THURSDAY'S SCORES
@#3 Jacksonville State 31, North Alabama 12
#20 Western Illinois 38,
@Eastern Illinois 21
Wofford 21,
@Tennessee Tech 7
@Cincinnati 28,
UT Martin 7
#3 JACKSONVILLE STATE 31, NORTH ALABAMA 12
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Senior quarterback Eli Jenkins picked up where he left off as No. 3 Jacksonville State opened the 2016 campaign with a victory over longtime rival North Alabama.
Jenkins accounted for 331 total yards and running back Roc Thomas, the former Oxford High star, ran for three touchdowns as the Gamecocks cruised to a 31-12 win before a crowd of 22,116 at Burgess-Snow Field.
Jacksonville State extended its regular-season winning streak against non-FBS foes to 22 games, dating back to 2013.
The Gamecocks scored two touchdowns in the game's first nine minutes and kept the pressure on UNA's overmatched offense all night. The Lions got within 12 points early in the third quarter, but Thomas added the last of his three TD runs and the teams swapped field goals the rest of the way.
Jenkins, a first-team preseason All-American, threw for more than 200 yards and ran for over 100 yards for the third time in his illustrious career. Jenkins hit on 20-of-34 passes for 230 yards while running for 101 yards on 13 carries, including a 47-yarder for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Thomas, a former standout for Grass' teams at Oxford, was efficient in his first game wearing Gamecock red.
Thomas ran 20 times for 73 yards and scored on runs of one, nine and five yards. True freshman Tyus Flakes contributed 75 yards on 12 carries as the Gamecocks piled up 278 yards on the ground.
Jenkins engineered a methodical 17-play, 83-yard drive after the opening kickoff for a 7-0 JSU lead with 9:18 left in the first quarter. Jenkins' 47-yard TD sprint three minutes later extended the cushion to 14-0.
UNA got on the scoreboard on Jacob Tucker's nine-yard pass to Julius Jones with 3:32 remaining in second quarter.
Kevin Henke kicked field goals of 47 and 24 yards for the Lions in the third quarter. Gamecock kicker Cade Stinnett tacked on a 23-yarder with 6:25 remaining for the game's final score.
#20 WESTERN ILLINOIS 38, EASTERN ILLINOIS 21
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois turned the ball over three times leading to 17 Western Illinois points as the No. 20 Leathernecks took advantage in the season opener for the second straight year beating EIU 38-21 on Thursday night at O’Brien Field.
Eastern Illinois marched down the field on its first possession as Korliss Marshall ripped off an 18-yard rush in his EIU debut. Quarterback Mitch Kimble hit James Sheehan for a 28-yard strike to move the ball into WIU territory and Kimble finished off the drive with a 19-yad touchdown run.
EIU’s defense then held Western Illinois to a 3-and-out to continue the momentum swing in the Panthers direction. Linebacker Brett Taylor quickly changed that on the second EIU drive forcing a fumble and that was recovered by WIU at the EIU 17 yard line. Taylor would finished with 14 tackles playing a role in two of the three turnovers as he added an interception later in the game.
Steve McShane caught a 13-yard pass from Sean McGuire to start the drive and plunged over from 1-yard out four plays later to knot the game at 7-7. WIU’s defense then forced a 3-and-out and McGuire had a 5-yard touchdown run in the closing moments of the first quarter.
Brett Taylor’s interception in the final minute of the second half set up a McGuire 2-yard pass to Tony Harper with 13 seconds left in the half. Timothy Smith then recovered a short on-side kick that allowed Nathan Knuffman to connect on a 43-yard field goal as time expired giving WIU a 24-7 halftime lead.
EIU closed the gap in the third quarter with Kimble throwing a pair of long touchdown passes. He hooked up with Ben Odugbesan for 53 yards and Marshall for 79 yards as EIU cut the margin to 24-21 with 3:29 left in the third quarter. Kimble passed for 323 yards going 18-of-29 with two touchdowns and one interception. Marshall had four catches for 111 yards.
McShane and company responded for Western Illinois as WIU scored with 27 seconds left in the quarter. McShane had two big runs for 41 yards in the drive and caught another pass for 15 yards. Devon Moore scored the touchdown on a six-yard run. McShane was a workhorse for WIU finishing with 207 yards on 28 carries including a 70-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter that iced the game.
EIU finished with 121 more yards of total offense than WIU but could not force a Western Illinois turnover while committing three of their own. EIU finished with 468 yards.
Seth McDonald led EIU with nine tackles. Bradley Dewberry and Josh Price each added eight tackles.
The Panthers streak of not allowing a quarterback sack ended at 677 plays when Jordan Veloz was able to sack Kimble early in the third quarter. EIU ranked fifth in the nation in fewest sacks allowed last season.
WOFFORD 21, TENNESSEE TECH 7
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Tech football team came out with a statement on Thursday night, recovering an onside kick on the opening kickoff, then putting together a first-quarter score.
But Wofford built momentum and scored 21 unanswered points in the final three quarters to spoil the Golden Eagles' opener in a 21-7 loss at Tucker Stadium.
Kip Patton scored the Golden Eagles' lone touchdown as he scored on a four-yard run to cap a five-play, 40-yard series.
However, Wofford was able to pull away on three rushing touchdowns from quarterback Brad Butler, who ended the game with 85 yards on 11 carries. He also completed four of his five passes for 30 yards.
Will Gay ended the game with 116 yards on nine carries for the Terriers (1-0).
The game did have a scary moment with 4:27 remaining and the game tied at seven in the third quarter. Wofford junior linebacker Michael Roach collapsed on the Terrier sideline, prompting attention from both training staffs and Putnam County EMS. Roach was transported and kept overnight at Cookeville Regional Medical Center for observation according to a statement from the Wofford athletic department.
After both teams met at midfield for a prayer for Roach's recovery, the Terriers responded for their fallen teammate, quickly scoring the go-ahead touchdown as Butler scored on a seven-yard run.
Butler scored again in the fourth quarter on a 21-yard scamper.
There were still bright spots for the Golden Eagles (0-1). Freshman running back Yeedee Thaenrat rushed nine times for 49 yards, breaking off a 17-yarder to lead his evening.
Quarterback Michael Birdsong, a Marshall transfer, had a good night, converting 22 of his 34 passes into 216 yards. However, the Terriers picked him off once and were able to get to him five times for sacks.
Brock McCoin, who missed the last week of preseason camp with an injury, was back in the lineup and caught seven passes for 94 yards, including a 46-yard reception to lead all receivers.
Freshman safety Deontay Wilson had a great first game with the Golden Eagles, collecting 14 tackles. It's the most for a freshman defender in two seasons, since Trey Thompson accomplished the same feat against Murray State with 15 tackles in 2014.
Josh Poplar and Elliott Normand each also recorded career-high totals with 12 tackles, while Kevin Robinson-White reached a new career high with 11 stops.
CINCINNATI 28, UT MARTIN 7
CINCINNATI - The University of Tennessee at Martin football team battled throughout the night as the defense shined on the main stage, forcing three turnovers and holding a narrow lead until midway through the third quarter against Football Championship Subdivision foe Cincinnati before falling 28-7.
The Skyhawks (0-1) scored on the first drive of the night, stringing together a 14-play drive to take an early 7-0 advantage. The underdogs would hold a narrow margin at the half, marking the first lead against a FBS opponent at halftime in school history while keeping the Bearcats off the scoreboard until the second quarter.
Junior safety Kahlid Hagens posted a career high with 15 tackles for the Skyhawks, marking the second most tackles against a FBS opponent since Markeseo Jackson tallied 16 at Western Michigan on Sept. 2, 2004. Fellow junior safety Tae Martin also posted a big contest, tallying 12 tackles – including two tackles for loss.
Defensively, the Skyhawks tallied three first half turnovers, marking the second most forced turnovers against a FBS foe in program history – matching three against Auburn (2008) and Memphis (2012). Newcomer Joseph Este tallied one interception while the duo of Jay Murphy and Anthony Brown notched fumble recoveries. Sophomore Kevin Prather, Jr. tallied the team’s lone sack – an eight-yard loss which resulted in a fumble.
On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore running back Jaimiee Bowe tallied his first 100-yard rushing performance with 102 yards, becoming just the fourth Skyhawk to rush for at least 100 yards against a FBS foe. He joined Abou Toure (113 yards at Memphis in 2013), Jason McNair (112 yards at Mississippi State in 2011) and Miguel Barnes (105 yards at Memphis in 2009) on the exclusive list. Ladevin Fair also tallied 15 carries for 42 yards.
Quarterback Gunnar Holcombe earned his first career start, completing 12-of-26 passes for 146 yards and one touchdown despite throwing two interceptions. Holcombe found friendly target Caylon Weathers four times for 66 yards and one touchdowns.
Cincinnati (1-0) tallied 22 first downs while notching 400 yards of total offense. Hayden Moore completed 21-of-34 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns while notching one interception. Moore found target Devin Gray five times for 111 yards while receivers Nate Cole and Kahlil Lewis each notched touchdown receptions. The ground attack was led by Tion Green who notched 16 carries for 97 yards.
Senior Eric Wilson led the Bearcats with 15 tackles, including three tackles for loss and two sacks. The duo of Tyrell Gilbert and Linden Stephens also left their mark on the game, tallying an interception each.
UT Martin came out of the gates looking to make a statement in its first drive of the 2016 season. The Skyhawks would string together five first downs on the opening drive after taking over possession on their own 25 to start the contest. The team would tally three first downs before seeing a drive stall on third and eight. Needing a little help, Weathers would draw a pass interference penalty to continue the fast start, giving the Skyhawks a first down just outside of the redzone. With new life, Bowe would notch a 12-yard carry to set up first and goal before Holcombe connected with Weathers for a seven-yard touchdown along the left sideline to give the Skyhawks an early 7-0 advantage.
The Skyhawks would turn the game over to their defense on the ensuing drives looking to continue the offense’s momentum. After allowing a big play through the air to Cincinnati, the Skyhawks would buckle down with just 10 yards to their back. The Skyhawks would hold the Bearcats before eventually watching a 24-yard field goal attempt sail wide.
UT Martin’s defense would remain strong on the following two drives, giving the Skyhawks a 7-0 advantage after the first quarter. The Skyhawks would force its first of three first half turnovers after Murphy recovered a fumble stripped by Hagens. Cincinnati would look to push the ball on its third possession, moving the ball 30 yards before Este tallied a diving interception off a tipped pass by James Gilleylen to squash another offensive drive. The defense would flex yet again on the Bearcats fourth drive as Prather, Jr. tallied a sack and a forced fumble while Brown jumped on the loose ball for the team’s third turnover.
With big plays on the defensive side of the ball, UT Martin would threaten but not find the scoring touch inside the redzone. After reaching the redzone on three consecutive scoring drives, a fumble and two missed field goals would squander the team’s promising field position late in the first half.
Cincinnati would finally get on the board in the final seconds of the half. Taking over on their own 20 with just under three minutes to play, the Bearcats would go nearly the length of the field, tallying 12 plays for 80 yards. Green would rush on three straight plays for 20 yards before Moore moved the ball into Skyhawk territory with an 11-yard rush. Consecutive pass completions from Moore to Gray would notch 16 and 21 yard plays, respectively. With the ball on the Skyhawk three, Moore would find Cole for a three-yard touchdown. The extra point would sail wide right.
At halftime, UT Martin would hold its first lead against a FBS opponent in school history with a 7-6 advantage.
Neither team would score on their first two drives of the second half, remaining a one-point lead for the Skyhawks until late in the third quarter. After a punt left Cincinnati with the length of the field ahead of them, the Bearcats would string together a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive which would give the home team its first lead of the contest. Moving the ball both on the ground and through the air, Cincinnati would take the lead on a three-yard completion from Moore to Lewis with 2:42 to play in the third. Following a successful two-point conversion, Cincinnati would hold a 14-7 advantage.
Cincinnati would stay on a roll in the fourth quarter, making the most out of a pair of offensive mistakes late in the game. Clinging to a 14-7 lead, the Bearcats would tally their first of two interceptions, picking off Holcombe on their 23 to start a fresh scoring opportunity. The first play from scrimmage would be a 23-yard rush by Green to move towards midfield. Moore would continue to move the ball through the air, finding Avery Johnson for a 26-yard completion to move to the one. With the ball on the goal line, the Bearcats would cap the drive with a one-yard rush by Mike Boone for a touchdown, giving the home squad a 21-7 lead with 5:31 to play.
Looking for a final push down the field, UT Martin would start its drive on its own 10. A pair of completions from Holcombe to Weathers and Ben Axline would move the Skyhawks within striking distance. Searching for a big play, Holcombe would force a pass into coverage which would be intercepted and returned 58 yards by Gilbert for the game’s final touchdown.