SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Missouri 59,
Southeast Missouri 28
@Tennessee 56,
Tennessee Tech 0
@#19 Austin Peay 59, Morehead State 35
@Tennessee State 41, Kentucky State 7
@Bowling Green 27,
Murray State 10
Illinois State 31,
@Eastern Illinois 24
UT Martin 35, @Northwestern State 10
MISSOURI 59, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 28
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (0-3) outscored Southeastern Conference member Missouri (2-1) in the second half during a 59-28 loss Saturday at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field.
Down, 38-0, at halftime, SEMO finished with a strong second half outscoring the Tigers, 28-21, in the final 30 minutes of play. The Redhawks, who never made it to Missouri's side of the field in the first half, scored four rushing touchdowns the rest of the way.
A pair of firsts highlighted those scores. CJ Ogbonna completed a 9-yard pass to Will Weidemann and SEMO made it into Missouri territory for the first time getting to the Tigers 39. Five plays later, Geno Hess ran for a 4-yard touchdown, SEMO's first TD in its entire five-game series against Missouri. The rushing touchdown was the 20th of Hess' career. Shamenski Rucker then scored the first touchdown of his career on an 18-yard rush early in the fourth quarter. Rucker's score cut Missouri's lead to 52-14 with 13:14 left to play.
Rucker later hit paydirt again, this time on a 2-yard run, capping SEMO's second drive over 80 yards. That made it a 52-21 game with 5:00 to go.
On the first play of SEMO's final drive of the game Charleston native Q'Nairies Anderson ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run for the first points of his career. Anderson tied the 10th-longest rushing play in program history. It was also the longest offensive play for the Redhawks in three games this season.
Missouri racked up 258 yards in a 21-point first quarter to set the tone early. The Tigers scored on all six of their possessions in the first half. Tyler Badie scored three touchdowns, including the game's first on a 49-yard run to give Missouri a 7-0 lead with 12:16 left in the first quarter.
Badie scored again in the first quarter on an 11-yard pass from Connor Bazelak and hit paydirt on a 1-yard run just before halftime. Bazelak threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to D'ionte Smith and Harrison Mevis kicked a 43-yard field goal lifting the Tigers to a comfortable 38-0 lead at the intermission.
Missouri finished with 458 yards and held SEMO to only 69 total yards in the opening half. The Tigers posted 675 total yards to the Redhawks' 373. SEMO, however, outrushed Missouri, 294-235. Bazelak completed 21-of-30 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns to lead Missouri. Four different receivers caught a touchdown pass for the Tigers, as well.
Quarterback CJ Ogbonna fell just four yards shy of rushing for 100 yards. Ogbonna gained 96 yards on 12 carries and completed 7-of-14 passes for 53 yards. Rucker's two touchdowns marked a career-high. Defensively, Tyler Nelome recorded a career-best 10 tackles as SEMO's first to finish with double-digit tackles in a game this year.
The Redhawks 28 points are the most against any Football Bowl Subdivision opponent in 26 meetings with such teams.
TENNESSEE 56, TENNESSEE TECH 0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Entering a sea of orange and white in the Neyland Stadium stands, the Tennessee Tech football team knew they were in for a challenge.
Against the Tennessee Volunteers, they certainly got it. While a 56-0 defeat seems pretty difficult to find a positive, there are signs for optimism as the Golden Eagles enter Ohio Valley Conference play next week.
But in Saturday’s loss in Knoxville, there is still the results of what the Southeastern Conference program was able to pull together. The Vols (2-1) rolled up 417 yards of offense, including 202 yards on the ground and 215 through the air.
Hendon Hooker threw for three touchdowns and 199 yards on 17-of-25 passing, while Harrison Bailey was 3-for-7 for 16 yards. Velus Jones Jr. (three receptions for 63 yards), JaVonta Payton (three catches for 46 yards) and Jacob Warren (three catches for 10 yards) each hauled in touchdowns.
Hooker and Bailey also rushed in for scores, while Jaylen Wright (43 yards on nine carries) and Tiyon Evans (41 yards on 15 carries) also found pay dirt on the ground.
Of Tennessee’s 14 possessions in the contest, seven of them ended in touchdowns, including a 96-yard drive on nine plays.
Tech ended up in Volunteer territory five times in the contest, including the final three drives of the contest. After starting quarterback Willie Miller came out of the game from an injury in the second quarter – a 2-for-10 performance for 18 yards and a team-high 30 rushing yards on 10 carries to his credit, Davis Shanley came in and completed 5-of-10 passes for 33 yards. Drew Martin came in toward the end of the third quarter and had a solid performance, connecting on 10 of his 14 passes for a team-high 95 yards.
The Volunteers, however, were able to intercept four passes – one each on Martin and Miller, two against Shanley. It was the most since Tech
It wasn’t all negatives for the Golden Eagles. The Tech defense did come up with some big stops, forcing the Vols to punt four times and turn the ball over on downs on another drive. Tech’s defense set up a potential scoring drive as Jayvian Allen forced a fumble on a big hit on Hooker. Cameron Hudson scooped up the ball and raced down the sideline for a 35-yard return to the UT 30. Tech inched closer, setting up a 41-yard field goal attempt for Devin Parker, but the try sailed to the right.
Josh Reliford led the Golden Eagles in tackles with 11, while Xavier Washington and Aidan Raines each had seven. K.J. Phillips recorded a sack, and Hudson and Nyquan Washington had pass breakups.
#19 AUSTIN PEAY 59, MOREHEAD STATE 35
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - An explosive offensive performance, highlighted by a career day from sophomore quarterback Draylen Ellis, gave Austin Peay State University's football team an impressive 59-35 victory over Morehead State in Saturday's home opener at Fortera Stadium.
Austin Peay (2-1) has now won four straight against FCS opponents, dating back to last season, and four straight against the Eagles going to back to 2006. Morehead State falls to 1-2 on the season in a game that featured 579 yards total offense from the Governors—the highest tally thus far in the Scotty Walden era and the seventh-highest single-game mark in Austin Peay football history.
After an exchange of punts to start the day, the Austin Peay offense found its footing on its second possession. The Govs took over at their own 23-yard line and embarked on a 14-play, 77-yard march that chewed up nearly five minutes of clock. Ahmaad Tanner moved the chains—34 yards on seven carries—and Draylen Ellis opened the scoring with a 17-yard strike to a streaking Eugene Minter for six. The Govs would tack on the conversion on a Trey Goodman-to-Elijah Brown toss for two more points.
Morehead State had a quick reply, embarking on a 13-play drive of its own to chew up 75 yards and take another 4:55 off the clock. The Eagles converted three third-down conversions on the drive, including a dubious pass interference penalty whistled on Johnathan Edwards which negated what would have been a drive-stopping interception. On third-and-10, Mark Pappas found Tavin Davis for 32 yards, down to the Governor goal-line—two plays later, Issiah Aguero punched it in for a score, although the Govs stopped Morehead State's two-point attempt.
The Govs ensuing drive ended in a punt and Morehead State was on the march again when one of Austin Peay's senior leaders took the ball and changed the game's momentum. Jack McDonald stepped in front of a Pappas pass and raced 30 yards, untouched, to the end zone, his third career interception and first career pick-six.
From there, the first-half momentum belonged to the Governors. The Eagles went three-and-out and the Govs followed up with a score as Ellis found Minter again from 26 yards, marking the second multi-score game in Minter's Austin Peay career.
The Eagles went three-and-out again two drives later—and again the Govs struck with Tanner finding the end zone, breaking through the line of scrimmage and into a vacant Morehead State second level. He rumbled 26 yards into the end zone.
Edwards officially hauled in a pick in the end zone to end the next Eagle possession and helped send the game into halftime with Austin Peay comfortably ahead 28-6.
After an Austin Peay punt to open the second half, Morehead State put points on the board with a methodical 13-play, 84-yard drive. The drive opened with Pappas passes to BJ Byrd (30 yards) and Earl Stoudemire (24 yards) to get deep into Austin Peay territory, then Byrd took it the final six himself to shrink the Austin Peay advantage. Again the Eagles went for two, and again were denied by the Govs.
Austin Peay had a quick response. Three Tanner carries had the Govs near midfield before the drive appeared to stall; however, on third-and-15, Ellis hit D.J. Render for 36 yards and two plays later he found Baniko Harley from 36 yards out for the score, marking Harley's third consecutive game with a touchdown reception.
Following a Morehead State field goal late in the third quarter, the Govs were knocking on the door of the Eagle goal line to start the fourth, and on the first play of the final period, Tanner found paydirt for a second time from a yard out. His third career multi-score game should have rendered any hopes the Eagles might have had for a comeback largely moot, still with 14:58 to play.
Instead, the teams would combine for 37 more points in a wild final quarter of action which included more than 300 yards total offense just in the final 15 minutes.
The Govs would tack on a 45-yard Maddux Trujillo field goal, while Chance Harris would conclude a fourth-quarter Morehead State drive with a two-yard score of his own. With the backups in the contest, a Neyland Jean-to-Trey Goodman hook-up—on the first pass of Jean's collegiate career—netted 31 yards and the first collegiate touchdown for both young Govs, while Morehead State reserves Grady Cramer and Kyle Daly hooked up for 35 yards and a score on the Eagles' penultimate possession.
Jevon Jackson capped off the scoring for the Govs, plunging in from a yard out for his first career score after a 41-yard Kam Thomas punt return brought the Governors to the goal line with just over two minutes to play. Morehead State got off a desperation heave as time expired from Cramer to Daly from 47 yards out to cement the final score.
Ellis finished 21-for-36 passing with a career-high 359 yards and three scores, continuing a dominant trend for the Austin Peay signal-caller—he's at 66-for-109 passing this season with 896 yards and eight touchdowns to just two interceptions through three games, numbers that balloon higher still (131-for-227 for 1,639 yards, 15 touchdowns and three interceptions) if you include the final three games from last season.
Nine different receivers were targeted for passes Saturday, with Harley (4-83), Drae McCray (5-86), Render (2-61) and Minter (3-57) doing big damage through the air. Tanner finished with 83 yards on 17 carries and his two scores, while also moving into eighth all-time in career rushing with 1,985 yards.
Defensively, Koby Perry and Troy Henderson Jr. led the way with nine tackles apiece for the Govs, with Perry also credited with two stops behind the line. Kory Chapman also earned seven tackles and was credited with a pair of pass break-ups.
TENNESSEE STATE 41, KENTUCKY STATE 7
NASHVILLE (AP) - Geremy Hickbottom threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Tennessee State gave coach Eddie George his first victory, defeating Division II-member Kentucky State 41-7 on Saturday.
The game was played at Nashville's Nissan Stadium, where George starred as a running back for the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
Hickbottom completed 15 of 25 passes for 264 yards, with the three touchdowns and one interception. Devon Starling gained 142 yards rushing on 23 attempts for the Tigers (1-2).
Tennessee State's Rodell Rahmaan caught two touchdown passes, the second a 46-yard catch-and-run after blocking a punt on the previous play.
Kentucky State (1-2) entered the game averaging 211 yards rushing but was held to 84 yards on 31 attempts.
It was Tennessee State's 26th consecutive victory in the series which was last played in 1984.
BOWLING GREEN 27, MURRAY STATE 10
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - For the second consecutive week, the Murray State football team entered the locker room at halftime tied with an FBS opponent. However, like Cincinnati before them, Bowling Green rallied in the second half to secure a 27-10 win over the Racers Saturday evening at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio.
After a tough first 20-plus minutes of play that saw the Racers throw a pick on their opening drive and fall in an early 10-0 hole, the Racers answered late in the second with a touchdown and a field goal after an interception to tie the game at 10. The Racers looked poised to take a lead into the locker room at the break, but problems plagued MSU’s final drive of the half leaving the score tied at 10.
In the second half, it was all Falcons as they scored 17 points off of 210 yards in the final 30 minutes, while the Racers went scoreless on 83 yards, including just two yards on in the third quarter. Murray State had one final chance to score in the waning minutes of the game but came up short on a fourth-and-one from Bowling Green 16 with 1:12 to go in the contest
Preston Rice went 13-for-28 for 132 yards with two interceptions Saturday, while LaMartez Brooks caught four passes for 50 yards and Damonta Witherspoon rushed the ball 13 times for 38 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Eric Samuta led the way with nine tackles and 1.5-tackles for loss, while Cortez Roberts had seven and Cayvian Holmes and Don Parker had six each. Levi Matheny and Austin Daulton also got in on the action Saturday with each coming up with a solo sack,
ILLINOIS STATE 31, EASTERN ILLINOIS 24
CHARLESTON, Ill. - A blocked punt with a scoop and score. Pick six. Late game scores. The 109th Mid-America Classic had it all as Illinois State edged Eastern Illinois 31-24 during an exciting game at O’Brien Field.
The win was the fourth straight in the series for Illinois State as Redbirds head coach Brock Spack became the program’s all-time leader in wins.
EIU fought to the final play of the game as the Panthers had two big special teams plays in the game.
Illinois State took the final lead of the game as Pha’leak Brown scored on a 3-yard run with 1:54 remaining in the game to give ISU a 31-24 lead.
After EIU turned the ball over on downs, the Panthers defense was able to hold ISU to a field goal attempt with 34 seconds remaining which would have iced the game for the Redbirds.
Justin Growel blocked the 32-yard field goal attempt, recovering the loose ball himself and returning it ten yards to give EIU the ball one last time with 34 seconds remaining. The Panthers were unable to move the ball as back-up quarterback Zach Weir was forced into action as starter Otto Kuhns was banged up on the previous series. Kuhns was 16-of-32 for 204 yards and a touchdown in the game while rushing for another 43 yards.
Growel’s block was the second of the game for the Panthers special teams unit as EIU tied the game at 17-17 with 6:46 left in the third quarter as Charles Shelton IV blocked a punt that DeAirious Smith recovered and returned seven yards for a touchdown. It was EIU’s third blocked punt in the last two seasons.
Jackson Waring scored on an 8-yard run on the next drive to put ISU back in front before Harrison Bey-Buie tied the game with a 2-yard scamper with 13:05 left in the game.
ISU built a 10-0 lead with Nigel White scoring on a 15-yard run midway through first quarter and Aidan Brasnahan knocking home a 33-yard field goal.
EIU cut the lead to 10-7 with Kuhns connecting with Robbie Lofton on a 5-yard pass with 20-seconds left in the opening half as ISU led 10-7 at the half.
In the second half, EIU was driving deep into ISU territory with a chance to tie or take the lead. A receiver slipped on a pattern that allowed Jarrel Jackson to step into the route and return an interception 95-yards for a score putting ISU up 17-7 at the time.
Stone Galloway hit a field goal for the second straight week with a 44-yard kick midway through the third.
Cole Mueller led the ISU ground game with 144 yards. EIU limited ISU to just 54 yards passing. Braydon Deming and Zeke Vandenburgh led ISU with ten tackles each.
Jason Johnson had eight tackles to lead EIU including a fumble recovery the first half that helped set up the Panthers first score. Jordan Miles and Kaelin Drakeford each 1.5 tackles for loss.
ISU improved to 2-1 on the season. EIU fell to 0-4 as the Panthers open Ohio Valley Conference play next weekend at Tennessee Tech.
UT MARTIN 35, NORTHWESTERN STATE 10
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The University of Tennessee at Martin football squad never trailed in a dominating road effort this evening, chalking up a 35-10 triumph against Northwestern State at Turpin Stadium.
The Skyhawks (2-1) scored the first 21 points of the contest and never let the host Demons get within single-digits over the final three quarters. Offensively, UT Martin ran 65 plays for 432 yards, featuring 260 rushing yards on 42 attempts. The vaunted Skyhawk defense conceded just 10 points, forced Northwestern State into three turnovers and held the Demons to 1-of-6 scoring opportunities in the redzone (only conceding a field goal).
Two-time Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week Keon Howard accounted for three total touchdowns (two rushing, one passing), completing 16 of his 23 passes for 172 yards. Peyton Logan dialed up a career-best 179 yards on 14 totes for a remarkable 12.8 yards-per-carry average, capping off the win after a 53-yard score with under 90 seconds to go. Colton Dowell paced eight UT Martin players who had a reception, snaring four passes for 84 yards while Rodney Williams hauled in his fifth career touchdown.
Takeem Young equaled a career-high with 10 tackles (seven solo) tonight while Oshae Baker and John Ford each came away with momentum-changing interceptions. Jay Woods (team-best 1.5 tackles for loss), Austin Pickett (sack, forced fumble), Carson Evans (game-high three pass breakups), Alexander Andre (fumble recovery), Giovanni Davis (sack) and Korbin Harmon (fifth career blocked kick) all made big plays for the Skyhawks.
On special teams, Tyler Larco was a perfect 5-for-5 in PAT opportunities and also boomed four punts for a 43.0-yard average, including a long of 57 yards.
Tonight’s victory moved UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson into fifth place for the most wins in OVC history. It was his 92nd career victory, tying him with longtime Eastern Illinois head coach Bob Spoo.
The Skyhawks wasted little time establishing their dominance, marching downfield for 75 yards on 13 plays during the opening drive of the game. Howard found Williams for an 14-yard touchdown strike to make the score 7-0 at the 9:23 mark of the first quarter.
The UT Martin defense registered a three-and-out on its first drive and allowed just six plays during Northwestern State’s next drive. That would set up the Skyhawks’ next scoring drive, which featured a pair of long plays (31-yard reception from Randy Fields, Jr. and 41-yard rush by Logan). Howard found paydirt on a six-yard rush at the 55-second mark of the first quarter to extend UT Martin’s advantage out to 14-0.
After leading the nation last season in blocked kicks, Harmon was up to his old tricks in the second quarter. He rose above the crowd to block a 24-yard field goal try with 12:23 remaining before the halftime break.
The Skyhawks forced another turnover on their next drive but the Demons got the ball back deep in UT Martin territory after a botched punt attempt. However, the Skyhawk defense stood strong – holding Northwestern State to only two yards before a missed 32-yard field goal attempt kept the score at 14-0.
Larco pinned the Demons back at their own 15-yard line to start the next drive and Baker snagged his first career pick on the first play after the possession change. Getting the ball on the Northwestern State two-yard line, Howard leapt in for a quarterback sneak to pad UT Martin’s lead out to 21-0 at the 1:59 mark of the second quarter.
The Demons were able to convert a 27-yard field goal as time expired in the first half as the Skyhawks took a 21-3 lead into the locker room.
Northwestern State received the ball to open the second half and scored its lone touchdown of the game, trimming UT Martin’s lead to 21-10. Following a Skyhawk punt, the Demons threatened with second-and-goal from the 10-yard line. However, Ford came up with a game-altering pick at the goal line, flipping the field after a 66-yard return.
Six plays later, Zak Wallace barreled his way into the endzone from five yards out, making the score 28-10 with a little over four minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Both sides traded punts before Northwestern State got the ball back at the Skyhawk 14-yard line. A tackle for loss and sack nudged the Demons back and a fourth-down try was not successful as UT Martin tallied a turnover on downs.
The Skyhawks recorded another turnover on downs on Northwestern State’s next possession, setting up Logan for his 53-yard touchdown run that put the exclamation point on UT Martin’s victory.