Colonels have edge in OVC race after win at JSU

Many people probably believe Eastern Kentucky now is the favorite to win its first Ohio Valley Conference title since 1997.

But don't count Colonels' coach Danny Hope among that group.

Hope knows there are still many hurdles for the Colonels to clear -- although they certainly went over a big one Saturday by posting a 31-14 victory at two-time defending OVC champion Jacksonville State.

"Absolutely," said Hope, when asked during Tuesday's OVC coaches teleconference if it's much too early to declare his team the odds-on favorite. "There are a lot of quality opponents in the league this year. I'm very impressed with the teams I've been able to study so far.

"We're going to have to go out and play our 'A' game on every Saturday, there's no question in my mind about that. We're going to have to play well to win out."

Hope, whose squad improved to 2-3 overall and 2-0 in OVC play, acknowledged that the victory puts the Colonels in a different position compared to the last two years, when they finished in second place behind Jacksonville State and lost to the Gamecocks both seasons.

"We don't have to rely on somebody else losing for us to have a chance to win the championship," Hope said. "We can focus on each opponent one at a time."

The Colonels were outgained in total yardage by the Gamecocks (1-4, 1-1) 394-277, but Eastern Kentucky forced four turnovers to take control after it trailed 14-7 early. The Colonels, who led 17-14 at halftime, had only one turnover.

"It was a heck of a football game. Jacksonville State is very, very physical. They came out ready to play," Hope said. "We're excited to be able to go on the road and win against a quality opponent like Jacksonville State. It was a great win for our football program."

Eastern Kentucky continued to receive strong quarterback play from sophomore Josh Greco, who took his lumps after being pressed into duty last year because of an injury to the Colonels' starter.

Greco completed 21 of 36 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns against Jacksonville State. For the season, he has thrown for 1,237 yards and 10 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

"He's made a big impact for us on both sides of the ball," Hope said. "We were limited last year what we could do. He brings a lot of firepower to our offense, allows us to be two-dimensional.

"It's also a breath of fresh air for our defense, not having to be on the field so much."

For the Gamecocks, it was their first OVC loss at Paul Snow Stadium since they joined the league in 2003.

It was also Jacksonville State's most lopsided loss in OVC play and extended the Gamecocks' home losing streak to three, their longest since a four-game skid in 1999.

"We got off to a great start. ... We simply made mistakes that were very costly to us," Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe said. "They [Eastern Kentucky] played so well. I was just very impressed by their toughness, their resiliency."

Crowe knows the Gamecocks' hopes of a third straight OVC title now are in serious jeopardy.

"I'm not wishing any bad luck to anybody, but I hope there's at least the opportunity to get back in this thing," he said. "We do not control our own destiny."

This week's games

When Jacksonville State visits Murray State this week, one of the OVC's top three predicted contenders will be virtually eliminated from title contention.

The Gamecocks were the preseason favorites, with the Racers third (Eastern Kentucky was second). But both squads already have suffered a conference defeat.

Murray State (1-3, 0-1) lost its league opener 42-21 Saturday at Tennessee Tech (2-3, 1-1).

"It's a big game for both of us," Murray State coach Joe Pannunzio said.

Besides Eastern Kentucky, only Tennessee-Martin (3-1, 1-0) and Eastern Illinois (2-2, 1-0) have not yet suffered a league loss. Both were idle Saturday.

Other matchups this week feature Samford (2-3, 1-1) at Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Illinois at Southeast Missouri State (0-5, 0-2) and Tennessee Tech at Tennessee-Martin. Tennessee State (1-4, 0-1) has an open date.

Players of the week

Tennessee Tech sophomore quarterback Stephen Britton is the OVC offensive player of the week after leading the Eagles' rout of Murray State.

Britton tied Tennessee Tech's single-game record for touchdown passes with five. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 211 yards and was not intercepted.

Eastern Kentucky sophomore cornerback Derrick Huff earned the league's defensive award after intercepting two passes on consecutive Jacksonville State possessions in the second half.

Also gaining weekly league honors were Southeast Missouri State junior punter David Simonhoff (special teams) and Murray State junior wide receiver Jonathan Eiland (newcomer).

Simonhoff averaged 52 yards on seven punts, including an 80-yarder, during a 33-17 loss to Samford.

Eiland caught 10 passes for 136 yards against Tennessee Tech.