SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Kentucky 20, Southeast Missouri 6
#19 Eastern Illinois 16, @Murray State 10
@Tennessee Tech 20, Tennessee State 13
#20 Jacksonville State 28, @Austin Peay 10
EASTERN KENTUCKY 20, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University football team rushed for a season-high 183 yards in a 20-6 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Southeast Missouri Saturday at Roy Kidd Stadium. Senior C.J. Walker rushed for 81 yards and scored twice for the Colonels (5-3, 5-2 OVC).
Junior Bruce Frieson ran for 54 yards on 10 carries and scored a late touchdown for EKU. Sophomore H.B. Banjoman added 33 yards on six carries. Redshirt freshman quarterback T.J. Pryor completed 16-of-22 passes for 156 yards.
The Colonel defense limited the Redhawks (1-7, 0-6 OVC) to 244 yards of total offense. SEMO finished 5-of-16 (31.2 percent) on third downs, but went for it six times on fourth down, converting three.
Henry Harris rushed for 83 yards on 18 carries for Southeast Missouri. Quarterback Matt Scheible completed 11-of-29 passes for 95 yards and threw two interceptions to go along with one touchdown pass.
The Colonels took the opening kick-off and got on the board first. On 3rd-and-5 from the EKU 40-yard line, Pryor connected with junior Cody Watts for 22 yards. Facing 3rd-and-16 at the SEMO 44, Pryor picked up 15 yards on the ground. Needing one more yard, Eastern went for it on fourth down. Walker broke loose for 16 yards to the SEMO 13. Three plays later, facing another third down, Walker took it to the house from nine yards out with 8:54 remaining in the first quarter. Junior Logan O'Connor missed the PAT.
On its first possession of the second quarter, Eastern put together what would prove to be the winning drive. After the defense stopped the Redhawks on 4th-and-1, the offense took over at the SEMO 24-yard line. Walker picked up five yards on a pair of carries and then Pryor connected with junior Shannon Davis for 14 yards to the four-yard line. Three plays later, Walker scored his second touchdown, this time from a yard out.
The Redhawks engineered their only scoring drive of the game in the fourth quarter. On 3rd-and-4 from the EKU 32, Harris picked up 15 yards on the ground. On the next play, Scheible found Walter Peoples in the left corner from 17 yards out to cut the deficit to 13-6. Junior Andrew Soucy blocked the PAT to keep the Colonels on top by seven, 13-6, with 4:05 left in the game.
Southeast Missouri wouldn't get any closer. The Colonels chewed up the next four minutes by running the ball seven times. On 3rd-and-4, Banjoman carried for 22 yards to the SEMO 32 to keep the clock ticking. Eastern had a 4th-and-6 with the clock ticking down inside of 10 seconds, Pryor handed off to Frieson and the junior broke free on the left side for 28 yards to the end zone. O'Connor connected on the extra-point and the Colonels led 20-6 with 4.3 seconds showing on the clock.
#19 EASTERN ILLINOIS 16, MURRAY STATE 10
MURRAY, Ky. - Eastern Illinois needed some big plays from special teams and defense as the No. 19 Panthers improved to 7-2, 5-1 in the OVC with a hard fought 16-10 win at Murray State on Saturday. The Racers fell to 2-6, 1-4 in the OVC.
The defense limited Murray State to just 168 yards of total offense and 41 yards rushing while kicker Austin Signor converted on all three field goal opportunities. EIU will have an off week next Saturday before hosting UT Martin on Nov. 14 at O'Brien Field.
Eastern Illinois mishandled the opening kickoff forcing them to start inside the 15 yard line. Murray State forced a 3-and-out and then started its first possession at the EIU 14-yard line after a big punt return by Ja-Vonta Trotter. Charlie Jordan would score a few plays later to put the Racers up 7-0 with 12:43 to go in the first quarter.
EIU tied the game in the second quarter on a big defensive play as Rashad Haynes stepped in front of a Murray State receiver and picked off the pass returning its 34 yards for a touchdown. Signor made the extra point to tie the game at 7-7 with 8:19 to go in the second quarter. The interception moved Haynes into a tie for 7th on the Panthers career interception list with 10.
The Panthers took their first lead of the game with 28 seconds left in the first half as Signor knocked home a 37-yard field goal to put EIU up 10-7 at the half.
Murray State's defense forced a crucial turnover near the end of the third quarter recovering a fumble at the EIU 28 yard line with 12 seconds left. The Racers Tamar Butler forced the fumble with Lamar Theus recovering. Kienan Cullen would knock home a 29 yard field goal with 13:03 left in the game to tie it at 10-10.
Eastern Illinois answered with a scoring drive of its own as Jake Christensen hit Lorence Ricks for two big pass receptions to move the ball into Racer territory. Jimmy Potempa pulled in a reception to put the ball inside the 20 but EIU had to settle for a Signor 37-yard field goal to go up 13-10 with 8:58 left in the game. The field goal moved Signor into a tie for sixth on the EIU single season field goal list.
Signor moved into sole possession of sixth place on the field goal list with his 13th make of the season as he converted a 36-yard attempt with 6:02 left in the game to give the Panthers a 16-10 lead. EIU gained possession of the ball as Murray State fumbled a punt attempt that Greg Mahan recovered inside the Murray State 30-yard line.
EIU was able to ice the game in the fourth quarter following a Trevor Frericks sack. Mon Williams converted the Panthers first third down conversion of the game with 3:08 left in the game and Chevon Walker broke loose for a second conversion with 1:38 left as EIU was able to take a knee and run out the clock. EIU was only 2-of-12 on third down conversions.
Frericks finished with seven tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss while Nick Nasti and Gordy Kickels each added eight tackles. Walker led the Panthers rushing attack with 55 yards while Williams added 46 and Potempa 41.
Jordan was the Racers top rusher with 38 yards while Erik Fennell led the defense with 12 tackles.
TENNESSEE TECH 20, TENNESSEE STATE 13
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Sophomore Tim Benford caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lee Sweeney with three minutes to play and the Tennessee Tech defense, led by redshirt freshman Caleb Mitchell, forced four turnovers as the Golden Eagles defeated Tennessee State, 20-13, in an Ohio Valley Conference game Saturday afternoon in Tucker Stadium.
With the win, Tech (5-3/4-2 OVC) captured the league's Sgt. York Trophy, finishing the series with a 3-0 mark against the three in-state schools.
Mitchell finished the game with 13 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss, two quarterback sacks, and an interception. He also broke up two passes, caused a fumble and recovered fumble.
Tennessee State (3-5/2-2 OVC) had an 89-yard interception return by Sidney Tarver in the first quarter for its first touchdown after the Golden Eagles had built a 13-0 lead. The Tigers marched 91 yards midway through the fourth quarter to tie the game at 13-13, with Calvin McNairl rambling the final 12 yards for the score with 7:56 remaining.
Tech broke the tie four minutes later when Benford beat double coverage in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score. It was the second time in the game that Tech struck quickly, scoring twice on 28-yard passes from Sweeney on the first play of a possession.
In the first quarter, Colin Allen nabbed a pass in the other corner of the end zone to give the Golden Eagles a 13-0 lead.
Defense dominated the first quarter, leading to the first three scores of the contest.
On the opening possession of the game, Mitchell sacked quarterback Dominic Grooms at the TSU 36, knocked the ball loose and recovered the fumble at the 24. Five plays later Dontey Gay raced the final three yards for a 6-0 Tech lead following a missed PAT kick.
Mitchell intercepted a pass by Grooms at the TSU 43 and returned it to the 28 with 5:49 remaining in the first period, and one play later Allen grabbed Sweeney's pass to make it 13-0.
Justin Vann blocked a TSU punt and the Golden Eagles were driving late in the first quarter when Tarver picked off Sweeney's pass of the middle at the TSU 11 and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-6. The Tigers attempted a two-point PAT and Taylor Cisneros was tripped up at the one.
Sweeney finished the game 12-for-23 for 188 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He moved to third in the OVC in career completions, surpassing Tony Romo and Brady Wahlberg. Benford had five catches for 122 yards, his third career 100-yard game.
Joseph Halls topped TSU with six receptions for 80 yards, while Preston Brown's 54 yards on 13 carries topped the Tiger rushing game.
Tennessee State finished with 280 yards of offense, with 152 on the ground and 128 through the air. Tech had 260 in total offense, getting 77 on the ground and 188 through the air.
Joining Mitchell at the top of the tackle chart, Dustin Dillehay had 13 tackles and broke up a pass.
#20 JACKSONVILLE STATE 28, AUSTIN PEAY 10
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Ryan Perrilloux threw one touchdown pass and ran for another to lead No. 20 Jacksonville State (5-3, 3-1 OVC) to a 28-10 win over Austin Peay on Saturday afternoon at Governors Stadium.
Perrilloux complete 12-of-22 passes for 210 yards and rushed eight times for nine yards on the afternoon. It marked the fourth time this season and the sixth time in his career that the LaPlace, La., native has passed and run for a touchdown in a single game.
The Jacksonville State defense kept Austin Peay in check most of the afternoon, limiting the Govs to just 129 yards of total offense. The Gamecocks set a school Division I record by allowing just 23 passing yards, while holding the Govs to only 106 yards on the ground.
Jax State also forced three turnovers, including an interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter while holding APSU scoreless in the second half. The day marked the 11th consecutive game that JSU has forced at least one turnover.
Josh Cain recorded a career-high 14 tackles, four solo, and pass break up to lead the JSU defense. Alexander Henderson followed with 11 tackles, marking the fourth straight game with double figure tackles.
JSU's offense totaled 398 yards that included 219 passing and 179 yards rushing. Jamal Young had 68 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown to lead the rushing attack. Greg Smith caught four passes for 78 yards and James Wilkerson had three receptions for 70 yards.
Young scored on a nine-yard run to cap a 10-play, 69-yard drive on the Gamecocks opening offensive possession. Patrick Tatum made the PAT to for a 7-0 lead with 10:09 left in the first quarter.
Austin Peay (3-5, 2-3 OVC) dented the scoreboard on a Stephen Stansell 32-yard field goal with 6:43 to go in the second quarter to cut the JSU lead to 7-3.
Ricky Thomas blocked a JSU punt that was picked up by Jeremy Ross and returned 34-yards for a touchdown after JSU's next possession stalled. Stansell's PAT gave Austin Peay a 10-7 with 4:50 remaining in the second quarter.
Jacksonville State answered on its ensuing offensive drive to regain the lead. Calvin Middleton caught a screen pass from Perrilloux and raced 34-yards to cap a four-play, 46-yard drive. Tatum added the PAT to give JSU a 14-10 lead with 3:12 to go in the first half.
The Gamecocks got on the score board late in the third quarter after Perrilloux completed a 47-yard pass to Smith followed by an 11-yard run by Young to set up the Gamecocks touchdown. Perrilloux finished the five-play, 82-yard drive with a 15-yard run on the next play. Tatum converted the PAT for a 21-10 lead with 1:44 left in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks went two-for-two in the red zone on the afternoon, extending their red zone scoring streak to 17 games.
A.J. Davis intercepted a Jake Ryan pass and returned it 55-yards for a touchdown to extend the Gamecocks lead with 10:08 left in the fourth quarter. Tatum kicked the PAT to a give JSU a 28-10 lead.
The interception return for a touchdown was the third this season for the Gamecock defense and the first since T.J. Heath returned two first quarter interceptions for touchdowns against UT Martin on Oct. 3.
Courtesy: Eastern Kentucky Athletic Public Relations
