SATURDAY'S SCORES
@#4 Jacksonville State 27, #17 Coastal Carolina 26
Eastern Illinois 24, @#5 Illinois State 21
@UT Martin 84, Bacone College 6
@Ball State 41,
Eastern Kentucky 14
Tennessee State 31, @Bethune-Cookman 24
@Mercer 34,
Tennessee Tech 27
@Southern Illinois 50,
Murray State 17
Indiana State 27,
@Southeast Missouri 24
#4 JACKSONVILLE STATE 27, #17 COASTAL CAROLINA 26
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Fourth-ranked Jacksonville State survived a visit from No. 17 Coastal Carolina on Saturday, escaping a wild one at Burgess-Snow Field with a 27-26 win.
The Chanticleers (2-1) led in the fourth quarter and had their chances late, but an impressive offensive performance led by Eli Jenkins, Roc Thomas and a stingy rush defense were the difference for the Gamecocks (2-1) in front of 18,892 fans.
That defense held a potent CCU rushing attack that hadn't been limited to less than 100 yards in a game since 2013 to 42 yards on 35 carries. It was the lowest rushing total by the Chanticleers since the 2011 season and the 11th-fewest rushing yards allowed by JSU in its Division I history. The Chanticleers' 1.2 yards per carry was the sixth-lowest average against a Division I Gamecock front.
Jax State stopped CCU in the backfield 10 times, thanks to 2.5 tackles for loss each by E.J. Moss and Darius Jackson. Jackson had two sacks to move into fourth in JSU history with 13.5 in his career, while his 30 career tackles for a loss rank him third in school history.
On the other side of the ball, Jenkins led the offense once again. The senior signal caller ran 20 times for 111 yards and a score while throwing for 248 yards and two scores on 18-for-34 passing. His third-straight game with over 200 yards passing gives him 6,271 yards in his career, third-most in school history, while his ninth career 100-yard game made him the fifth player in school history with 3,000 rushing yards in a career.
He and Thomas led an offensive attack that ran for 286 yards and racked up 534 total yards. Thomas recorded his first collegiate 100-yard game with a game-high 144 on 25 carries.
Sophomore Krenwick Sanders led JSU with five receptions, while five Gamecocks had two apiece. Sophomore Demontez Terry had the big ones, hauling in a 44-yard touchdown pass and a 40-yard scoring pass from Jenkins. In just his second career game, the Birmingham native increases his career total to three catches with two scores.
The Chanticleers couldn't get things going on the ground, where they averaged 270 yards in their first two games. All-American De'Angelo Henderson was held to 48 yards on 20 carries, forcing his team to go to the air for success.
Four quarterbacks saw action for CCU, with starter Josh Stilley going down with an injury in the second quarter. He led a 306-yard attack with 132 yards and a touchdown on 7-for-10 passing.
JSU had the first opportunity of the game, but Cade Stinnett's attempt from 41 yards found the outstretched hand of Coastal's Osharmar Abercrombie to set up CCU with its first possession.
The Chanticleers avoided disaster on that drive, recovering a fumble and getting the fortune of two drive-extending penalties that set up a 49-yard field goal by Ryan Granger that grazed the top of the crossbar and gave the Chanticleers a 3-0 lead.
JSU answered on the next possession, when Jenkins found Terry over the middle for a 44-yard touchdown pass. That gave Jax State a 7-0 lead with just under six minutes left in the opening quarter.
Big plays turned the table for Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers got a 72-yard scoring pass from Stilley to Bruce Mapp on a busted coverage and a blocked punt that rolled through the end zone for a safety to give them a 12-7 lead early in the second quarter.
The Gamecocks reclaimed the lead right before the half, thanks to a four-play drive that spanned 72 yards. The rally was capped by an 11-yard touchdown run by Josh Clemons and was set up by a 32-yard pass from Jenkins to Josh Barge, whose two grabs in the game extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to a school-record 41.
CCU struck first in the second half, taking advantage of a short field set up by a 17-yard Dean Kelly punt. The Chanticleers took it 40 yards in three plays, the last a four-yard scoring run by Henderson that cut JSU's lead to two. The Gamecocks stopped the attempt to tie on a two-point conversion, stuffing Abercrombie at the one and keeping the 20-18 lead on the scoreboard.
They did reclaim the lead early in the fourth quarter, when Tyler Keane found Laquay Brown from nine-yards out and then tossed to Chris Jones on the conversion to make it a 26-20 CCU lead.
That's when JSU's offense went to work. Jenkins and Thomas orchestrated an 11-play drive that spanned 87 yards and ate almost four minutes of clock. Jenkins threw for 32 yards and ran for 50 on that possession, including a 14-yard scamper that put JSU ahead for good, 27-26, with 6:44 to play.
Coastal had three possessions the rest of the way, but the JSU defense refused to break. The Chanticleers got inside the JSU 40 twice, but a Jackson fumble recovery on the first and a sack by the junior on the last sandwiched a missed 50-yard field goal attempt that preserved the game.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 24, #5 ILLINOIS STATE 21
NORMAL, Ill. - Addison Bounds recovered an onside kick attempt with 31 seconds remaining and Eastern Illinois upset No. 5 Illinois State, 24-21, in the 105th playing of the Mid-America Classic.
It was EIU's first win over a top five ranked opponent since Nov. 7, 1992 when the Panthers beat No. 1 ranked Northern Iowa.
EIU built a 10-0 lead at the half with Nick Brunoknocking home a 42-yard field goal and Bounds catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Mitch Kimble. Both Panther scores were set up the turnovers asVince Speller forced a fumble that led to Bruno's field goal. Tyree Stone-Davis picked off a pass in the second quarter that led to the Bounds touchdown.
Illinois State cut the margin to 10-7 early in the third quarter as Christian Gibbs hauled in a 16-yard touchdown. EIU quickly answered with a touchdown pass to Ben Odugbesan with 8:06 to play in the third quarter.
Devin Church appeared to ice the game in the fourth quarter as he slipped through gap during an ISU blitz and raced 30-yards for a touchdown. Church finished with 76 yards on the ground.
ISU scored twice in the final five minutes. Jake Kolbe scored on a 58-yard quarterback scramble and then connected with Spencer Schnell on a two-yard pass with 36 seconds left to make it a three point game.
Bounds recovered the onside kick and EIU improved to 2-1 on the year and will host Austin Peay next Saturday at 1 p.m. in the OVC opener.
ISU fell to 2-1 on the season and will open Missouri Valley Football Conference play next week.
Seth McDonald led EIU's defense with ten tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. Jarvis Williams was credited with 3.5 tackles for loss. Nick Horne had six tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the fourth quarter.
UT MARTIN 84, BACONE COLLEGE 6
MARTIN, Tenn. - The culmination of months of planning, construction, practice and preparations came to fruition on Saturday afternoon as the University of Tennessee at Martin football team debuted its elaborate renovations of Hardy M. Graham Stadium while treating its fans to a dominating 84-6 victory over NAIA foe Bacone College.
The Skyhawks (1-2) picked up their first win of the season while scoring the third-most points in program history behind the team’s 84 points – ranking only behind 97 points against Bethel (1995) and 87 against Concordia (2008). Controlling the contest from the opening kickoff, the Skyhawks tallied 12 touchdowns despite accumulating only 347 yards of total offense. UT Martin took advantage of prime field position throughout the game, starting nine of its 10 scoring drives in Bacone territory on top of two defensive touchdowns.
Along with today’s game, UT Martin officially opened renovated Hardy M. Graham Stadium and its four-story press box addition. After construction began in November of 2015, today served as the first event hosted in the stadium upon the completion of construction. The new press box structure ranks as one of the finest in the Football Championship Subdivision ranks – featuring a new concession stand, visitors’ locker room, academic classrooms, club level and media level.
Junior quarterback Troy Cook got the starting nod for the Skyhawks under center. Making his second career start, Cook completed 10-of-12 pass attempts for 167 yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt-freshman Kyle Akin and senior Ian Leggett also made their Skyhawk debuts in the contest. Akin completed 2-of-3 passes for 48 yards and one touchdown while Leggett recorded four rushing yards.
Martin native Ty Brown made the most of increased reps in the second half, leading the team in rushing with 10 carries for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore Jaimiee Bowe also made the most of his six carries, tallying 22 yards and two touchdowns. Junior newcomer Marquez Grayson also scored his first Skyhawk touchdown while tallying four carries for 20 yards.
The Skyhawk receiving core tallied five touchdown receptions while no one notched more than two catches on the afternoon. Junior Caylon Weathers tallied two catches for 17 yards and two touchdowns while the duo of Kyle Kerrick and Jaylon Moore each tallied two receptions and one touchdown. Senior Greg McKillion also reached the endzone for the first time in his Skyhawk career with one catch for 24 yards.
For as explosive as the UT Martin offense was on Saturday, the defense was equally as impressive. After allowing an early touchdown, the Skyhawks allowed just 34 yards of total offense for the remainder of the game while holding Bacone to -17 net rushing yards. Junior Justin Jackson paced the team with seven tackles on the day while the trio of Joseph Este, Donald Cofield, Jr. and Joseph Murry tallied five tackles each. The duo of Chris Coleman and Trey Warren each recovered fumbles while Tae Martin returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown.
Bacone (0-3) was led offensively by quarterback Trey Seward who completed 13-of-24 passes for 135 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Johnny Thomas (22 yards) and Stephone Revels (21 yards) led the team in rushing. Antonio Wilson tallied three catches for 45 yards and one touchdown. Defensively, Erik King paced the team with nine tackles.
The Skyhawks jumped out to an early lead and only built from there. The first drive of the contest took just two plays before Cook found Kerrick for a 45-yard touchdown over the middle. With the touchdown, the Skyhawks were on the board just 43 seconds into the contest. Bacone would quickly respond, stringing together a 12-play, 84-yard drive which resulted in a 28-yard touchdowns from Seward to Wilson making it a 7-6 contest.
After giving up the game’s lone touchdown to the Warriors, UT Martin would score 77 unanswered points to run away with the victory. With the Skyhawks’ second drive, Cook once again moved through the air competing a pass to Rod Williams for 27 yards before finding Weathers for a six-yard touchdown to put the squad on top 14-6. The Skyhawks would get on the board again later in the first as Martin returned an interception tipped by James Gilleylen and Sheldon Dawson for 36 yards for a touchdown. Looking for a final punctuation, the Skyhawks notched the most points in the first quarter since 2012 with an 11-yard touchdown from Cook to Weathers’ for the duo’s second connection.
Already leading 28-6 after the first quarter, UT Martin would score 35 points in the second quarter to post the most point in a single half during the Simpson coaching era. UT Martin would start its high-scoring second quarter with a 24-yard touchdown from Cook to McKillion for the receiver’s first touchdown as a Skyhawk. The Skyhawks would find scores on both sides of the ball in the second as Bowe tallied a two-yard touchdown while Warren recovered a botched snap in the endzone for a touchdown. The running back duo of Grayson and Bowe would punch in a pair of short runs for scores in the final minutes of the half to give the Skyhawks a 63-6 advantage heading into the break.
With the final score as the only thing in question, both coaches would decide to play the second half in two, 10 minute quarters. UT Martin would score its lone touchdown of the third quarter following a seven-play, 29-yard drive. With first and goal, Brown – a Martin native – would score his first collegiate touchdown on a three-yard rush.
With the team’s depth receiving a chance to play in the second half, a pair of second team performers would put UT Martin on the board for another 14 points in the final period of play. Making his Skyhawk debut, Akin would start the second half before finally finding the endzone in the fourth quarter. Facing fourth and seven, Akin would find Moore for a 45-yard completion down the left sideline for the pair’s first career touchdowns. With the time running out, the Skyhawks would keep the ball on the ground on the team’s final possession before Brown completed the afternoon with a two-yard rush to bring the score to its final decision of 84-6.
BALL STATE 41, EASTERN KENTUCKY 14
MUNCIE, Ind. - Two turnovers and nine penalties in the first half put the Eastern Kentucky University football team in a 27-point deficit and the Colonels never recovered in a 41-14 loss at Ball State University on Saturday.
A roughing the kicker penalty kept alive Ball State’s second possession and allowed Riley Neal to cap it with a 12-yard run to give the home team a 14-0 lead in the final minute of the first quarter.
Two second quarter interceptions gave the Cardinals (2-1) the ball inside the Eastern Kentucky 25 yard line each time and BSU converted the turnovers into 10 points. A second Morgan Hagee field goal, in the final seven seconds of the second quarter, sent Ball State to the locker room in front 27-0.
The Colonels (1-2) avoided the shutout with two late touchdown drives. Maty Mauk completed passes for 32 and 16 yards before connecting with Devin Borders for a 28-yard touchdown score. The drive covered 77 yards in 2:24.
On Ball State’s next possession, Luder Jean Louis forced and recovered a fumble at the BSU 40 yard line. Mauk began the ensuing drive with a 32-yard toss to Borders. After two penalties he found Dan Crimmins for 27 yards. Freshman running back Daryl McCleskey Jr. finished off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
EKU Newcomer Ryan Markush caught five passes for a team-best 104 yards. Mauk completed 19-of-32 passes for 285 yards and did not throw an interception. Jeffrey Canady led all players with 11 tackles.
Neal was 28-for-39 for 238 yards for Ball State. He tossed two touchdown passes. James Gilbert carried 21 times for 67 yards and scored a touchdown.
Eastern did not turn the ball over in the second half, but committed four more turnovers, finishing with 13 for 128 yards.
TENNESSEE STATE 31, BETHUNE-COOKMAN 24
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - For the second consecutive week the Tigers fought off miscues to secure a 31-24 victory at Bethune-Cookman on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers were called for 15 penalties for close to 150 yards and committed three turnovers.
Tennessee State improved to 3-0 on the season as cornerback Terrell Bonds pulled down a tipped ball by Gabe Scott with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The interception was the second of the game for Bonds, helping the Wildcats fall to 0-2.
O’Shay Ackerman-Carter connected on a 71-yard touchdown pass to Steven Newbold and finished with 112 yards as he completed three passes in seven attempts. The redshirt-sophomore quarterback left the game in the second quarter due to an undisclosed injury.
Senior Ronald Butler finished the game for the Big Blue completing 8-of-16 for 68 yards and two touchdowns in relief. Both signal callers tossed an interception in the contest.
The Tigers ground attack was the story of the game as they rushed 44 times for 200 yards. Freshman Earl Harrison led the way with 110 yards on 13 carries. The Memphis native highlighted his day with a 46 yard run for a second quarter touchdown.
The Tigers struck first on a 44-yard field goal off the foot of Lane Clark. TSU used a 30-yard pass play from Ackerman-Carter to Patrick Smith to move into the Wildcats territory.
B-CU took advantage of an Ackerman-Carter interception and moved the ball 25 yards on five plays to take a 7-3 lead with 4:47 remaining in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Ackerman-Carter escaped the pocket on a third-and-five and found Newbold ten yards down the field. The freshman spun out of the first tackle and avoided another Wildcat and sprinted down the right sideline for the longest play from scrimmage this season for the Tigers.
The 10-7 lead was short-lived as B-CU answered with a rushing touchdown on their next series, taking a 14-10 advantage.
Not to be outdone, the Tigers needed three plays and just over a minute to regain the lead at 17-14 on Harrison’s scoring scamper. The Wildcats would even the score at 17-17 on a field goal just before half.
The Tigers took the lead in the third quarter on the first of Butler’s two scoring passes. The senior tossed a jump ball in the corner of the end zone, allowing Chris Sanders-McCollum to out jump a defender to haul in his first touchdown of the season.
Bethune-Cookman once again pulled even with the Tigers in the first minute of the final stanza. The teams battled back and forth before TSU used the first of Bonds’ picks and began a 5:48 scoring drive late in the fourth. The Tigers covered 48 yards on nine plays and was capped off with a seven-yard scoring toss to Patrick Smith.
Smith has caught a touchdown in each of the first three games and registered the 13th in his career.
MERCER 34, TENNESSEE TECH 27
MACON, Ga. - Turnovers proved costly for the Tennessee Tech football team as three miscues started scoring drives for the Mercer Bears on Saturday as the Golden Eagles fell 34-27 at Five Star Stadium.
Tech opened the game with a fantastic punctuation as Dontez Byrd broke loose for a 100-yard kickoff return on the opening kick, with Nick Madonia adding the PAT to make it a 7-0 Tech lead with just 13 seconds ticked off the clock.
Mercer answered on its opening drive by putting a 42-yard field goal through the uprights to close out the first quarter scoring.
The Bears took the lead late in the second quarter as quarterback John Russ found paydirt on a 15-yard run with 3:23 left in the first half. The PAT made it a 10-7 Mercer lead. The drive started on a Tech fumble on a sack.
However, the Golden Eagles put together an impressive drive to end the second quarter, travelling 62 yards on six plays, scoring as Kip Patton hauled in a 27-yard pass from Michael Birdsong to take a 14-10 lead into the intermission.
Birdsong opened up the second half with his second touchdown of the day, throwing a 21-yard strike to Jordan Giberti. Madonia's PAT was good, making it a 21-10 Tech lead.
But the momentum started to shift.
Sam Walker caught back-to-back touchdown passes from Russ, on 22- and 9-yard strikes, to take a 24-21 lead. The second score saw its drive start from a Tech fumble as Krys Cates had a completed catch knocked out of his hand to give the ball back to the Bears.
After a 4-and-out from Tech, the Golden Eagles took advantage of a moment of confusion, Russ threw a pass to Walker and it fell to the ground. With no whistle blown, Josh Poplar picked up the loose ball and carried it into the end zone. The officials ruled the play a fumble and credited Tech with the touchdown, putting Tech back up 27-24.
However, Madonia's extra-point try was blocked, shifting the momentum back into the Bears' corner.
A Birdsong interception kicked off a six-play, 27-yard scoring drive for the Bears as Russ ended the drive with a one-yard run.
Cole Fisher ended Mercer's scoring with a 49-yard field goal for the final margin of 34-27.
The Golden Eagles had one last chance to put together a drive, but a sack on Birdsong knocked the ball loose, allowing Mercer to reclaim the ball and kneel to end the game.
Birdsong finished the game with 239 yards and two touchdowns on a 23-for-30 day, while Patton hauled in six passes for 58 yards and a score. Yeedee Thaenrat led the rush with 22 carries for 57 yards.
For Mercer, Russ ended the game with 259 yards on 23-of-35 passing, while Avery Ward caught eight passes for 86 yards. Payton Usher led the Bears with 77 yards on 16 carries.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 50, MURRAY STATE 17
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - Josh Straughan threw four touchdown passes, D.J. Davis returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a score and Southern Illinois ran away from Murray State 50-17 on Saturday.
Straughan had 289 yards passing, with scoring strikes of 4 yards to Davis, 17 yards to Jimmy Jones, 25 yards to Jacob Varble and 29 to Billy Reed.
The Salukis (2-1) outgained the Racers (0-3) 558-319 in total offense and held them to 12 first downs. SIU's Daquan Ison gained 104 yards on 15 carries.
Khari Waithe-Alexander picked off Cameron Birse on the Racers' opening drive, leading to Matt Sotiropoulos's 23-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
Matt DeSomer scored on a 1-yard run and the Salukis led 38-10 at halftime. Cameron Walter scored on a 51-yard run up the middle in the fourth quarter.
Birse passed for 210 yards, with two interceptions and a 14-yard TD to Jordon Gandy. Mareio McGraw returned a punt 68 yards for a score.
INDIANA STATE 27, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 24
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) - Issac Harker threw three touchdowns, the last one to Miles Thompson with 10 seconds to go, to lift Indiana State to a 27-24 comeback over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday night.
Cameron Sanders put the Redhawks on top 24-13 with 8:58 remaining.
Harker led a seven-play, 68-yard drive that ended when he hit Robert Tonyan Jr., with a 5-yard score to cut the deficit to 24-19. The two-point conversion failed.
Indiana State (2-1) forced a three-and-out, and Harker orchestrated an 11-play, 81-yard drive, ending with the score to Thompson.
During the drive, on fourth-and-eight at their own 41, Harker found Tonyan for nine yards. Harker went 5 for 8 for 53 yards on the scoring drive, which was aided by a 15-yard penalty for roughing the passer by the Redhawks' John Popovich.
Jesse Hosket was 16 for 25 for 214 yards for Southeast Missouri State (0-3).