SATURDAY'S SCORES
@#3 Jacksonville State 40, Tennessee Tech 21
@UT Martin 45, Austin Peay 31
@Eastern Kentucky 31, Southeast Missouri 16
@#19 Eastern Illinois 35, #25 Tennessee State 34
#3 JACKSONVILLE STATE 40, TENNESSEE TECH 21
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State extended the longest consecutive conference win streak in the FCS to 18 in its Ohio Valley Conference opener against Tennessee Tech.
The No. 3 Gamecocks (4-1) forced five turnovers and Josh Clemons ran for a game-high 110 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-21 victory in front of a sun-drenched crowd of 16,092 at Burgess-Snow Field.
Back-to-back OVC champion Jacksonville State rolled up 446 total yards despite the absence of Eli Jenkins in the second half and Roc Thomas for most of the afternoon. Tennessee Tech dropped to 2-4, 2-2 in the OVC.
Jacksonville's State offense sputtered at times but still had more than enough firepower to beat the Golden Eagles for the fifth straight time. Clemons had touchdown runs of seven, 26 and nine yards while Marlon Bridges, Delwyn Torbert and Jaylen Hill came up with interceptions, and Selwyn Torbert and Randy Robinson recovered Tennessee Tech fumbles to lead the salty defensive performance.
Tennessee Tech was limited to only 229 total yards, 137 below its season average.
Jenkins threw for 125 yards before leaving the game and moved past Montressa Kirby (1995-98) into second place on the Gamecocks' career passing yards list at 6,620. He trails Ed Lett by 525 yards with six regular season games remaining.
Jacksonville State led 33-7 at halftime and was never seriously threatened in the final 30 minutes.
Cade Stinnett staked JSU to a 3-0 early in the first quarter with a 38-yard field goal. The Gamecocks upped the lead to 10-0 on their next possession, moving 69 yards in eight plays with Clemons finishing the drive with a seven-yard TD.
Clemons' 26-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left in the first extended JSU's advantage.
UT MARTIN 45, AUSTIN PEAY 31
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin football scored early in the contest and never looked back en route to a decisive 45-31 Homecoming victory against Ohio Valley Conference foe Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (3-3, 2-1 OVC) scored five of the game’s first six touchdowns while leading by as much as 35 early in the fourth quarter. Offensively the Skyhawks benefited from the team’s highest total offense output of the season, tabulating 568 yards of total offense including 380 yards through the air. A big target in the pass game was senior wide receiver Ben Axline who notched the most receiving yards in the program’s Division-I history with eight catches for 198 yards and a touchdown.
UT Martin saw positive performances from both quarterbacks who saw action beginning with junior starter Troy Cook who completed his first eight passes of the contest before finishing 17-of-21 with 253 yards and three touchdowns. Senior backup Gunnar Holcombe entered in the third quarter, completing 8-of-13 passes for 127 yards and a rushing touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball it was Kahlid Hagens who notched his second double-digit tackle performance of the season after leading the Skyhawks with 13. Fellow secondary-mate Justin Jackson also eclipsed the double-figure plateau with a career-high 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. As a team the Skyhawks tallied four sacks divided between Caleb Counce (1.0), Damani Taylor (1.0), Donald Cofield, Jr. (1.0), Jay Murphy (0.5) and Ervin Alston (0.5). The defensive duo of Taylor and Cofield, Jr. also tallied forced fumbles while Taylor and Garrett Wall notched recoveries for two forced turnovers.
Austin Peay (0-5, 0-4 OVC) was led by second-string quarterback Timar Mitchell who completed 17-of-23 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Kendall Morris notched 13 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Governors relied on top wide receiver Jared Beard who tallied eight catches for 106 yards while Kyran Moore caught seven for 96 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
UT Martin would come out of the gates looking to make a statement. After forcing a three-and-out on the opening defensive drive of the game, the Skyhawks capitalized on prime field position on offense. Ladevin Fair would open the drive with a 17-yard rush up the middle before tallying a five-yard carry to move to the Austin Peay 29. Facing second-and-five, Cook would find Kyle Kerrick for a 29-yard touchdown to take an early advantage.
After a flea-flicker attempt resulted in a turnover for the Skyhawks, the team got the ball right back with a big defensive stand inside the redzone. With Austin Peay on the Skyhawk 17, Cofield, Jr. would sprint across the line to find a sack while forcing a fumble with Damani Taylor would jump on for a recovery. Following the big defensive stop, the Skyhawks would look for a big play and find it. On the first play of the drive, Cook would find Axline down the right sideline for a one-handed catch before breaking a tackle and scampering 71 yards for a touchdown to put the Skyhawks on top 14-0.
Austin Peay would respond to the big play by stringing together a 13-play, 75-yard drive to find the endzone. Tommy Hays would look to the air for a pair of completions totaling 28 yards before moving across midfield following a 15-yard completion from Hays to Moore. With a fresh set of down, the Governors would continue a methodical drive, totaling seven plays before a four-yard rush by Hays would result in a touchdown to trim the deficit in half.
Leading 14-7 after the first quarter of play, UT Martin would look to increase its margin on the opening play of the second quarter. The Skyhawks would start their drive on the 25 after Londell Lee returned a punt 25 yards. With a short field to work with, Cook would find Axline once again to set up first-and-goal from the nine. The Skyhawks would then cap off the scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown by Jaimiee Bowe to push the margin back out to two scores.
Looking for a methodical drive of its own, UT Martin would string together a 12-play, 88-yard scoring drive that ate up much of the clock in the second quarter, totaling just under six minutes of play. Three consecutive rushes would start the drive before Cook would find Caylon Weathers for a 33-yard completion and a first down. The ground attack of Fair and Bowe would highlight the drive before a four-yard pass from Cook to Greg McKillion would result in a touchdown.
Another defensive stop would set up a key scoring play. With Austin Peay on its own 26, Taylor would force a fumble that Garrett Wall would wrap up the loose ball for a recovery. Benefiting from a short-field, the Skyhawks would turn to Mitch Mersman who would knock in a 37-yard field goal for a new career long to make it a 31-7 contest at the half.
The Governors would snap the Skyhawks’ scoring streak midway through the third quarter. With a new quarterback under center, Mitchell would find Beard for a 37-yard reception to reach midfield. The Govs would switch back to Hays to man the ground attack, tallying rushes for eight and 15 yards to move the team down the field and into the redzone. Despite moving as close as the Skyhawk eight, the Governors would have to settle for a 42-yard field goal by Nick Gauna to make the score 31-10.
UT Martin would get back on the scoreboard in the final minutes of the third. With backup quarterback Holcombe entering the contest, the gunslinger would find Axline for a 52-yard reception to move just outside of the redzone. Another big pass from Holcombe to McKillion of 19-yard would put the Skyhawks on the doorsteps of the endzone. With the ball on the two, Holcombe would keep the ball himself and punch it in for his first rushing touchdown of the season.
The Skyhawks would keep their foot on the gas to open the fourth quarter. A big 15-yard completion from Holcombe to Jaylon Moore would put the Skyhawks just outside of the redzone. With a first down, Najee Ray would notch a three-yard carry before breaking loose through a crowd for a 19-yard carry into the endzone, giving the Skyhawks a 45-10 lead with 13:54 to play in the contest.
With the game getting out of reach, Austin Peay would try to cut into the team’s 35-point deficit in the final quarter. Faced with a big field, the Governors would cap off an 11-drive play with a 33-yard rush up the gut by Kendall Morris for a touchdown. The Governors would stay on the offensive with another score following a 10-yard completion from Mitchell to Moore to make it a 14-point margin with 3:16 on the clock.
The Governors would put the final touches on the contest in the final minutes. Mitchell would complete four consecutive passes including a 23-yard pass to Josh Alexander before finding Moore for their second touchdown connection to make it a 45-31 final score.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 31, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 16
RICHMOND, Ky. - Led by Bennie Coney and Devin Borders, the EKU football team scored 24 unanswered points on its way to a 31-16 win over visiting Southeast Missouri State University Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium.
Coney and the EKU offense racked up 527 yards of total offense. The senior turned in his second consecutive 300-yard passing performance, completing 23-of-27 for 337 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
Borders, meanwhile, hauled in three touchdown catches, along with 119 yards, marking his second consecutive 100-yard receiving performance.
Leading 24-9 in the fourth, the Colonels forced a SEMO turnover and looked to put the game away with less than 10 minutes to play. Junior Kobie Grace stripped SEMO's Tremane McCullough at the SEMO six yard line to send the Colonel offense back on the field.
EKU was the beneficiary of a pass interference on third-and-10 from the SEMO 12 which put the ball at the Redhawks' two yard line. After Henry Enyenihi rumbled to the one on the ensuing play, Coney found Borders in the corner to give EKU a commanding lead, 31-9, with 8:42 left to play.
The Colonels took their first lead of the contest with Borders' third touchdown reception of the season. Coney fired a strike on third-and-seven to Borders near the pylon to cap a 16 play, 83-yard EKU drive. Lucas Williams tacked on the extra point to give the Colonels a 7-6 advantage.
After trading three and outs, the Colonels regained possession with 1:32 remaining before intermission. Coney and company put together a calm and collected drive to extend their lead at the break. Consecutive incompletions gave the Colonels a third-and-10 opportunity from the SEMO 18. Coney found Cameron Fogle for the score to go ahead, 13-6. Williams once again added the point after as the Colonels carried a 14-6 lead into the locker room.
The Colonel offense kept the momentum going to open the second half. On their first possession, back-to-back completions from Coney to Borders widened the EKU lead to 21-6. On second-and-16 from the EKU 16, Coney connected with Borders for a 28-yard completion. On the ensuing play, the duo struck again as Coney delivered a precision throw over the outreached hands of a SEMO defender for a 56-yard score.
Williams recorded a new career best, as the redshirt junior split the uprights from 49 yards out to widen the EKU lead to 24-9 with 4:21 remaining in the third period.
The Redhawks threatened late in the third stanza. From their own 45, SEMO's Will Young broke the line of scrimmage and scampered 45 yards to the EKU 10. Cornerback Nigel Bethel hustled across the field to bring down Young, preventing the Redhawk score.
The EKU defense stood tall, denying the Redhawks from the end zone on consecutive plays to force a field goal attempt. Ryan McCrum delivered his third field goal of the night to close the Eastern lead to 24-9.
Southeast Missouri struck first as it took a 3-0 lead just over five minutes into the contest. After the Eastern Kentucky offense failed to convert on its first possession, the Redhawks strung together an 11-play, 45-yard drive to take the lead.
The Colonels were denied on a fourth-and-goal opportunity from the one yard line, allowing the Redhawks to take over on downs. From its own end zone, Southeast orchestrated a 10-play, 93 yard drive but junior Bethel covered up a McCullough fumble to give the Colonels possession.
Eastern was unable to capitalize off the stop, however, as a mishandled ball from Coney gave the Redhawks possession at the EKU 18.
The Eastern Kentucky defense stood tall, denying the Redhawk offense to force a field goal attempt. McCrum connected on his second of the night on a 30-yarder with 14:09 remaining in the opening half.
Southeast Missouri found the end zone on a 45-yard pass from Jesse Hosket to Kristian Wilkerson with 3:42 left to play.
The Colonels converted 11-of-19 (58 percent) third down chances in the win, while holding SEMO to 7-of-17 on third down.
Redshirt senior Kiante Northington led the Colonel defense with nine tackles. Sophomore Aaron Patrick recorded 1.5 sacks on the night.
#19 EASTERN ILLINOIS 35, #25 TENNESSEE STATE 34
CHARLESTON, Ill. - For the second straight year the Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State football game came down to one play to end the contest and for the second straight year Eastern Illinois secondary made that play as the No. 19 ranked Panthers held on for a 35-34 win over No. 25 Tennessee State.
Last season Jourdan Wickliffe picked off a pass in overtime to hand the Panthers a three point win. On Saturday night Nick Horne knocked down a last effort pass from near midfield to improve EIU’s record to 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the OVC. TSU suffered its first loss of the season falling to 4-1, 1-1 in the OVC.
In a back-and-forth game Tennessee State took its first lead of the game 12 seconds into the fourth quarter as Ronald Butler connected with Steven Newbold for a 44-yard touchdown pass. It was the second long touchdown pass of the game for Butler as he passed for 303 yards. Newbold was one of two TSU wide receivers over 100-yards finishing with 121 yards on four catches. Patrick Smith had 160 yards on seven catches including a 56-yard grab late in the third quarter that brought TSU to within a point.
Eastern Illinois answered on their first drive of the fourth quarter driving 80-yards in ten plays. Devin Church caught a 4-yard screen pass from Mitch Kimble and following a Nick Bruno extra point, EIU led 35-34. Church caught seven passes for 37 yards with two touchdowns. He added 94 yards rushing with another touchdown.
TSU drove into EIU territory but the Tigers missed a 46-yard field goal with three minutes remaining. EIU took over and gained one first down but was unable to run the clock out. Cody Edwards had a 42-yard punt downed by Camden Meade at the TSU four yard line. Butler hit Newbold for a pass to get the ball to the TSU 44. Butler’s final heave ended with Horne getting his third pass break-up of the game.
EIU opened with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with Kimble rushing for a 9-yard score and Church adding a 1-yard score. EIU rushed for 221 yards and three touchdowns against one of the best run defenses in the OVC. Korliss Marshall tacked on 66 yards including third quarter touchdown.
Lane Clark scored TSU’s first points of the game with a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter. He would add a 52-yard field goal just before half as EIU took a 21-13 lead to the locker room.
Earl Harrison scored from three yards out to bring the Tigers to within 21-20 with 6:03 to play in the third quarter. Marshall’s touchdown gave EIU an eight point lead. Marshall added 102 yards in kick returns including a 66-yard return to open the game that helped set up the Panthers first touchdown.
Kimble was 19-of-31 for 180 yards and two touchdowns as he returned following a two-game hiatus due to injury. Kimble added 34 yards rushing.
Seth McDonald led the EIU defense making 11 tackles. David Johnson made nine tackles with a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Chris Collins and Laquarius Cook both had 12 tackles to lead TSU. Collins added a tackle for loss, interception and pass break-up.