HEAD COACH INTERVIEWS
Each league head coach particpated in a Zoom on Tuesday to preview this week's games. Scroll down to access the audio from that Zoom. The video can be accessed on the
OVC's YouTube page.
This Week’s Schedule
Saturday, October 29
Eastern Kentucky
at #14 Southeast Missouri, 1 p.m. (ESPN3)
William Jewell
at Lindenwood, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
*Tennessee State at Murray State, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
#18 UT Martin at Houston Christian, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Eastern Kentucky Colonels (4-3, 1-1 ASUN)
at #14 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (6-1, 2-0 OVC)
Saturday, October 29 • 1:00 p.m.
Houck Field (10,000) • Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Video:................................
https://es.pn/3SfaxFI (ESPN3)
Live Stats:.......................................
https://bit.ly/3eY77JP
Series Record:...................... Eastern Kentucky leads 25-5
Last Meeting:.......................... SEMO won 38-31 (11/9/19)
Walt Wells at Eastern Kentucky:................... 13-12 (3 yrs.)
Walt Wells Overall:.................................................. same
Tom Matukewicz at Southeast Missouri:....... 47-50 (9 yrs.)
Tom Matukewicz Overall:........................... 48-50 (10 yrs.)
Eastern Kentucky Last Week:. W, 56-53 vs. North Alabama
Southeast Missouri Last Week: W, 51-16 at Northwestern State
NOTEWORTHY
• Former Conference rivals meet for the first time since the 2019 season in a key game for both teams.
• EKU has dominated the all-times series, however, SEMO has won two of the last three overall, including 38-31 in November 2019. In that contest the Redhawks scored the final 24 points of the game to overcome a 17-point deficit and win 38-31. Zion Custis scored the game-winning touchdown with 37 seconds to push SEMO to the win. In that game Kristian Wilkerson (who is now with the New England Patriots) had 10 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
• Southeast Missouri won its sixth-straight game, winning 51-16 at Northwestern State to remain undefeated against FCS opponents this season. The Redhawks have gone 14-straight quarters without trailing, dating back to the second quarter of its game with Central Arkansas on September 24.
• Geno Hess was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 207 yards on just 17 carries (12.2 ypc) and three touchdowns in the win. It marked his second 200-plus yard game of the season, making him one of five players nationally to achieve that feat. Hess ranks sixth in rushing yards/carry (7.41), seventh in rushing yards (837), ninth in rushing touchdowns (9) and 15th all-purpose yards (131.29/game).
• Kicker DC Pippin made all three of his field goals, including a 54-yarder, which is the third-longest by a FCS player this season. He has made seven of his last eight field goal attempts.
• SEMO ranks ninth nationally in total offense (473.6 yards/game) and 14th in scoring offense (36.4 points/game).
• A win would guarantee SEMO a winning season, the third in the past five years under head coach Tom Matukewicz. Prior to his arrival the program had only three winning seasons since joining the Division I ranks in 1991.
• EKU topped FBS foe Bowling Green 59-57 in seven overtimes in its second game of the season, after nearing beating Eastern Michigan in the first contest of the season. The Colonels are 2-2 in their last four games, coming off an exciting 56-53 win over North Alabama last week.
• In that win Parker McKinney threw for five touchdowns and rushed for another. He threw the game-winning pass with eight seconds remaining. McKinney is averaging 346.43 yards of total offense per game, which ranks in the top five nationally.
William Jewell Cardinals (1-7, 0-4 GLVC)
at Lindenwood Lions (5-2, 1-2 OVC)
Saturday, October 29 • 1:00 p.m.
Hunter Stadium (6,000) • St. Charles, Mo.
Video:.............................
https://es.pn/3SgvmRc (ESPN+)
Live Stats:........................................
https://bit.ly/3BtZfYV
Series Record:.............................. Lindenwood leads 10-7
Last Meeting:................ Lindenwood won 53-10 (10/30/21)
Mike McGlinchey at William Jewell:................ 1-21 (3 yrs.)
Mike McGlinchey Overall:........................................ same
Jed Stugart at Lindenwood:.......................... 31-23 (5 yrs.)
Jed Stugart Overall:................................. 122-47 (15 yrs.)
William Jewell Last Week:........... L, 42-7 vs. Truman State
Lindenwood Last Week:............ W, 33-18 vs. Murray State
NOTEWORTHY
• Former Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) rivals will meet on Saturday at Lindenwood.
• The teams have played 17 previous times, with the Lions winning last year's matchup by a 53-10 margin thanks to 592 yards of total offense.
• For the second-time this season Lindenwood is receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll.
• Lindenwood won its first official OVC game with a 33-18 home victory over Murray State (the team's win over EIU the week prior was counted as a non-conference contest due to the unbalanced schedule this season).
• Lindenwood trailed the Racers 18-17 late in the third quarter when Darion Bolden intercepted a pass and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown to turn the momentum and never trail again. The 99-yard interception was the longest by a FCS player this season. Bolden also intercepted a pass on MSU's final drive to secure the victory. He was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.
• Payton Rose finished the game with three catches for 111 yards and a touchdown and in the process established a new school record for receiving yards in a career.
• Newcomer Kobe Smith caught a pair of touchdown passes to increase his season total to a team-best seven.
• Logan Seibert made a pair of field goals and has made six in a row and 10-of-11 on the year. He ranks in the top 10 nationally in field goal percentage (90.9%).
• William Jewell topped Kentucky Wesleyan on September 24, as the team snapped a losing streak dating back to the 2019 season, breaking a 27-game losing streak. The team has lost four-straight since that victory.
• CJ Ward has thrown for 1198 yards and eight touchdowns this season, while Taylor Eggers leads the team with five rushing touchdowns.
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (1-6, 0-3 OVC)
at Eastern Illinois Panthers (2-5, 1-1 OVC)
Saturday, October 29 • 2:00 p.m. CT
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
Video:...............................
https://es.pn/3yTJ31n (ESPN+)
Live Stats:......................................
http://bit.ly/2oWwWzR
Series Record:.......................... Eastern Illinois leads 21-7
Last Meeting:.............................. EIU won 28-14 (9/25/21)
Dewayne Alexander at Tennessee Tech:...... 13-35 (5 yrs.)
Dewayne Alexander Overall:...................... 54-68 (12 yrs.)
Chris Wilkerson at Eastern Illinois:..................... 2-5 (1 yr.)
Chris Wilkerson Overall:............................... 53-32 (9 yrs.)
Tennessee Tech Last Week: L, 33-30 at Kennesaw State (OT)
Eastern Illinois Last Week:..... L, 37-17 at Tennessee State
NOTEWORTHY
• Saturday marks the 29th all-time meeting between Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois. It will be Family Weekend in Charleston.
• Eastern Illinois has won two in a row and nine of the last 10 games against the Golden Eagles (TTU's lone win in that time came on the road in 2019).
• A season ago EIU picked up its lone victory of the season with a 28-14 win in Cookeville. DeAirious Smith caught six passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns and Bryce Dewberry returned a 90-yard fumble for a touchdown for the Panthers. The Golden Eagles were led by Drew Martin who passed for 315 yards, 140 of those yards going to Quinton Cross.
• Tennessee Tech dropped its fifth-straight game on Saturday, in overtime at future FBS team Kennesaw State. Tech fell behind 17-7 but grabbed a lead in the third quarter and were up 27-24 when Jeremiah Oatsvall connected with Willie Miller for a touchdown with 27 seconds to go. KSU, however, would hit a 40-yard field goal as time expired and then scored a touchdown in overtime to pull off the win.
• Kicker Hayden Olsen was impressive in hitting field goals from 47, 46 and 46 yards and also nailing all three of his PATs. Olsen is a perfect 57-for-57 in PATs for his career (third in program history). Olsen has only missed one field goal this season (a 48-yard attempt).
• Senior linebacker Seth Carlisle set a career-high in tackles as he recorded 16 stops, besting his previous career high of 13 set the prior week against TSU. He is now averaging 9.0 tackles/game, which is third in the OVC and 34th nationally.
• Eastern Illinois dropped its second-straight game, falling 37-17 at Tennessee State, evening its OVC record at 1-1. The Panthers fell behind 27-0 at halftime and could get no closer than 13 points the rest of the way.
• Jonah O'Brien threw for two touchdowns for the Panthers, while Nile Hill and Lazerick Eatman grabbing the scores.
• Punter Stone Galloway averaged 44.3 yards on seven punts and now ranks 11th nationally in net punting (43.6 yards).
• Jordan Miles had a pair of sacks for EIU, who finished the day with four total sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
Tennessee State Tigers (3-4, 2-0 OVC)
at Murray State Racers (0-8, 0-3 OVC)
Saturday, October 29 • 2:00 p.m. CT
Stewart Stadium (16,000) • Murray, Ky.
Video:..............................
https://es.pn/3yW1djb (ESPN+)
Live Stats:......................................
https://bit.ly/3N5YYzO
Series Record:........................... Murray State leads 18-14
Last Meeting:............................ TSU won 27-21 (10/30/21)
Eddie George at Tennessee State:................. 8-10 (2 yrs.)
Eddie George Overall:............................................. same
Dean Hood at Murray State:......................... 11-15 (3 yrs.)
Dean Hood Overall:................................... 66-53 (11 yrs.)
Tennessee State Last Week:.. W, 37-17 vs. Eastern Illinois
Murray State Last Week:.............. L, 33-18 at Lindenwood
NOTEWORTHY
• It will be Homecoming on Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium, as Murray State hosts Tennessee State for the 33rd all-time meeting between the programs.
• Tennessee State won last year's meeting, which ended a five-game winning streak for Murray State. In that contest the Tigers jumped out to a 21-0 lead only to see the Racers tie it up at 21 with 4:30 to play. TSU responded by driving 62 yards in eight plays and Geremy Hickbottom ran in a score from seven yards out with 1:41 to play. That was one of three rushing scores for Hickbottom (who also threw for the team's other touchdown). Damonta Witherspoon had a game-high 124 rushing yards for the Racers.
• Tennessee State topped Eastern Illinois last week for its third-straight win and remained undefeated in OVC play (2-0).
• The Tigers defense tallied six sacks and forced four turnovers and limited the Panthers to just 188 yards of total offense. Terrell Allen led the way with 2.0 sacks, to go along with six total tackles.
• Quarterback Draylen Ellis led the way by completing 27-of-36 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. He connected with freshman John Roberts IV for a 52-yard touchdown strike early in the fourth quarter to put the game away. It was the second touchdown of the season for Roberts.
• Kaleb Mosley was named OVC Specialist of the Week after making 3-of-3 field goals (46, 42, 42) and 4-of-4 PATs while also averaging 40.8 yards on four punts.
• Murray State is still looking for its first win of the season after a 33-18 loss at Lindenwood. The Racers led 18-17 in the third quarter, but gave up a 99-yard interception return that turned the momentum as the Lions scored 17 unanswered points.
• Backup quarterback Lucas Maue, was used in a limited capacity in the game, but did score two rushing touchdowns, finishing the day with 38 rushing yards.
• MSU tallied a season-high 292 rushing yards, with a career-high 157 yards from Damonta Witherspoon, while Cortezz Jones added a season-best 93 yards.
• Eric Samuta led the Racers with nine tackles and has a team-best 52 tackles on the season.
#18 UT Martin Skyhawks (4-3, 3-0 OVC)
at Houston Christian Huskies (2-5, 1-3 Southland)
Saturday, October 29 • 2:00 p.m. CT
Husky Stadium (5,000) • Houston, Texas
Video:.............................
https://es.pn/3ESbZLd (ESPN+)
Live Stats:....................................
https://bit.ly/3MVW0Oh
Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Jason Simpson at UT Martin:.................... 104-83 (17 yrs.)
Jason Simpson Overall:........................................... same
Vic Shealy at HCU:...................................... 18-71 (9 yrs.)
Vic Shealy Overall:................................. 45-85-1 (13 yrs.)
UT Martin Last Week:................. L, 65-24 at #3 Tennessee
HCU Last Week:............ L, 31-3 at Texas A&M-Commerce
NOTEWORTHY
• UT Martin will travel to Houston for its first-ever matchup with Houston Christian. HCU was previously known as Houston Baptist but changed its name on September 21, 2022.
• This marks the second OVC opponent of the season for HCU, who lost 21-20 at home to Lindenwood in Week Two.
• UT Martin faced its second FBS opponent of the season, this time the No. 3 ranked Tennessee Volunteers last week, falling 65-24 in its second-ever meeting with UT. The game was played in front of 101,915 fans, the second-largest crowd to ever see an OVC team play.
• Quarterback Dresser Winn passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns in the game, bumping his career numbers to 4,934 yards (fifth place in school history) and 32 passing touchdowns (seventh place). Winn ranks eighth nationally in total offense (298.7 yards/game). Winn was added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List last week.
• Newcomer George Qualls had his best game of the season, tallying five catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He is the fourth different Skyhawk receiver with multiple touchdowns this season.
• UTM ranks eighth nationally in passing offense (299.6 yards/game) and 10th in total offense (471.9 yards/game)
• Linebacker John H. Ford II had 10 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, against Tennessee. Ford, who is on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, ranks eighth nationally in tackles (10.0/game).
• HCU played a developmental season in 2013 (finishing 3-4) and had its first official season in 2014. Each season has been under the direction of current head coach Vic Shealy.
• The Huskies have lost three-straight since its 37-34 win over Lamar on October 1.
• Last week HCU lost at Division I newcomer Texas A&M-Commerce, as Commerce scored 24 unanswered second half points to win 31-3.
• Ismail Mahdi leads the team with 334 rushing yards while Nate Livingston has added 239, although the team only has one rushing touchdown this year. QB Justin Fomby has thrown for 1,484 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven games.