SATURDAY'S SCORES
@#6 Auburn 27,
#5 Jacksonville State 20 (OT)
Southern Miss 52,
Austin Peay 6
@Northern Illinois 57,
Murray State 26
@Northwestern 41,
Eastern Illinois 0
@N.C. State 35,
#19 Eastern Kentucky 0
@Southeast Missouri 27, Southern Illinois 24
Tennessee State 35, Jackson State 25 (Memphis, Tenn.)
@Wofford 34,
Tennessee Tech 14
#6 AUBURN 27, #5 JACKSONVILLE STATE 20 (OT)
AUBURN, Ala. - Most of the sellout crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium assumed they were coming to watch No. 6 Auburn cruise to an easy win over an FCS opponent and see the debut of Jordan-Hare Stadium's $13 million video board.
What they witnessed came close to being one of the biggest upsets in college football history.
Jacksonville State (1-1), No. 5 in FCS but a five-touchdown underdog, led by a touchdown with less than a minute remaining. Auburn tied the score with 39 seconds in regulation, then scored on its first possession in overtime to claim a 27-20 victory on Saturday in the first meeting between the state schools.
The Gamecocks made the 108-mile trip to the Plains a memorable one.
Jacksonville State led 10-6 at halftime and dominated the Tigers (2-0) in every phase, leaving the capacity crowd of 87,451 stunned. Auburn regained the lead early in the third on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jeremy Johnson to former Oxford High School star Roc Thomas, but Connor Rouleau tied the contest at 13-13 with 10:43 left in the fourth with a 26-yard field goal.
An 11-play, 56-yard drive for the go-ahead touchdown was set up by linebacker Dawson Wells' interception of Johnson, one of two by the opportunistic Gamecock defense. Troymaine Pope finished it off by running the last five yards and Rouleau tacked on the extra point to put JSU ahead 20-13 with 5:38 left.
Jacksonville State's offense - which had moved the football up and down the field for much of the day - couldn't muster a much-needed first down after Randy Robinson recovered Thomas' fumble at the JSU 13 at the 3:06 mark, giving Auburn one last chance to force overtime.
Johnson found a leaping Melvin Ray in the end zone on third-and-7 from JSU's 10 with 39 seconds left in regulation and Daniel Carlson's kick made it 20-20.
Grass opted to have quarterback Eli Jenkins take a knee in the waning seconds to send the game to overtime.
Auburn scored first on its overtime possession when Peyton Barber ran in from the 4 for a 27-20 lead. Jacksonville State's shot at forcing a second OT ended when Jenkins' long pass to Barge on fourth down was caught out of bounds.
Jenkins and junior receiver Josh Barge were spectacular on the biggest stages of their college careers.
Barge caught a school record 14 passes for 132 yards, including an 11-yard reception in the second quarter that gave Jacksonville State its first lead at 10-6.
Jenkins set new career highs in completions (26) and pass attempts (43). His 43 passes marked the first time a Gamecock quarterback had thrown 40 passes in a game since Marques Ivory attempted 49 at Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 6, 2010.
The Gamecocks out-gained Auburn 438-401 and held an edge of nearly 11 minutes in time of possession.
SOUTHERN MISS 52, AUSTIN PEAY 6
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Austin Peay State University football team came out strong against FBS foe Southern Miss, Saturday, from M.M. Roberts Stadium but the talent and depth of the Golden Eagles proved to be too much as the Govs fell 52-6.
The beginning of the contest was strikingly similar to Austin Peay's first few drives against Mercer—the Govs struggled to move the ball early, going three-and-out on the first three drives, the last ending on a blocked punt that set Southern Miss up inside the APSU 10. Nick Mullens would scamper in from two yards out on a read option to put the Golden Eagles up early.
But the Govs would bounce back with a quick four-play, 87-yard drive of their own. A pair of Southern Miss penalties moved the Govs near midfield, and on the fourth play Taylor pump-faked to freeze the defense and found a streaking Rashaan Coleman from 44 yards out for the touchdown—Coleman's first of the season.
That would unfortunately be the high point, as Southern Miss would hang 45 unanswered points on Austin Peay. Ito Smith answered for the Golden Eagles, taking a hand-off around the right side and scampering 75 yards for the score; he would finish the day with 135 yards on the ground and 203 all-purpose yards, including a 49-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.
After the Taylor-to-Coleman hook-up, Austin Peay struggled the rest of the day in sustaining offensive momentum. The Govs tallied just 189 yards of total offense, while Southern Miss rolled to 514 yards. After tallying 70 yards offense in the first quarter, Austin Peay would add just 119 the final three quarters.
Roderick Owens was a bright spot defensively. The junior cornerback tallied four tackles, broke up two passes and picked off a Mullens offering in the second quarter, returning it 32 yards. The Govs were able to limit Mullens' downfield looks; he finished 22-for-40 for 275 yards and three touchdown passes to Smith, D.J. Thompson (three yards) and Korey Robertson (nine).
Southern Miss also brought back an interception for a touchdown, when Kalan Reed intercepted Trey Taylor late in the third quarter and returned it 76 yards for the score. Taylor was efficient on the underneath routes offered, finishing 11-for-18 passing on the day, but the offense was able to gain just 93 yards through the air as Southern Miss took away nearly every Austin Peay look down the field.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 57, MURRAY STATE 26
DEKALB, Ill. - Despite scoring more points on an FBS opponent since 1989 against Akron and leading, 7-6, after the first quarter, the Murray State football team fell to Northern Illinois, 57-26, Saturday afternoon at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.
Murray State turned in 373 yards of total offense in the game including 281 in the air by KD Humphries. Humphries was 31-for-49 in the game with two touchdowns despite throwing three interceptions.
Jeremy Harness turned in his second 100-plus yard receiving game of the season, pulling down eight catches for 105 yards. Roman Clay led the MSU rushing attack on the day, which lost just one yard at the line of scrimmage, with 64 yards on 16 carries.
With Murray State trailing by just three, 13-10, late in the second quarter, junior quarterback KD Humphries engineered a 62-yard drive that took the Racers all the way to the four yard-line of NIU. However, the Huskies' Paris Logan brought the drive to a disappointing end by intercepting Humphries in the end zone. NIU would go on to score two drives later, taking a 20-10 lead into the locker room at the break and never looking back from there.
NORTHWESTERN 41, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
EVANSTON, Ill. - Time of possession weighed heavily in Northwestern’s advantage in the first half Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats built a 27-0 lead at the half winning 41-0 over Eastern Illinois.
The loss ended a 139 consecutive game streak by Eastern Illinois in which the Panthers had scored. The last time EIU was shut out in a game was Oct. 11, 2003, 41-0 loss to Eastern Kentucky.
EIU fell to 0-2 while Northwestern moved to 2-0 on the year.
The Wildcats held the ball for more than 20 minutes in the first half and 37:05 for the game. NU used that time advantage to rush for three first half touchdowns and finish with 265 yards in the first half. Northwestern had 496 total yards for the game.
Eastern Illinois defense held on the first Northwestern drive of the game as the Panthers made three stop inside the 10 yard line. The Wildcats would settle for a Jack Mitchell 22-yard field goal at 9:41. Jarvis Williams and Dino Fanti both had tackles for loss for the Panthers defense.
The Northwestern defense helped set up the Wildcats second score as Max Chapman and Dean Lowry sacked EIU quarterback Jalen Whitlow at midfield on a fourth down play. Justin Jackson found the end zone ten plays later to put NU up 10-0 with 1:40 to play in the first on the 11-yard scamper.
EIU’s defense once again held the Wildcats out of the end zone in the second quarter as a Wildcats drive ended in a Mitchell 33-yard field goal with 12:09 in the second giving NU a 13-0 lead. Following a quick offensive possession by EIU, Northwestern drove the field setting up a Warren Long 8-yard run with 6:12 to play in the second as NU lead 20-0.
The Wildcats closed the first half with a Clayton Thorson 8-yard touchdown with 13 seconds remaining in the first half.
EIU had 43 yards of offense in the first with transfer Devin Church one of the bright spots. Church rushed for 32 first half yards and had 95 yards in kick returns. Church finished with 183 all-purpose yards for the Panthers.
Northwestern’s defense was able to hold to open the third quarter as Deonte Gibson’s sack ended an EIU drive that had the ball inside the Northwestern 30. After the defensive stand the Wildcats answered with a touchdown drive as Thorson hit Austin Carr for a 44-yard touchdown strike with 9:18 to play in the third.
On defense the Panthers were led by Bradley Dewberry with 12 tackles. Seth McDonald had ten tackles, his second straight game with double figure tackles.
Northwestern’s defense was led by Anthony Walker with seven tackles including two for loss. The Wildcats scored on defense with 1:08 left to play in the third as Matthew Harris picked off a fourth down pass and raced 71 yards for a touchdown making it 41-0.
N.C. STATE 35, #19 EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
RALEIGH, N.C. - Eastern Kentucky University’s football team played to a 0-0 tie through the first quarter, but North Carolina State scored two touchdowns in the second quarter on its way to a 35-0 victory on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh.
EKU (1-1) came into the game ranked 19th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The Wolfpack (2-0) were receiving votes in both Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) polls.
N.C. State got on the board early in the second quarter when Benson Browne caught a five-yard pass from Jacoby Brissett to cap an eight-play, 60-yard drive that took just 2:53 to complete. Jaylen Samuels put the home squad up two touchdowns when he carried it around the left side for a 12-yard touchdown run with 5:12 left in the second quarter. That play polished off a 10-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 4:36.
The Colonels had a chance to cut the deficit in half late in the second quarter. Eastern’s first sustained drive began with a 22-yard completion from Bennie Coney to Jeff Glover. Dy’Shawn Mobley followed with an 11-yard run up the middle. A 15-yard face mask penalty pushed the ball down to the 27 yard line. Facing a third-and-11, Coney hooked up with Glover again, this time for 20 yards to get inside the 10.
A pass interference call gave EKU first-and-goal at the two, but the Colonels failed to cross the goal line. A fourth down pass from Coney, intended for Joel Brown, sailed out of the end zone.
The Wolfpack out-gained the visitors 227 to 92 in the first half, including 100-21 on the ground.
Two big plays on North Carolina State’s first possession of the second half led to a touchdown that essentially put the game away. On second-and-five, Brissett completed a 31-yard pass to Samuels. Two plays later Matt Dayes took it in for six from 25 yards out. The four-play, 70-yard drove took just 1:29 off the clock.
Later in the third, aided by a 38-yard punt return, the Wolfpack put together another short scoring drive to go up 28-0. N.C. State found the end zone on six plays in 2:57.
Coney finished 5-for-19 for 79 yards. Dy’Shawn Mobley carried the ball seven times for 31 yards. Glover caught four passes for 60 yards. Brissett went 17-for-22 for 216 yards and tossed one touchdown. Dayes ran for 116 yards and scored three times.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 27, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 24
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After missing three-straight field goals, Ryan McCrum kicked a game-winning 42-yarder with five seconds left to send Southeast Missouri (1-1) to a 27-24 win over Southern Illinois (0-2) Saturday night in a slugfest at Missouri National Guard Field/Houck Stadium.
The 83rd meeting between these regional-rivals went wire-to-wire and Southeast came from behind to pull off its first win over SIU since 2010.
McCrum's rare three missed field goals came from 42, 38 and 39 yards out, but he delivered when it mattered most.
McCrum made a 39-yard field goal and Michael Ford returned the first of his game-high two interceptions 21 yards for a touchdown to grab Southeast an early 10-0 lead.
Mark Iannotti's 18-yard touchdown pass to Daquan Isom put SIU on the board with 5:17 left in the first quarter, completing a 10-play, 86-yard march.
After an Alex Knight punt, SIU took over on downs at its own 42-yardline.
On the next play, Kendall Donnerson jarred the ball loose from Connor Iwema. Eriq Moore recovered and ran 42 yards to the end zone, pushing Southeast's lead to 17-7 at the 2:50 mark.
SIU answered with two touchdowns to take a 21-17 lead at the half.
Iannotti had a hand in both of those of long drives. He first scored on a 3-yard run to cap a drive that covered 75 yards in 10 plays and later threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Darrell James at the end of a 5-play, 79-yard march in a quick 31 seconds.
Austin Johnson's 46-yard field goal widened SIU's lead to 24-17 with 12:45 remaining in the third quarter and that would be the last of the Salukis scoring.
After Iannotti's incomplete pass on a 4th-and-9, Southeast began its ensuing possession on its 36.
Tay Bender completed a 20-yard pass on a 3rd-and-7 to move the Redhawks into SIU territory. Three plays later, Bender threw a 15-yard pass to Lewis Washington for another first down, this time on a 3rd-and-5.
DeMichael Jackson's 8-yard run then moved Southeast to the SIU-13 before Bender threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Paul McRoberts, bringing the game to a 24-24 deadlock with 2:27 left.
SIU, after starting its final drive of the game at its own 6-yardline, went three-and-out. Derek Mathewson's 42-yard punt was fair caught by Tyler Manne at the SIU-49. A roughing the kicker penalty by Southeast was declined and the Redhawks remained in good field position at the same spot.
With 42 seconds on the clock, Bender quickly threw a 6-yard pass to Adrian Davis. Bender was sacked for a loss of three yards on the next play.
Moments after Southeast called timeout with 31 seconds remaining, Bender completed a 14-yard pass to Jackson and a 7-yard pass to McRoberts to set up McCrum's game-winner.
Jackson ran for a career-high 186 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry on 30 attempts, and Bender completed 16-of-29 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown to lead Southeast.
McRoberts added four catches for 51 yards, moving to 10th all-time with 1,586 career receiving yards at Southeast.
Defensively, the Redhawks were outstanding again.
Southeast forced seven turnovers (four fumbles, three interceptions) on the night. Its seven takeaways were the most in a game since the Redhawks had six against Mars Hill College on Sept. 8, 2012. As a result of its stout defensive effort, Southeast won the turnover battle by a stifling +7 margin.
Ford paved the way with two interceptions, a touchdown and eight tackles. He was fully extended and managed to stay in-bounds along the near sideline on a leaping catch for his other pick late in the third quarter.
Donnerson also had eight tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles, while Roper Garrett turned in a team-high 13 tackles. Garrett, Eriq Moore and David Coley had one fumble recovery apiece, as well.
Iannotti threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for another score to lead SIU. Billy Reed also had a big night for the Salukis, making a game-high six catches for 112 yards.
Chase Allen (19), Kenny James (15) and Withney Simon (10) all had double-digit tackles for SIU.
SIU outgained Southeast 469-385.
TENNESSEE STATE 35, JACKSON STATE 25
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Tigers opened both halves with a flurry as they secured a 35-25 win over Jackson State in the 26th Southern Heritage Classic. A crowd of 48,335 witnessed the fourth consecutive win for Tennessee State over JSU at the Liberty Bowl. It was the largest crowd to watch the classic since 2008. TSU improved to 2-0 on the season as JSU fell to 0-2.
Tennessee State won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball first. The decision payed off as O’Shay Ackerman-Carter teamed up with Patrick Smith on a 64-yard scoring play on the second play from scrimmage giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead just 53 second into the game.
On a second-and-three from the TSU 36, Ackerman-Carter faked a hand-off and dumped a pass over the middle to Smith who caught the ball at his own 48 and outraced the defense to the end zone. The duo teamed up for their second touchdown in as many weeks.
Jackson State responded by going on a 10 play, 75 yard drive, which resulted in a Robert Johnson 1-yard plunge into the end zone. JSU kicker Ryan Deising slipped while attempting the point after making the score 7-6 in favor of TSU.
On the second possession of the game, Ackerman-Carter found a hole in the Jackson State line and rushed for seven yards. The redshirt-quarterback would stay down and had to leave the game due to injury.
For the second consecutive year, junior Ronald Butler entered the game for an injured quarterback. In last year’s SHC, Butler appeared after Mike German went down in the second quarter.
On his first play, a third and 18, Butler hit Patrick Smith down the left seam for 50 yards to the JSU 22. The ball was moved to the seven after a personal foul setting up a touchdown run by Telvin Hooks on the next play giving the Tigers a 14-6 lead.
Ackerman-Carter returned after taking a series off and later drove the offense down the field for a score with seven seconds remaining before halftime. The Jacksonville, Fla. native found a leaping Joshawn Bowens from 10-yards out to make the score 21-9 at the break.
In the second half, Patrick Smith made his presence felt on special teams. After the defense stopped the JSU offense on the first series of the second half, Smith received a punt in Jackson State territory and returned it 28 yards to the Tigers 15.
TSU put the ball in the hands of Hooks who carried three straight times with the final being a two-yard scoring run. The Big Blue increased its lead to 28-9 with 12:25 remaining in the third quarter.
With the score 28-12, Ackerman-Carter connected on his third touchdown of the night as he hit Chris Sanders-McCollum. The junior wide out broke free from a tackle and scampered down the left sideline for a 64-yard touchdown and a 35-12 lead.
Patrick Smith finished the night with 155 all-purpose yards and was named the Southern Heritage Classic Most Valuable Player.
Ackerman-Carter completed 15 passes on 26 attempts for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
The TSU running game totaled 127 yards on 32 carries. Hooks led the charge with 68 yards on 14 attempts, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, and two scores. Tom Smith averaged 3.7 yards on 11 attempts for 45 yards.
WOFFORD 35, TENNESSEE TECH 14
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wofford football coach Mike Ayers knew exactly what his team’s bruising ground game was capable of doing, so he wasn’t overly concerned when an early decision to go for it on fourth down didn’t go his way.
After Tennessee Tech (0-2) took advantage of an initial defensive stop to mount a short scoring drive and take an early 7-0 lead, the Terriers used their powerful and effective running attack to score 34 unanswered points and grind out a 34-14 non-conference victory in Gibbs Stadium Saturday night.
The Terriers (1-1) were mechanical behind a dominant offensive line and mixed its runs inside and out, muscling out 444 yards on the ground. Tennessee Tech couldn’t find an answer, flubbing two golden opportunities to answer by losing turnovers deep in the red zone.
Following two road losses to open the season, the Golden Eagles will finally get a chance to play at home next week, hosting Mercer University (2-0) in Tucker Stadium in a 6 p.m. contest in Tucker Stadium.
A couple more numbers to emphasize how effective the Terrier offense was: Wofford had 560 total yards, 31 first downs, was 9-of-12 on third down conversions, and held the ball for 37:05.
The Golden Eagle offense had a fairly balanced effort, with 274 total yardsincluding 111 on the ground and 163 through the air. Ladarius Valier rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries, an average of 8.0 per carry. Jared Davis finished with 27 yards rushing on 11 carries, scoring both of Tech’s touchdowns. Davis was 21-for-35 passing for 163 yards with one interception.
Sophomore Brock McCoin, who came into the game as the nation’s leading receiver, caught 11 passes for 99 yards.
Defensively, Tech got some career-high numbers in tackles, led by senior linebacker Tra’Darius Goff with 14, including a tackle-for-loss. He also recovered a fumble. Bill Dillard finished with 11 stops and Jordan Patrick had 10 tackles, both career-best totals. Jay Rudwall had nine and Mike Cain, who took over at nose guard early in the game when Terrell Rollins was lost to an injury, finished with eight tackles. Those totals were career-best for Patrick and Cain.
Wofford got plenty of balance on the ground, led by Lorenzo Long with 88 yards on 16 carries and Will Gay with 86 yards on 14 tries. Each scored a touchdown. In addition, Ray Smith had 72 yards on six totes, while Brad Butler and Evan Jacks, splitting the calls at quarterback, each rushed for 69 yards. Jacks was 4-for-4 passing for 73 yards while Butler was 3-for-5 for 43 yards.
Wofford had just 20 passing yard in the first half, pounding out 273 yards on the ground and putting together three scoring drives despite Tech’s best efforts to put the home team in poor field position.
The Golden Eagles converted three third down plays, and scored on a fourth down play on their opening drive of the contest, after the defense held Wofford on the Terriers’ initial third down situation. Jared Davis pushed it across from inside the one-yard line on fourth-and-goal to give Tech a 7-0 lead.
After the Tech touchdown, Wofford marched 67 yards in nine plays for its first score, with Long scoring from the three to tie the game. After a Tech punt put Wofford at its 27, the Terriers moved 73 yards in 15 plays, this time ChaseNelson going the final one yard for the touchdown.
The Golden Eagles suffered some tough luck on their next possession, after moving deep into Wofford territory. Davis’ pass was tipped and intercepted, stopping Tech’s chance at knotting the score.
The Golden Eagles did get a stop near midfield, after Wofford had begun to move once again. This time, senior linebacker Tra’Darius Goff hit the ball carrier in the backfield and forced a fumble, recovering it in Wofford territory.
Another stalled Tech drive led to a punt by Jonathan King that was downed at the 12-yard line, and Wofford went to work again in the final three minutes. The Terriers stayed on the ground for most of the drive, then got a pass interference penalty in the end zone to keep it alive, setting up a 27-yardfield goal by David Marvin on the final play of the first half for a 17-7 lead.
The Golden Eagles converted three third down plays, and scored on a fourth down play on their opening drive of the contest, after the defense held Wofford on the Terriers’ initial third down situation. Jared Davis pushed it across from inside the one-yard line on fourth-and-goal to give Tech a 7-0 lead.
Down 10 to open the second half, Tech moved quickly from its own 25 to a third-and-goal at the Wofford three-yard line. Vanlier had a 29-yard carry and Davis hit McCoin for a pair of first downs in the drive. But the 69-yard, seven-play drive came up empty on a fumble at the two, which was recovered by Wofford at the six.
Nine plays and 94 yards later, the Terriers had a 24-7 lead when Butler surprised the Golden Eagle defense and found Hunter Windham open for a 25-yard touchdown completion.
Wofford closed out the third quarter on another long drive, and opened the final stanza capping it off with a 21-yard field goal from Marvin to make it 27-7.
A 47-yard pass from Evans to Will Irwin was the big play in Wofford’s final drive, a 10-play, 86-yard march that ended with a one-yard TD for Gay.
Davis engineered the final scoring drive of the night, moving Tech 60 yards in 12 plays. McCoin had four receptions in the series, before Davis scored on a fourth-and goal from the two for the final margin.