the third quarter and 71 in the entire second half.
Senior linebacker Ben Endress led that defense with 10 stops and got into the backfield for a sack and another tackle for a loss. Corners Jermaine Hough and Jaylen Hill were tested often and buckled down in the second half to notch seven and six, tackles, respectively.
It started quickly, with Murray jumping to a 7-0 lead in just six plays, a score that was answered with an eight -play JSU drive that was capped by James' first touchdown run. The two exchanged scores again before a JSU stop finally set up Jenkins' first score and gave the Gamecocks their first lead at 21-14 late in the first quarter. They would never trail again.
The Racers drove to tie the score late in the half, setting up what could've been the biggest play of the night. Tied 28-28, senior JD Williams took Carson Griffenkamp's kickoff 90 yards down to the Racer six and set up another James touchdown. That score took the wind out of Murray State's sail and it wouldn't score again, as the Gamecocks went on to score the final 24 points on their way to the win, their 10th in the last 11 meetings vs. the Racers. They also improve to 9-3 in OVC openers since joining the OVC inn 2003.
#20 TENNESSEE STATE 27, FLORIDA A&M 7
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee State football scored 20 points in the first half and hung on to beat Florida A&M, 27-7, in front of 29,225 homecoming spectators.
The TSU (4-1, 1-0 OVC) defense scored two touchdowns in the contest and held the Rattlers (0-4) to 224 total yards.
Offensively, Ronald Butler started his second consecutive game at quarterback and finished the game 12-of-27 for 151 yards.
A 30-yard punt return from De’Ante Saunders set up the TSU offense at its own 49-yard line and a 24-yard rush by Tom Smith later on the drive set up the only score of the first quarter – a 22-yard field goal by Lane Clark at the 7:18 mark.
Butler led an 11-play, 95 yard scoring drive early in the second period, completing two long passes, one to Hakeem Parker for 18 yards and another to Archie Denard that went for 16. The aerial success led to a five-yard touchdown run by Telvin Hooks to increase the Tiger lead to 10-0.
Four plays later, true freshman Terrell Bonds picked off Damien Fleming’s crossing pattern and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score put the home side up, 17-0, with 7:19 left in the first half.
Nick Thrasher got another interception for TSU and Clark booted a career-long 42-yard field goal to give TSU a 20-0 halftime lead.
The Tiger rushing game found its footing during the opening 30 minutes, gaining 88 yards on 17 rushes for a 5.2 yard per carry average.
The Rattlers finally punched it into the end zone at the 10:27 mark of the third quarter on a quarterback draw by Fleming. It was the only score of the period and capped a 10-play, 63 yard drive.
The Tiger defense struck again in the fourth quarter as Roc-M Nesbitt stripped the ball away from Carson Royal and Samquan Evans scooped it up and scored from 12 yards out. The big play on defense iced the game and put the Tigers ahead, 27-10, with seven minutes to play.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 31, UT MARTIN 27
MARTIN, Tenn. - Peter Lloyd had a career-high 10 catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns and the defense made two big stops late in the game to propel Southeast Missouri (3-2, 1-0) to a 31-27 win over UT Martin (1-4, 0-2) Saturday night at Graham Stadium.
In the first game Southeast played without its star wide receiver Paul McRoberts, Southeast needed someone to step up and Lloyd did so in a huge way.
A native of Caruthersville, Mo., Lloyd finished with over 100 receiving yards and made six of his catches in the first half alone. He then hauled in the go-ahead 28-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Snyder with 9:04 left to play before Southeast's defense polished off the victory.
Southeast's defense denied UTM on fourth down twice after Lloyd scored. Jarod Neal completed a 48-yard pass to Rod Wright, giving UTM a 1st-and-Goal at the Southeast 5-yardline. Neal then threw four-straight incompletions against a smoldering Redhawk defense. Tim Hamm-Bey broke up the last pass of that series on the goal line.
After Southeast punted, UTM took over on downs at the Southeast 45-yardline with 3:19 left to play. Following a 7-yard completion, an incomplete pass and a sack by Kendall Donnerson, the Skyhawks faced a 4th-and-4 at the Redhawks-39. Neal's pass, intended for William Tanner, was broken up by Eriq Moore and Southeast ran out the clock. The massive defensive stand put the exclamation point on Southeast's first win in Martin since 2003.
A 60-yard completion from Neal to Wright on the second play of the game quickly gave UTM a first doan at the Southeast 9-yardline. Two plays later, the Redhawks forced a turnover when Ron Davis stripped the ball from Abou Toure and Terrance Hill recovered at the Southeast-1.
After the Redhawks were forced to punt, UTM scored the first points when Neal completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to give UTM a 7-0 advantage with 10:22 left to play in the first quarter. Southeast countered four plays into its next possession with a 65-yard touchdown pass from Snyder to Lloyd. Lloyd was open down the middle of the field and Snyder hit him in stride on the Redhawks third-longest TD pass of the season. The score came in a short 1:15 as Southeast tied the game at 7-7 with 9:03 remaining.
UTM managed to get inside Southeast's 20-yardline, but settled for a 36-yard field goal by Jackson Redditt to take a 10-7 edge with just under four minutes (3:57) left. The Redhawks took their first lead on a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Snyder that came three plays after a UTM pass interference penalty. UTM and Southeast then traded touchdowns before the Redhawks went into the locker room with a 21-17 halftime lead.
Neal threw back-to-back 20-plus yard completions and hooked up with Kyle Kerrick on a 24-yard touchdown pass to regain a 17-14 lead with 10:57 remaining in the second quarter. Snyder then scored from inside the 5-yardline for the second time when he hit paydirt from a yard out, securing the Redhawks second lead at intermission this season.
Southeast fumbled on its opening drive of the second half. Lennies McFerren took Snyder's handoff and lost the ball when he was hit by Ryan Isom. Tony Stewart recovered for UTM at the Southeast 28-yardline. The Skyhawks, like the Redhawks, also fumbled on their first play of the second half, but retained possession. UTM later diced Southeast's lead to 21-20 on Redditt's 29-yard field goal with 11:47 left to play in the third quarter.
Southeast lined up in punt formation on a 4th-and-6 before Ron Coleman took Wade Wright's snap and dashed 26 yards for a first down at the UTM-30. Coleman's run set up a 47-yard field goal by Ryan McCrum as Southeast pulled ahead, 24-20, with 8:08 on the clock. UTM went ahead once more, this time on a 35-yard pass from Neal to Tanner with 5:18 left in the third quarter.
Lloyd's 179 receiving yards marked both a Southeast and OVC single-game high this season. He averaged 17.9 yards per catch against the Skyhawks tonight. Snyder completed 19-of-30 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 14 yards and another two scores. He matched his career high in passing yards. McFerren rushed for a game-high 85 yards on 20 carries.
Special teams wise, Southeast executed a faked punt, downed a punt at UTM's 1-yardline and forced the Skyhawks to start drives inside their own 20 on three occasions.
Roper Garrett led Southeast's defense with nine tackles and a forced fumble.
Neal finished with 350 yards and three touchdowns to lead UTM. He completed 20-of-37 passes. Wright added six catches for 161 yards and a touchdown for the Skyhawks, as well.
The Redhawks improved to 7-17 all-time in OVC-openers. Southeast won an OVC-opener on the road for the first time since 2010 when it beat Murray State, 30-17.
#22 ILLINOIS STATE 55, AUSTIN PEAY 6
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State remained undefeated as it defeated Austin Peay State University, 55-6, Saturday night at Hancock Stadium.
The victory pushed Illinois State to 3-0 on the season while the Govs remain winless at 0-4 and will return to Ohio Valley Conference play next week against Eastern Kentucky.
In the first half, Illinois State concentrated on the run, rolling up 179 of their 187 yards via the ground along with two TDs. In the second half, quarterback Tre Roberson threw four third-quarter touchdown passes to show why the Redbirds are the No. 22-ranked Football Championship Subdivision team.
The Govs' defense was the anchor in the early going, holding Illinois State to just six points early when poor field position left the defense in its own end most of the quarter.
But Marshaun Coprich finally provided Illinois State momentum when he broke free when it appeared the Redbird standout running back could be tackled behind the line of scrimmage. Once he cleared the corner he sped 69 yards for the TD. He added another TD run early in the second quarter on a seven-yard run.
APSU challenged late in the half, moving the ball down to the one-yard line after some impressive runs by both walk-on freshman running back Otis Gerron and freshman quarterback Darrien Boone. The combination of Boone and Gerron helped lead APSU to its only score, a one-yard plunge by Boone with 8:23 left in the third period.
Robertson, who completed two-of-three first-half passes for three yards in the first half, more than made up for it in the second half. He threw for 219 yards in the second half, completing 10-of-13 passes.
Austin Peay finished the game with 10 first down compared to 27 for the Redbirds. APSU allowed 496 yards total offense—256 on the ground and 240 via the air. Coprich ended with 156 yards rushing on 14 attempts.
APSU had 115 yard passing—89 from Mickey Macius (6 of 11) with Darrien Boone throwing for 26. Gerron led the Govs with 38 yards rushing while Boone had 25 and APSU's only TD.
Defensively, Buddy Mitchell led the Govs' effort with seven stops while defensive tackle Malcolm Goines had APSU's only sack.